Emergency Braking?

[1BlueKat]

I had to stop suddenly yesterday on my way home and felt the front end shake. It quickly stopped after I gave the front brake some relief. Did I brake hard enough to a point that I almost caused the front tire to skid? Just curious as this has never happened before and I have had to stop quickly before, but maybe not as fast as I had to yesterday. Ideas?

[SlipKid]

Did you hit the emergengy brake release? Actually my best idea for you is to buy some progressive fork springs. It's likely you were sacking-out the front forks...

[The CyberPoet]

Re: Emergency Braking?

I had to stop suddenly yesterday on my way home and felt the front end shake. It quickly stopped after I gave the front brake some relief. Did I brake hard enough to a point that I almost caused the front tire to skid? Just curious as this has never happened before and I have had to stop quickly before, but maybe not as fast as I had to yesterday. Ideas?

The real question is whether the shake is still there, easily reproduceable or if it was an one-time-thing. When you were stopping, were you perfectly upright, or leaned over in a turn?

There are several reasons this might have happened, including:
front end chatter (harmonics of the tire/road interface matching the harmonics of the fork/spring interface);
breaking hard enough to skid the tire over the ground,
bouncing under load over an uneven surface,
warped rotor;
uneven brake caliper piston deployment;
bad headstock bearings;
uneven fork oil levels (uneven damping);
unbalanced tire and/or flat spot on the tire from skidding

Without more details on whether this is still a problem and/or a close inspection of the brakes & front suspension, it's impossible to tell.

KNOW THIS:
Your fork oil and oil seals should be changed every other year, and at least once every 4th year in all cases. Your bike is now 6 years out from date of manufacture, so if it hasn't been done, it's high time.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[Black_peter]

You should practice panic brakeing on a regular basis. Front and rear..

[SlipKid]

I wanna see him practice a rear panic brake...

[1BlueKat]

Thanks for the ideas. I need to get the bike in for a 15k maint. check. I will have them check fork oil while it is in.
I have not had a problem with any shaking up to that point. Usually brakes smooth and even.
Thanks again.