Breaking in a Curve - Motor Cop Riding Tip

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POLICE MOTORCYCLE TRAINING.

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Breaking in a Curve
Visualize yourself on a glorious sunny afternoon, shined boots and a freshly waxed motorcycle. Your direction is taking you into a long sweeping turn and you are unable to see the other side. As you travel around the continuous radius you identify gravel across the path of travel and the only option available is emergency braking.

Emergency stopping in a curve must be completed immediately to be effective. Good posture boots flat on the boards and looking at the horizon must be present. First action is to straighten the motorcycle to an upright position and then using all four fingers squeeze the front brake and follow-up with the rear brake. Look straight brake straight. If this technique is performed incorrect you may end up in a low slide. While leaning the motorcycle traction is limited, therefore, you must make sure you straighten the cycle prior to braking in an emergency situation to take advantage of all traction available.


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Do not cover the rear brake during normal day to day operations. Covering the rear brake may produce a rear wheel lock-up.

Of course the most important objective of this technique is to practice. When is the last time that the Motor Officers in your unit conducted braking in a curve?

Additional information by Joe Furman.

This training article was written by Captain Jim Polan. Jim Polan is a 24-year Law Enforcement veteran and currently a Captain with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

If you are a police motorcycle instructor and would like to share some of your knowledge with your fellow officers, please let us know.