The Quick Stop Exercise

[Jim Moore]

I read the thread on the U-turn box and I liked it so much that I decided to do a little write-up on another exercise (and test item) in the MSF class. The Quick Stop exercise is designed to teach the students to stop the motorcycle in the shortest distance possible, while using both rakes and shifting to first gear. You start at one end of the range, accelerate to about 15 mph in second gear, and stop as quickly as possible when your front tire crosses a set of cones on the other side of the range. Simple, right? Unfortunately, no. Stopping a motorcycle quickly requires a certain amount of skill, if only because you are performing tasks simultaneously with both hands and both feet.

· Is it really that big of a deal? Simple answer – Yes, it is, for several reasons. First, the quick stop exercise can cost you a lot of points on the MSF test. If you completely goon it up, you can lose up to 15 points on that exercise alone. You are only allowed to lose 20 points total. It is almost impossible to pass the test if you get maximum points on the braking exercise. Second, stopping the motorcycle is a critical skill for survival on the street. If it is done poorly, it can have disastrous consequences. Most people who "lay it down" to avoid an accident actually "panic, lock up the front wheel, and slide bike-first into the thing they were trying to avoid." We frequently see people lock up the front wheel on the rider test, and occasionally see people drop the bike, which is an automatic failure on the test.

You will do the quick stop exercise as the final exercise on the first day. Let's break it down and figure out how to do it right. You will launch from one end of the range, shift to second gear, and accelerate to 15 mph. Let's stop there and take a look at the first potential error. People sometimes think, "I need to be in second gear, so I'll shift as soon as I get started and get it out of the way." Not such a hot idea. Without going into a big discussion of transmissions, suffice it to say that the bike knows what gear it is supposed to be in. If you try to shift early, it may fight you. Open the throttle and get a little speed in first, then shift to second.

Having shifted to second, you are now approaching the stopping area at about 15 mph. The instructions read something like this: When the front tire crosses the cue cones, stop in the shortest distance you safely can, downshifting to first gear. Note this phrase: "When the front tire crosses the cue cones…" Here is the next sticking point. Everyone wants to do well, so there is an almost irresistible urge to pull in the clutch, roll of the throttle and / or use the brakes prior to reaching the cones. You will lose maximum points on the test if you anticipate the stop, so let's do it correctly right off the bat. First, keep your hands on the grips, not on the levers, until your front tire crosses the cones. Second, look straight ahead, not down at the cones. Monitor the cones out of your peripheral vision. When the cones disappear below your peripheral vision, it is time to start braking.

Now comes the tricky part. You will be working all four appendages at once, so it takes a little practice. As your front tire crosses the cones, simultaneously squeeze the clutch lever and front brake, and operate the rear brake pedal. As you are slowing to a stop, shift down to first gear. Finally, put your left foot down first. Don't worry about the braking distance for the first few times down the chute. Practice the technique: Both brakes, clutch in, downshift, left foot down first.

After you have the technique down, you can start to work on your braking distance. As you are slowing down, you can start to apply more and more front brake. You can actually squeeze pretty damn hard for the last few feet if you want to. DO NOT try to improve you stopping distance by grabbing the front brake lever harder initially. It is easy to lock the front wheel on the little MSF bikes, typically with disastrous results. Squeeze gently to start, then harder and harder as the bike slows down. Keep working on it until you and the ridercoaches are happy with your technique and distance.

Rear tire skid: If you skid the rear tire, keep it locked until you have come to a complete stop. Try to be a little less aggressive with the brake pedal the next time. Skidding a rear is no big deal.

Throttle roll-on: Lots of students roll on the accidentally throttle when they squeeze the front brake during this exercise. Typically, the noise scares them, and they let go of everything and coast out of the braking area. This is not optimal technique. If you hear the rpm increase as you are braking, don't worry about it. As long as you have the clutch pulled in, it's just noise. Get the bike stopped, then figure out where the noise is coming from. Even better, learn how to use your right thumb to hold the throttle closed while you use the brake.

Practice: The quick stop exercise is on the test. Do yourself a favor and practice the technique every time you stop the motorcycle during the rest of the class. Don't fall into the habit of coasting to a stop while gently squeezing the front brake only. Practice every time you stop: Both brakes, clutch in, downshift, left foot down first.

Test: On the test you will be timed as you come down the chute. Your score will be determined by how fast you ride, compared to how many feet it took you to stop. If you ride slower, you are expected to be able to stop in a shorter distance. Fifteen mph is a perfect speed for the test.

You will lose points if you do not use both brakes. You also lose points if you do not downshift to first gear. You will lose points if your stopping distance is longer than the standard for your speed.

If you anticipate or ride too slow, you will be asked to do it again. If you anticipate and / or ride too slow again, you will be assessed maximum points (15). It is much better to wait an extra few tenths of a second to ensure your front wheel is between the cue cones, even if it costs you a few feet on the end.

I recommend you read this before you go to the range the first day. Then, read it again before the second range period. Hopefully some of these tips will be helpful on the test. Good luck and ride safe.