Emergency braking

Better still, practice off the highway and away from other vehicles. Occasional hard braking also stops pads and disks from glazing, maintaining maximum effectiveness.

In an emergency

You need to look for an escape path that will allow you to brake as hard as possible and avoid obstacles. Don’t get fixated by the source of danger - head around it.

Overall technique is just like normal braking but there are a few differences:

1. Grip the tank with your knees as tight as you can, so you don’t ride up it or stiffen your arms (you’ll lose sensitivity for what the front tyre is doing).
2. Concentrate on braking the front tyre as hard as you can. Squeeze the lever progressively harder - build it quickly and smoothly.
3. If a tyre starts to lock or it feels like the front is going to swing to left or right, ease back on the brake slightly until it grips again.
4. Don’t bother trying to change gears. Pull the clutch in and brake.

Having avoided one accident, make sure you don’t get involved in another. Check your mirrors and surroundings, then tap down the gearbox before riding away.

ABS and linked brakes

ABS can be a lifesaver in emergency braking, countering a locked wheel and allowing the rider maintain some control. But it can’t beat the laws of physics - you’ll still need distance to stop and you can still slide off in a corner.

Linked braking systems are usually combined with ABS to apportion braking forces between both wheels. Without ABS, linked systems can be prone to rear-wheel lock up. In low-speed manoeuvring, when you really only want the back brake, be very gentle on the pedal with a linked system. Some of the latest systems decouple at walking pace, earlier versions do not.