[PrasannaDhana]

Loved your CBR250R ownership. Infact, it is the Bible for CBR250R ownership!

Excellent upgrade to the Interceptor 650. It is the first royal Enfield that broke the negative impressions I had about the brand.

Perhaps the first royal Enfield of the millenia Era that was actually exciting to ride. I loved my test drive experience of the Interceptor 650, except for that stupidly large crank case fouling with my foot.

Wishing you lakhs of km of peaceful, safe and pleasurable biking on your Interceptor 650!

[aargee]

Originally Posted by aargee

[b]Interceptor's Ergonomics after riding over 750 Km

Had a chance to showcase the point of poor ergonomics riding in city yesterday - One has to be extra cautious not getting hurt with the hot right side of engine casing. Although the engine heat isn't an issue frying the legs (thanks to 9.5:1 CR), this is purely an ergonomics that had to be taken care. Again, if we wear riding shoes or even sneakers, this can be completely ignored; however even with slippers covering almost entire legs, especially open at right leg instep & arch (like in this picture), this is bound to be an issue at times or when concentrating too much on riding. But be assured, this is not a deterrent factor to stay away from buying this motorcycle

Here's how we normally place the legs


In reality this is what happens - sometimes




And why does this happen? See how the brake lever is located from top. Notice how much of the lever is protruding to place the legs comfortably



This is utter nonsense to compare, but still to give the readers a perspective from another obvious classic motorcycle from mid 1980s (the engine casing reveals the model). This is how the leg is normally placed


This one - I'm deliberately trying to place close to engine case as much a as possible


Top view, yet deliberately placing closely


And the wrong comparison on a well engineered motorcycle from 2011


Placing the leg deliberately close to engine casing


And the top view


Let me know if I'm doing anything incorrectly here pls as I'm still in learning curve

[jeeva]

Congratulations.
A very well written review straight from the heart review. Yeah, motorcycles have been always like this- the head has almost no say it, its the heart that matters.
And loved the pic and caption on Red and Andy!

[surjaonwheelz]

Originally Posted by aargee

Here's how we normally place the legs

Let me know if I'm doing anything incorrectly here pls as I'm still in learning curve

Two points:
- Why do you need the rear brake?
- You can try to pull your foot a little back to keep it on the ball of your feet or atleast rest the arch of your feet on the pegs!


Just attaching my riding pic, I don't use the rear brake unless under emergency braking.

Great write up on your brisk ownership and your observations are spot on, enjoy your machine in good health

surjaonwheelz

[aargee]

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Why do you need the rear brake?

That's the very purpose of having a rear brake; both brakes have to be applied together with more emphasis on front; like 60-40, 70-30 or even 80-20 with higher proportion to the front. That's how I'm hardwired to brake.

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

You can try to pull your foot a little back to keep it on the ball of your feet or atleast rest the arch of your feet on the pegs!

Yes, on empty stretches & relaxed cruising, this can be done; but on rear foot pedals as a matter of safety & staying cautious.

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Great write up on your brisk ownership and your observations are spot on, enjoy your machine in good health

Thank you Sir

[surjaonwheelz]

Originally Posted by aargee

That's how I'm hardwired to brake.

Yes, on empty stretches & relaxed cruising, this can be done; but on rear foot pedals as a matter of safety & staying cautious.

On one hand you're on a learning curve and on the other you're hard-wired!

What you're used to is perfectly fine but take a step back and analyse your actions and their effects. Front brake even if 70-80% is always first then rear comes in. Keeping your foot on the pedal is just for mental satisfaction that you're safe and cautious. After you've applied your front brakes you have enough time to reach the rear brake pedal to apply it.

Frankly, I'm no expert, actually I stopped using or nearly reduced rear brake usage, it was with my RE Classic 350 (BS3), the rear brake was simply not effective!

This is no I'm right or you're wrong post, I'm just sharing what I do and I don't find me limited so far. Resting your foot on the brake pedal is no for me. My right hand two fingers are always on the front brake lever for emergency! (Notice in the pic above) I feel safe enough.

Last point, keeping the ball of your feet on the pegs is an aggressive position and also keeps your footwear clear in cornering. Contrary "on empty stretches & relaxed cruising" you can rest it on your heel. Try it!

Your options:
- adapt to these footpegs
- replace with relaxed pegs/relocaters from way2speed, indimotard
- continue using riding footwear for thermal protection

Here's a video reference from a riding coach on brakes,

https://youtu.be/tu8Fbe6urNk

Ride safe,
surjaonwheelz

[aargee]

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

On one hand you're on a learning curve and on the other you're hard-wired!

Practice + Learning = hard wiring
Willingness to learn overriding hard wiring = learning curve (always)

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Front brake even if 70-80% is always first then rear comes in

Nope; both are simultaneous; 60-80% & 20-40% is the distribution of brake pressure between front & rear.

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Keeping your foot on the pedal is just for mental satisfaction that you're safe and cautious. After you've applied your front brakes you have enough time to reach the rear brake pedal to apply it

Very true in a relaxed state; in an emergency, what we've practiced works on 20% of the time. We don't know what might hinder by the time moving the right leg from footpeg to brake pedal. Besides I see the rear brakes of Interceptor is very effective as well.

