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They did the same thing when I took it. Saturday was riding all day. I remember after that first day I almost couldn’t walk straight for a few hours because it felt like I was still riding. That despite having ridden offroad for 12 years, it’s just that I had never spent 8 hours on a smooth course doing maneuvers. Was fun.

The MSF course was one of the best experiences in my life. Made me a better car driver. Really bonded with a few of the people, met a girl even. Wow, I just calculated it has been 17 years since I took the class, I should probably take it again.

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True, that’s why I said basically useless and not “completely useless.” I guess I should have been clearer. When I say I hardly use the rear I mean I’m still using it but not using much force.

I have known many a person that went down because they panic, hit that rear brake and lock it up. It seems so odd to me because most of the braking power is in the front! What are they thinking?! Bad habits…

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I’m the opposite (as instructed by MSF course). Front brakes are bad on slippery surfaces but on a normal road surface all your braking power is there in the front. It’s a pretty bad habit to get into using mostly the rear.

As for the original poster, knowing the gear you’re in versus the speed you are going is important. I downshift as I cross the speed appropriate for that gear, even if I don’t engage the clutch. I never just skip a whole bunch of gears. That’s bad practice because what if you need to move quickly but you’re in the wrong gear for the speed you are currently going? Be in the gear appropriate for the speed you are currently going, not the speed you will eventually be going.

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You said you overreacted and stomped the rear brake. I imagine that was the cause of the lockup more than anything else.

On the road I hardly use the rear brake. The rear brake is basically useless when you’re braking hard.

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My NT650 Hawk got destroyed a few years ago (from a hurricane, not riding ) and while I like the sport-bikes, I have been thinking about something different lately, maybe I’m getting old…

Too much weight and power for me but I can’t afford it anyway. Considering building something similar myself though.

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