rednek426 said:
well, technically, you don't want to lock either wheel up, as youstop a lot faster when you hold the brakes right at the point where they are about to lock up (thresh-hold braking). that is the point where you have the most stopping power, as the tire still has traction on the road. but the rear tire often locks easier than the front, since it has the least amount of weight on it.
i try not to lock either wheel. if i feel one lock, then i let off the brake just enough for it to get traction again.
If you remember your high school physics, the coefficient of static friction is significantly greater than the coefficient of dynamic friction. So like rednek426 said, you get a lot more stopping power if you're not skidding. And when you're braking hard, the weight shifts to the front, so the rear brake doesn't grip much, and it's easy to lock up.
I really like being able to control the two brakes individually. On a car, I have often allowed a rear brake skid to give maximum braking power on the front (for straight line stops only, and I steer the front to keep the rear from coming around). But on a bike, I can let off the rear brake so it doesn't skid, and keep the power on the front.
What I'm just learning about this year is the effect that front braking has on cornering. I've read that Nascar drivers steer their cars with the gas and brake as much as with the steering wheel, and I've started to notice that effect when cornering hard at high speed. Hit the front brake hard and the weight shifts to the front, causing the front tire to dig in and turn harder. Hit the gas and the front tire lifts up, giving a smaller contact surface and less cornering force, making you go straighter. It's pretty scary, but very cool.
What to do about an accidental skid is a whole 'nother book. There's a hundred things to check all at once -- steering angle, leaning angle, rear end movement, dive, traffic in all directions, and God help you if you have a passenger. It's a lot better to not let yourself get into those situations. I know we can't prevent everything, but good anticipation and pretending that the other drivers are trying to be sneaky and deliberately kill you will help with your defensive driving.
Curt