Trail Braking
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 12:58 pm
I've recently been in discussion with another member of a driving club regarding trail braking on the public road. I concluded that the other party did not accept that there are two styles of trail braking. More specifically keeping some braking on in a blind or down hill bend, when driving on the road, is not strictly trail braking as performed on track. I'm talking for car driving as the situation on 2 wheels is slightly different.
I've understood, and supported by research, is that "trail braking" is a technique to move more weight onto the front tyres to improve grip in order to reduce understeer allowing a corner to be taken at a higher speed, with later braking on the approach, than would otherwise be possible. For this reason it usually reserved for track or racing. (The higher speed would be greater than a speed we would normally corner at to be able to stop in the distance seen to be clear.)
For road driving when keeping some braking on during cornering on the road, for a blind or downhill bend, the purpose is entirely different. It is not used to corner at a higher speed or later braking but for safety (blind bend) or to control speed (downhill bend).
What are other peoples thoughts?
I've understood, and supported by research, is that "trail braking" is a technique to move more weight onto the front tyres to improve grip in order to reduce understeer allowing a corner to be taken at a higher speed, with later braking on the approach, than would otherwise be possible. For this reason it usually reserved for track or racing. (The higher speed would be greater than a speed we would normally corner at to be able to stop in the distance seen to be clear.)
For road driving when keeping some braking on during cornering on the road, for a blind or downhill bend, the purpose is entirely different. It is not used to corner at a higher speed or later braking but for safety (blind bend) or to control speed (downhill bend).
What are other peoples thoughts?