Stopping bikes in times of danger is worth consideration. Every motorcycle owner knows the best way to break their bike in any situation, be it ABS or not. It is not a risky task to brake a motorcycle without ABS. I’m here to give you proper directions on how to brake a motorcycle without ABS risk-free.

Suppose, you are in a crowded place and you are running your bike at a high speed. So in this situation, you need to brake in a hurry. If you don’t know how to brake properly, you may get into an accident. 

To remove this type of hassle, I am going to break down how you brake properly and immediately. Keep reading this article top to bottom to learn how to brake safely and professionally.

10 Steps To Brake Without ABS Motorcycle Accurately: The Easiest Way

Braking hard in the motorcycle without ABS makes the wheel stop rolling. When you’re trying to stop your bike with a hard brake, you need to ease off the brake pedal. In this guide, I will break down some braking techniques on how to brake without ABS motorcycles making no mistakes.

Step 1: Take It Easy

Well, the first thing you set in your mind is it is not brainstorming or rocket science to stop your bike. Even if you are a newbie or new to bike riding, you can handle this effortlessly. First, learn the mechanism of braking and acquire some key knowledge about braking. After that, practice for a few days and learn some basics. So take it easy and go for a straight ride for a while. 

Step 2: Squeeze The Clutch

When you’re cornering and going into the narrow surfaces, you need to hold the clutch and squeeze gently. Then you need to shift down to first gear if the gear is higher. Before attempting this, you need to have a transparent knowledge of how you do this. So practice before trying to apply braking in the emergency period.

Step 3: Use Front And Rear Brake

In an emergency period, you can rely on the front brake. Because almost 70% of braking effort comes from the front wheel whereas 30% comes from the rear wheel. But when you are in a tough situation, you can go for both brakes at a time.

So, start with the front brake which creates friction. By doing this, all of a sudden, your bike’s front wheel will slow down. After that, at one point the wheel will lock up. When friction arises on the wheel, the brake pads lose their momentum.

This time, slowly start to pull the brake and squeeze the brake. If the brake sounds like “shi shi shi”, understand the friction is created.

Step 4: Understand The Friction Point

In many cases, while applying the brake on a non-ABS motorcycle, you should focus on the friction points. Understanding the friction zone is crucial because it goes between the engagement point and clutch point.

The clutch point is where all the power from the engine is delivered to the rear wheels. By doing this, the rear brake works and makes your motorcycle stop.

Before braking accurately, slowly release the clutch and pull it all the way. The engine won’t be able to transfer power in the drive system when the clutch is completely pulled away.

After a while, hold the lever until the bike stops completely. Besides, try to increase and decrease the bike speed.

Step 5: Keep Your Bike Straight

This thing is very meaningful and important. Whenever you need to brake, it is important to keep your bike as straight as possible. It will be possible to brake the bike safely and correctly. And since non-ABS bikes are a different matter of braking, in this case, you must brake keeping the bike straight.

However, never moving the bike while braking, like this, will cause the bike to lose control of itself and increase the chances of an accident. So try to apply the brakes keeping the bike straight and parallel.

Step 6: Do Not Move Your Body

It is not just a matter of keeping the bike straight when braking hard. You also have to be as calm and calm as you can.  Never shake your body and brake the bike. As a result, instead of braking your car, you can brake yourself. Hold the clutch lever and brake tightly and slowly bring it down. In this circumstance, also caution must be remembered. Never pull the brakes so hard that it stops immediately. This will cause the rear wheel to rise and you may fall over.

Step 7: Release The Pedal Lightly And Adjust The Brakes

The non-anti-lock braking system is frankly cool while you drive in the worst weather like snowy and muddy areas. Though it does not use a wheel sensor and other sensing skid conditions, it somehow works like ABS suddenly.

If you are straight and somehow manage to firm your position, now slowly release the pedal and adjust the brake as needed. It helps your wheel to stick in one place and provides less rolling. After letting off the pedal, adjust braking as needed.

