XPost: misc.survivalism, can.politics, soc.women   
   From: NoEMail@home.org   
      
   Alan Baker  wrote:   
   > While some very capable sport bikes on good tires may be able to   
   > THEORETICALLY stop faster than some cars:   
   >   
   > 1. It is certainly not true as a blanket statement about their   
   > capabilities. One of the major factors influencing maximum braking   
   > effort is weight transfer. The more weight transferred from rear to   
   > front, the less maximum grip the tires can provide. Bikes have higher   
   > ratios for C.G height to wheelbase than cars and so transfer a greater   
   > percentage of their weight onto the front wheel. So pick a like for   
   > like comparison (sport bike vs sports car) on similar tires and the car   
   > is going to be able to brake to a stop in less distance.   
   >   
   > 2. Actually wringing the most braking out of a bike is far, FAR harder   
   > than doing the same on a car.   
   >   
      
   In an emergency no experienced bike rider stops in the manner you   
   suppose. We lay the bike down on its side and skid to a stop.   
   Motorcycles are designed to protect both the bike and the   
   down leg of the rider in this maneuver. When I first taught   
   my wife (Bev) to ride a motorcycle we went out in a freeway   
   construction area and she practiced laying her bike down.   
   It becomes an instinctive thing to do.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)