One of the most used skills riding, but one of the most undeveloped is the skill of braking. We all know that going faster contributes to the stability of our bikes, but how many of us know how to use the brakes we have CORRECTLY? How many of us know what type of braking system we have? One of the things I try to do on a regular basis is find a deserted school parking lot or road and preactice stopping quickly in a line or stopping quickly in a curve, both are important skills that should be developed and honed. Stopping quickly in a line means we must apply pressure to both front and rear brakes evenly so as not to lock either wheel (unless you have abs of course) of course if you do lock a wheel then know what to do with that aspect is equally important, especailly the rear wheel which if allowed to skid can result in a high side if you decide to let off the brake. The key to all of this is still practice and besides it can even be fun since you are doing what most of us want to which is ride.

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Freddy & Doris Wheeler
Motorist Awaness Division
Alabama District Coordinator
Gold Wing Road Riders Assn.

One thing that seperates average riders from competent riders is that the average one waits until their life depends on a great stop to "practice" for the first time.

Again, I think this is where track days are a great thing, because braking is as important as throttle to going fast, and it makes you learn the limits of your braking in a more controlled environment.

Track days are great. I get out to one about 4 times each year. Proper entry speed, body position, countersteering, smooth throttle, lines and looking through turns are all improved on the track.

Yeah, I do about the same, though last year I managed to pull off 7.

What's a track day?         Not everyone lives close to a track so one should not limit ones self if a track is not close.

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Freddy & Doris Wheeler
Motorist Awaness Division
Alabama District Coordinator
Gold Wing Road Riders Assn.

A track day is pretty much what it sounds like. An individual or organization rents a track, and you pay them a fee to get on that track for the day.

Two of the largest organizations that do this are Sportbike Track Time (www.sportbiketracktime.com) and NESBA (www.nesba.com).

You don't really need to live near a track to do this, either. I live in Atlanta, where I'm fortunate to be close to several tracks, but I've traveled as far as Chicago to do track days at different tracks. I can't think of too many places in the US where you can't be at a track within a day's drive.

I'm not saying they're the be-all and end-all to practice, but there are some skills that really benefit from practice on a racetrack, braking being one of these. Also, for the sport rider, it's a great way to get out some of that "need for speed" in a controlled environment without actually having to go and race.

And also, being in Alabama, you're definitely near some tracks. Not sure where in Alabama you are, but you have one of the finest motorsports facilities on earth in Birmingham at Barber Motorsports Park, and a sort of little-known track in Talladega called Talladega Grand Prix.

Talladega Grand Prix is a great track in that it's inexpensive enough for a club to rent for the day and host their own track day. I host a 10-man track day there every year, and it's a blast. You could rent it for your local chapter of the GWRRA, and host a
"'wings only" track day.