Race Track Day Tips: How to Brake Into a Corner

Cornering is one of the critical moments of bike riding – especially when done at great lean angles and high speeds. It does not matter whether you ride a Ducati Monster or a Honda Grom – learning to brake properly around a corner can be the difference between fun riding and a dangerous experience. In this article, we will talk about everything from the physics of both tires during braking and cornering, how they interact with each other, what technique the pros use to zoom around corners at high speeds (and with unreal leans that leave us wowed), and how you can upgrade parts like your Honda Grom re chatar brake pedal for prime racing performance. Before we proceed, I would love to emphasize that learning to corner properly is not just a skill for racers but for all riders on two wheels. Proper braking is as much a safety skill as it is a racing skill.

Why You Shouldn’t Brake During a Turn

If you are a visual learner, one of the greatest bike riding resources I can recommend to you is the documentary “A Twist of the Wrist II,” which you can look up after you are finished with this essential read.

The reason you must not brake while you are leaning during a corner is that the tire bends in a particular fashion that may cause the bike to lose balance. Bikes are gyroscopic systems – the tires want to stand upright as much as possible while moving. This is why leaning provides the force while turning; what’s actually happening is that the tires are pushing against the ground to stand upright. This helps you turn and zoom around the corner at fun speeds.

Another potential danger is that the brakes locking up during a turn can prove a hazardous accident. You might lose control, and it may quickly turn into a very unfortunate incident.

Now, all bikes are gyroscopic when moving at speeds above about five mph. These same rules apply whether you are riding a Harley, a BMW ADV, or a Honda Grom with fancy plastic mods. You want the gyroscopic properties of the bike to work for you, and hence you must respect the machine and not do anything that upsets the balance of the machine. Braking during a turn can upset the balance of your vehicle, making it harder to maintain a smooth line through the corner, other than proving dangerous. This can cost you valuable time on the track, as you'll need to slow down and regain control before you can accelerate again.

How to Brake While Facing Corners

Braking while facing corners is a crucial technique for any racer looking to improve their performance and shave valuable seconds off their lap times. To do it effectively, there are a few key steps you should follow:

• Ensure a safe passage before the turn. While tracks are a relatively safer place to corner, it may spell danger if you decide to corner at high speeds on the twisties or the normal roads without getting a clear line of sight ahead. Do not corner around a turn where you cannot see what’s ahead before you start to lean!

• Brake before the turn: this is the crucial rule of cornering. It would help if you completely reduced the speed of your bike before you lean into a corner. Never brake during a lean. Do the braking before you enter the turn, and ease up the brakes as you lean.

• Ease off the brakes: Once you've begun to turn, start easing off the brakes gradually. This will help maintain your vehicle's balance and stability, allowing you to maintain control and momentum through the turn.

• Accelerate out of turn: Once you've reached the apex of the turn and are starting to exit, you can begin to accelerate again. This will naturally come to you after practice, and this is a delicate dance you must learn with your bike.

• Practice, practice, practice: As with any racing technique, mastering braking while facing corners takes time and practice.

How Do Professional Racers Corner?

Simply put, what professional MotoGP racers do is hone the above technique to a refined level; the smallest differences can separate a win from a loss. They practice for hours and hours, and they lean so much that their knees scrape the ground. They are so fine-tuned with the machines that they corner around every turn perfectly, at such high speeds and at such levels of force that would tire the average human down very quickly.

Upgrade These Parts For Prime Brake Performance

Let’s talk about upgrading a Honda Grom as an example. You must first contact an experienced parts dealer who will help you through the entire process and provide their expertise. Then, they would help you through all upgrades, be it the Honda Grom brake pedal for performance, the Honda Grom storage box for functionality, or Honda Grom plastics for the looks. Generally, high-quality brakes can help your performance on the track. A brake upgrade will also increase the safety of your bike if your current brakes are not up to the mark.

To Sum Up

The proper braking technique around corners would help you go faster on the track and stay safe on the streets and on the twisties. A brake upgrade is an excellent investment for safety and performance.