Brakes - BMW C 650 GT Rider's Manual

Brakes

6
How can stopping
distance be minimised?
82
Load distribution shifts dynam-
ically between the front and rear
wheels when the vehicle brakes.
The sharper the vehicle decel-
erates, the more load is shifted
to the front wheel. The higher
z
the wheel load, the more braking
force can be transmitted without
the wheel locking.
To optimise stopping distance,
apply the front brakes rapidly and
keep on increasing the force
you apply to the brake lever.
This makes the best possible
use of the dynamic increase in
load at the front wheel. In the
"panic braking situations" that
are trained so frequently, brak-
ing force is applied as rapidly as
possible and with the rider's full
force applied to the brake levers;
under these circumstances, the
dynamic shift in load distribution
cannot keep pace with the in-
crease in deceleration and the
tyres cannot transmit the full
braking force to the surface of
the road. Under these circum-
stances the front wheel would
lock up.
BMW Motorrad ABS prevents
the front wheel from locking up.
Descending mountain
passes
WARNING
Braking only with the rear
brake on mountain descents
Brake fade, destruction of the
brakes due to overheating
Use both front and rear brakes,
and make use of the engine's
braking effect as well.
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Wet and dirty brakes
Wetness and dirt on the brake
discs and the brake pads dimin-
ish braking efficiency.
Delayed braking action or poor
braking efficiency must be
reckoned with in the following
situations:
Riding in the rain or through
puddles of water.
After the vehicle has been
washed.
Riding on salted or gritted
roads.
After work has been carried on
the brakes, due to traces of oil
or grease.
Riding on dirt-covered surfaces
or off-road.