Emergency braking

[swodo]

In the middle of a turn, in an emergency (something in the road, e.g.) can you apply the brakes on a trike? On a two wheeler, its a recipe for disaster, but what do you do on a trike?

If the tires lock up is it best to leave them that way?

[Bikerbozo]

It's for times like that that I wish H-D had left the ABS on the front wheel. I would imagine that you would slide in a straight line from the point of braking.

[SEAlaskan]

I was going around a corner (narrow two lane) one day doing about 34 mph when a bear cub jump out in front of me. I hit the brakes...with the handle bar turned about 5 degrees, front wheel lock up and was sliding, causing the trike to go straight. The cub darted out to the middle of the road came to a screeching halt (when it saw me) turned and headed back into the woods from where it came out. Course the road was damp at the time. This is where I think a wider front tire might make a difference.

Butch

[Scalp Hunter]

Imagine going down the interstate at approx 70mph looking for a particular exit. suddenly around a corner is the exit. Common sense says go to the next exit and turn around, but Oh no; whip onto the exit (which is a slight incline) and proceed to brake down. Problem the exit ramp is about 40 meters long with a 90 degree right turn above a drop off. BG, who was supposed to be co-piloting and watching for this exit was asleep and imediately awakened when we hit the exit. The only comment she made upon seeing our predicament was "Oh S***", thirteen times (Don't ask me how I know). Anyhow, after alternatly locking brakes and accelerating I managed to drift around the curve with at least 1/2 inch of roadway to spare and continue on my way to the first gas station I could find to relieve myself. BG meanwhile just sat there the whole time I was in the restroom looking like she had seen a ghost. (She didn't go back to sleep the rest of the trip). Solution: don't get in those situations, and if you do, Hope it's not your time to go. Personally I think that was our time, but God was so busy laughing at BG's response, he forgot to take us. This happened on the way to Maggie Valley 2 years ago.

[rhino 2]

one This is where I think a wider front tire might make a differents.

Butch

I would think a wider tire will make an already heavy to steer Trike even heavier.

[SEAlaskan]

Scalp Hunter, I hear you, done that a few times...Not good.

rhino, Your probably right.

Butch

[skuuter]

Apply the Front Brake first with a firm, steady increasing pull, as You gradually add Rear Brakes. You should NEVER lock a wheel up in a Braking Situation. If You reach this point, release some Brake Lever pressure quickly and let the wheel(s) start rolling again as You start the process over. A skidding, wheel sliding Trike is no longer stopping. Also, once You lock a Front Wheel it can no longer steer...it requires turning to complete this. Your Front Brake is still well over half of Your stopping power on a Trike. I never add Rear Brake except in Panic Stops or Traffic Light/Stop Sign Situations. I still practice Panic Stops regularly in Sunday Morning Parking Lots, and have my Wife do the same. PRACTICE...it may save Yours and a Passenger's Life someday.....

[Bikerbozo]

As I taught myself on snow and rain, the front brake is so strong it locks up immediatly and is useless for these situations. I will give to H-D for not having ABS on rear wheels (since 2-rear wheel ABS certainly doesn't exist on any cars and they didn't want to spend the developement money), but WHY did they have to remove something from front wheel that they already have? Makes no sense!
On a related note, when front wheel is locked up, that is the only time "counter steering" will actually work on a trike (think dirt track race in animated movie Cars). That's right, I ride like I am in a cartoon.

[GARYD]

Speaking about braking in a turn. Before I bought the trike I was practicing braking during a turn and I had it all figured out, but it only worked when you know when to do it - not in an emergency when you are not thinking.
What I did was, as I'm turning and applying the brakes, I was also leaning the bike over more as I turned. So that way I didn't flip upright like you normally would.

[THEREALTRIKKY]

This is one of the reasons I have been looking into the Harley Gladiator that Motor Trike offers. They are able to utilize the Harley ABS system on their kit. It will still only separate the front and rear wheels similar to a 2 wheeler, but in a panic stop, especially on wet and or slick roads, this still seems much safer than not having abs at all. Anyone have any experience with the ABS kit they offer?