Having to brake in a turn

[richardbb]

I will offically have my 2 wheeler triked in a few weeks. I was thinking about braking in a turn. We all know that with a 2 wheeler if you enter a turn too fast it is a no no to hit the brakes in the middle of the turn. You just hang on and get through it and maybe even give it a little throttle in the middle of the tun as you exit the turn.

With a trike, what is the safest way to handle the same situation? Can you gently hit the brakes in the middle of a turn or do you hold on and steer through it?

Thanks.

[americanbadass]

I use the throttle to slow or accelerate thru turns, almost always throttling thru turns. I only brake if I have to in curves or turns.

[DaveHigdon]

See if you can find a copy of the latest HOG magazine (Issue 020) and there is a two page article on trike tips which includes braking through turns.

You can safely brake through a turn on a trike because it will remain upright even if you turn the front. Also, with the stability of three wheels you gain the extra braking ability of the third wheel with a larger surface area of the tire contacting the pavement. After a couple of rides you see how much quicker you can stop.

[mhgoldwing]

Whoa! Braking in turns, as a general rule, is not good in/on any vehicle. It all goes back to the traction pie we learned in basic training. If you are too hot in a turn then the majority of traction is being used to hold to the road. If you then apply brakes you reduce the holding traction as the braking actions requires a portion of it. Also, on a trike if you begin braking in a turn you're too hot in, the trike will tend to lift the inside rear wheel putting more traction demand on the front and left wheel possibly exceeding the traction limits. Bad outcome highly probable! If at all possible you would be better off sliding your butt off the seat and leaning as far as you can to the inside of the turn and toward the rear of the trike simultaneously to keep the inside wheel on the ground. Keep throttle at least steady so as not to overload outside wheels and cause slide. YMMV.

[Tip Schwartzbeck]

I think there are some good ideas in the above answers,however I don't agree with all of them.
First off if I think I am entering a curve too fast I let off the throttle and touch the rear brake.To me several things go though my mind such as:is there a vehicle approaching - road surface immediately in front of me - is there room for a wider turn?
There are too many different scenarios to give one definitive answer I feel.
These are my opinions - not facts.
Ride safe and stay in your comfort zone,
Tip

[Rod69]

I use the throttle to slow or accelerate thru turns, almost always throttling thru turns. I only brake if I have to in curves or turns.

I agree with americanbadass.

[Shimpy]

There is a very fine line between "wow" and "oh $hit" Best to stay on the conservative side entering the curve and if you're ok then pour on the throttle. That burst of acceleration is the most fun anyway. I have no problem applying some brake if I need to but usually I'm in a low enough gear that I only have to let up on the gas.

[jaxbobg]

Ditto the comments of Americanbadass and Tip.

I almost always adjust with a downshift, throttling, and a tap of the just the rear brake if going too hot into a curve. Several times have misjudged a sharp curve in the NC and TN mountains and would have been in the ditch without a couple of judicious brake taps. Once or twice have made the rear tires "bark" but came through safely.

Could be my IRS is helping in these situations, don't know.
Maybe Shimpy can tell us if a straight axle responds differently.

[2Trikez]

IRS or straight axle with too much speed are both the same and yet different in corners. Uphill or downhill? Off-camber or not? Chassis' set before corner entry?? Pulling trailer (uphill/downhill)?? Lane position wrong for entry to corner?? Lots of differing answers to this type question.

Basic type of entry is: outside to inside lane travel, either downshift or roll-off throttle for a split-second prior to corner entry, apply handlebar pressure for corner and add throttle to exit. Rolling off the throttle OR just a small tap of the brake (kinda like a trail braking) should "set" the chassis for corner entry. If your going deep into the corner's with speed...things get ugly in a hurry. Doesn't really matter which rear type one has on trike.

Chirping the tires is not a good sign. just my 2 cents.

2Tz