Brakes - BMW R 1200 R CLASSIC Rider's Manual

Brake pads
5
New brake pads have to bed
down before they can achieve
62
their optimum friction levels. You
can compensate for this initial re-
duction in braking efficiency by
exerting greater pressure on the
levers.
New brake pads can ex-
tend stopping distance by a
z
significant margin.
Apply the brakes in good time.
Tyres
New tyres have a smooth sur-
face. This must be roughened by
riding in a restrained manner at
various heel angles until the tyres
are run in. This running in pro-
cedure is essential if the tyres are
to achieve maximum grip.
Tyres do not have their full
grip when new and there
is a risk of accidents at extreme
angles of heel.
Avoid extreme angles of heel.

Brakes

How can stopping
distance be minimised?
Each time the brakes are applied,
a load distribution shift takes
place with the load shifting for-
ward from the rear to the front
wheel. The sharper the motor-
cycle decelerates, the more load
is shifted to the front wheel. The
higher 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. Remember to
pull the clutch at the same time.
In the "panic braking situations"
that are trained so frequently
braking force is applied as rap-
idly as possible and with the
rider's full force exerted on the
brake levers; under these circum-
stances the dynamic shift in load
distribution cannot keep pace
with the increase in deceleration
and the tyres cannot transmit the
full braking force to the surface
of the road. Under these circum-
stances the front wheel can lock
up.
with BMW Motorrad Integral
OE
ABS
ABS has to intervene to keep
the front wheel from locking; this
increases stopping distance.
Descending mountain
passes
There is a danger of the
brakes fading if you use
only the rear brakes when des-
cending mountain passes. Under
extreme conditions, the brakes