like he or she is an afterthought.
Braking There are volumes written about braking for good reason. It’s a critical skill that can mean difference between life and death when executed properly…or not. Riding with a passenger clearly makes
the braking process more complicated. Many riders who are actually pretty decent at it solo, stink when going 2-up. The rea- son varies, but for most riders it comes down to never having taken the time to develop the altered sense of traction aware- ness that comes with carrying a passenger. You’d think this would be obvious, but it’s taken for granted by far too many riders. Chances are you’ve seen 2-uppers inad-
vertently grabbing the brakes or stomping on them instead of smoothly applying them from start to finish; they’re the couple who suddenly lurches forward or has the bike fishtail…in the parking lot. Hopefully, nothing worse. The other thing to think about is that
braking is a cause and effect scenario involving both your suspension and your passenger’s mass. Brake improperly and your suspension will load improperly as your passenger’s mass will slam forward into your own. That, in turn, transfers a tremendous amount of force directly to your back, your shoulders and your arms, all of which ultimately winds up as an indi- rect steering input. That’s significant for two reasons: 1)
60-80 percent of a motorcycle’s stopping power rests squarely on the front wheel, depending on surface conditions, and 2) research shows that fully one-third of all riders never apply the brakes under emer- gency conditions because they panic. Ken Condon, author of Riding in the
Zone and a well-known instructor, observes that if you think braking skill will “magi- cally appear when you need it, you are dead wrong.” I agree – practice, practice, practice. And
look a long way down the road so that you and your passenger can be prepared well ahead of time. Keep the shiny side up.
September 2015 BMW OWNERS NEWS 107
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