Have you ever wondered why motorcycle and ATV manufacturers put large disks up front and smaller brakes in the rear? It’s a matter of designed-in brake bias. And that’s a weighty subject.
Under acceleration and sustained speed, your motorcycle’s weight naturally shifts toward the rear wheel. That’s beneficial since that weight contributes to greater traction at the rear tire as power is delivered to the ground. But, during braking, the motorcycle’s center of gravity shifts forward, loading the front suspension and, simultaneously, reducing weight at the rear of the bike. As that weight shift happens, traction is increased at the front tire and decreased at the rear. As a result, the need for braking is biased toward the front wheel where the traction is. Ultimately, the front brakes provide 70 to 80-percent of all effective slowing and stopping power. The harder you brake, the more firmly the front tire is planted into the pavement. At the same time, less traction is available at the rear tire, therefore less braking force is needed there. And that’s why most large street motorcycles have large, dual discs and large calipers on the front wheel and smaller, single brakes at the rear. It’s also why riders should be familiar with the need to provide more braking effort at the front brake lever in a firm, progressive squeeze as weight shifts forward and progressively less effort on the rear brake pedal to avoid skidding as the rear end of the bike lightens.
Of course, effective braking is only as good as the components. Discs, brake pads, and levers all play a significant role in braking performance. It’s clear why your machine would benefit by having braking components that consistently provide exceptional grip, fade resistance and predictable feel at the brake lever. That’s why many top riders are biased toward Braking® brake components.
Explore the performance BRAKING® products for your bike at sunstar-braking.com. Need help selecting the right parts for your needs? Just ask!