Step 8: Apply Threshold Braking

Before the wheel is locked completely, apply the threshold brake instantly. When the wheel is locked,  you can’t apply this emergency brake. However, press the brake pedal firmly and direct to the point.

Once you have successfully locked your wheel, it is now time to release the brake pedal in order to regain steering control. Again, press the brake pedal securely. This time you don’t have to lock your wheel anymore.

After completing all sessions, now you are ready to brake hard as you need.

Step 9: Progressively Squeeze The Lever

Basically, a lever or shift lever is used to shift the gear accordingly. So the shift lever plays an important role when you want to shift gears from low to high or high to low. However, when talking about how to brake on a non-ABS motorcycle, you have to bring your gear high to low.

In this case, it is better to bring in first gear. This will make the motorcycle slow and will also facilitate cornering. Now, lift the shifting labor with your foot up and down and press it down with your heel in the same way as it is shifted. If you do this for a while, the brakes will work very easily, and gradually it will slow down.

Step 10: Squeeze The Tank With Your Knees

It is not mandatory though. But if you want, you can do it. There is no real difference compared to squeezing the clutch. By doing this, you can brake and slow down your bike primarily.

Here you need to straighten your right arm out and bend down your left arm on the floor. It is a little bit risky as well. So never do it if you are a fresher or don’t have enough knowledge. However, you can do it in the three most probable ways.

First, you need to divert tension to the lower body. It helps you to relax your upper body and helps to enjoy smooth control over your bike and braking.

4 Mistakes You Should Avoid While Braking A Motorcycle Without ABS:

No matter what type of motorcycle you are riding. Knowing emergency braking techniques and braking properly is crucial. If your motorcycle doesn’t have ABS, the necessity of braking is twice. And any mishap can happen if there is a little mismatch here.

1. Don’t Apply Any Pressure On The Front End

Keep in mind one thing before attempting to brake without an ABS motorcycle is never to create too much pressure. Creating or applying too much pressure in the front end will make your ride unsteady. In most cases, it leads to danger. This is because the front end can’t hold the pressure and suddenly it falls.

Tips: Here you can rely on the throttle control for getting the maximum outcome. To slow down your bike, you need to roll the throttle grip away from you. If you are in a hurry, roll the throttle off completely. Then, apply both front and rear wheel brakes simultaneously.

2. Don’t Pull The Clutch Too Hard

Well, another mistake riders make is they pull the clutch too hard and quickly. But it should not be done at all. In this case, you will pull the clutch at a very slow speed so that the quick brake is not effective. If this happens, the front brake will work faster and the wheel will get stuck.

As a result, the back will lean forward and there is a possibility of a fatal accident. So pull the clutch as slowly as possible so that the braking action is done slowly. This will reduce the risk of harm to you, your bike, and other people.

3. Using Only The Rear Brake Is Risky

Technically, using only the rear brake is not risky. But since you’re riding a non-ABS motorcycle, you should know the use of both brakes properly. Needless to say, the front brake provides more stopping power than the rear brake.

So using only one brake is not sufficient for oneself to stop a bike in emergency situations. That’s why I suggest you learn to utilize both brakes together. By doing this, you will be able to break very fast like an expert.

4. Ignore Traffic Prediction

Following traffic predictions is very safe and effective. Because when you follow the traffic prediction, you can automatically stop your bike on time. But if you don’t, you won’t be able to do this. As a result, the chance of falling risk is increasing rapidly.

In addition, try to avoid speeding. Try to ride the bike at medium speed as much as possible. As a result, there is no need to speed up or bother to apply the brakes immediately.

5 Advantages Of Non-ABS Motorcycles: Why Should You Choose Them?

Undoubtedly, a motorcycle with ABS is better to brake effortlessly. But if you have a motorcycle without ABS, you should know how to brake it properly in an emergency period.

1. Simple Functioning

In a non-ABS motorcycle, there is no brainstorming or difficult function. It provides a rider with more comfortable riding. This is why, nowadays, it is more suitable for many. If you are a skillful rider, you can handle this type of motorcycle effortlessly. With this function, you can brake faster and safely.

The non-anti-lock braking system is quite simple as you imagine. To apply the brake, you need to set the pressure on the brake pedal. Here remember to avoid skidding to use different techniques.

2. Consistent Stop Times

Non-anti-locking braking system bikes have superb consistency even if you brake on slippery areas. When you need to stop your bike in a certain place, you can do it properly. So there is no issue in braking while driving under adverse conditions without ABS. Moreover, you won’t need to brake hard in slippery conditions. This is why a non-ABS system decreases stopping distance so that the bike stops earlier.

3. Inexpensive

The maintenance and cost of a motorcycle without ABS are very low when we compare it with ABS. It is also compatible with almost all motorcycles, whether old or new. So if you have a good idea about motorcycles, non-ABS will be the best save for you. The installation cost is also very lower than ABS.

4. Decrease The Cost Of Insurance

Luckily, there is a low maintenance and insurance cost in a non-ABS motorcycle system. The reason is simple. It is legal and can be manufactured at a low cost.

5. Safer To Drive

Unlike ABS, a non-ABS has simple functions and maintenance. Some issues appear in non-ABS systems. If you fix the problems or issues immediately, definitely this can be a great option. You don’t need to brake too hard to stop the bike. When you need braking, you can lock the wheel instantly and it will stop after a few seconds.

Related Questions About Braking Without ABS Motorcycle:

Can You Brake Without ABS?

You can brake worry less even if there is no ABS. But there are some limitations as well. In the non-ABS system, you can’t brake hard. The reason is the safety and functionality can be lessened during hard brake. 

But fortunately, if you apply throttle and roll up the clutch away from your body, you can brake like a pro. So there is no significant debate about whether braking without ABS is impossible. Rather, there is no critical or tough task in braking a motorcycle that is not built with ABS functionality.

Should You Pump Brakes Without ABS?

It depends on what surfaces you are riding. If you ride on wet or slippery roads, non-anti-locking will help you to control manually. Here you should apply the pressure and release it at a moderate rate. Remember one thing, don’t apply too much pressure or quick (steady) pressure.

It causes great damage to your bike which allows skidding. So you can pump brakes without ABS if you want. But again remember it depends on various circumstances.

Is It Ok Not To Have ABS On A Motorcycle?

There is no risk or injurious effect if your motorcycle has no ABS. You can still run your motorcycle fearlessly. Nevertheless, a non-ABS bike has a simple function and formula which every rider can ride and brake properly. In the off-road condition where the friction is unsteady, you can go for this.

If you have sufficient knowledge and skill in braking techniques, you can apply this brake spontaneously. If you are a beginner, you can try ABS first, but it is not mandatory. Since the functionality and working formula are easy, anyone can understand the process of how to brake without an ABS motorcycle.

What Braking Technique Do You Use If You Don’t Have ABS?

There are some tremendous braking techniques available when you don’t have ABS. Among them, the most significant and effective one is “Cadence Braking”. It allows the motorcycle to pause in the slippery areas even in the worst or adverse situations. Just applying and releasing the brakes gently while allowing steering, you can excellently brake on wet or icy surfaces.

Another most useful and effective braking technique is the threshold braking technique. It can intensify braking pressure without locking up the wheels. So you can apply these techniques to overcome braking hassle.

Final Verdict:

It is significant and crucial to acquire knowledge on how to brake without ABS motorcycles. If you don’t, you won’t be able to brake properly when needed. In this guide, I gave some steps and techniques so that you can brake if you have a non-ABS motorcycle.

A motorcycle without ABS has the simple and easiest functionality. So it is not hard to learn brake on this. But braking hard is not always fruitful in a non-anti-locking system. If you use both front and rear brake altogether, you can brake like a pro.

You can also read:

Should You Use Engine Braking While Riding A Motorcycle?

12 Things You Should  Not Do When Riding A Motorcycle

Why Do You Use Engine Braking Instead Of Your Motorcycle Brakes?