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

I'm just sharing what I do and I don't find me limited so far. Resting your foot on the brake pedal is no for me. My right hand two fingers are always on the front brake lever for emergency! (Notice in the pic above) I feel safe enough

Ok

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Last point, keeping the ball of your feet on the pegs is an aggressive position and also keeps your footwear clear in cornering

Ok

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Your options:
- adapt to these footpegs
- replace with relaxed pegs/relocaters from way2speed, indimotard
- continue using riding footwear for thermal protection

Ok

[ashwinprakas]

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Here's a video reference from a riding coach on brakes,
https://Youtu.be/tu8Fbe6urNk

Ride safe,
surjaonwheelz

Just a FYI, in the Shumi video you've shared and many more content out there, there's a misconception that all motorcycles are front biased(and running on decent traction surfaces) which is why 100% use of front brake is suggested.

Aargee is spot on with using both brakes as he owns a RX as well and his experience has taught him better.

The safest recommended universal approach is to go at the rear brake first, then the front(rear still applied) and then nearing the absolute halt letting go of the front and solely depending on the rear to finish the job.

Or in panic situations just train muscle memory to go at both brakes at the same time, it is safer than going 100% on one brake for reasons favoring weight transfer, cause your traction is dependent on weight transfer and your application on feedback, in both cases the rear brakes helps you by loading the front(before the front brake properly bites which is basically low-side insurance) and taking slack out of the chassis.

P.S. Sorry for not quoting source, it was a long time ago and I do not recall the exact article.

Hope that helps.

Ride Safe.
A.P.

[drt_rdr]

^^ I remember hearing about this from one of the xbhp bigwigs. Dab the rear brake so the weight moves forward, then get on both the front and rear brakes. It works well.

But in everyday riding, my front is always more readily available for quick reaction than my rear. So, I just lean forward and get on both brakes.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by ashwinprakas

Just a FYI, in the Shumi video you've shared and many more content out there, there's a misconception that all motorcycles are front biased(and running on decent traction surfaces) which is why 100% use of front brake is suggested.

Aargee is spot on with using both brakes as he owns a RX as well and his experience has taught him better.

The safest recommended universal approach is to go at the rear brake first, then the front(rear still applied) and then nearing the absolute halt letting go of the front and solely depending on the rear to finish the job.

Or in panic situations just train muscle memory to go at both brakes at the same time, it is safer than going 100% on one brake for reasons favoring weight transfer, cause your traction is dependent on weight transfer and your application on feedback, in both cases the rear brakes helps you by loading the front(before the front brake properly bites which is basically low-side insurance) and taking slack out of the chassis.

P.S. Sorry for not quoting source, it was a long time ago and I do not recall the exact article.

Hope that helps.

Ride Safe.
A.P.

Most riders who learned riding before the advent of disc brakes and forums and You Tube and WhatsApp training schools use both brakes and use the rear liberally.

I invariably need a change of read disc pads within 7-8000 km.

I've crashed with the front brake more than once (both early non ABS ones).

Never with the rear brake. The rear brake does a lot more than just retard forward motion. It stabilizes the bike. Rear trail braking is an art honed over years.

Front trail braking is Russian Roulette.

Cheers, Doc

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by surjaonwheelz

Just attaching my riding pic, I don't use the rear brake unless under emergency braking.

Best and safest practice is to use both simultaneously.

[surjaonwheelz]

Dear Riders,

I'm not advocating to use the front brake only!

Point was regarding the foot position on the Interceptor 650, due to the footpeg-lever placement one can't keep their right foot on the brake lever without touching the hot engine casing. (as demonstrated by aargee)

Please suggest a way around this. Thanks for your tips on emergency braking!

Cheers,
surjaonwheelz

[saratjyo]

Originally Posted by ashwinprakas

Just a FYI, in the Shumi video you've shared and many more content out there, there's a misconception that all motorcycles are front biased(and running on decent traction surfaces) which is why 100% use of front brake is suggested.

I agree. I always use this method. Applying the rear brake first and then the front gives me the confidence that the vehicle is going to be stable and halt to stop. Also most of the time I let go of the acceleration if there is a traffic/stop ahead and just use the rear brakes alone to halt in the reduced speed. This gives the leverage to steer my front without accidentally locking up the brakes and end up on the ground. This is just my method of braking in my non ABS model R15 and Thunderbird.

[karanddd]

You can crawl at really low speeds in traffic with half clutch, a bit of throttle and the rear brake partially depressed. Once you start doing that you'll almost never put your feet down, even when the car in front has almost stopped.

[neil.jericho]

aargee, congratulations on on your Interceptor 650! The thread was such a pleasure to read as it has perfectly summed up your decision making and ownership experience, in what is truly your own voice. Since we go back a long way, I can confidently say that this is one of the most authentic and straight from the heart motorcycle reviews that I have read from a genuine biker.

The only point that I can add to your query above, is that after I had an accident over fifteen years ago, I stopped riding with slippers / sandals. I fell from the bike and in the process, I burnt my ankle. The recovery was very difficult and I still have a large scar as a reminder to me. I know it is not feasible for everyone to always ride a motorcycle while wearing at least basic shoes or sneakers, but if the situation allows for it, I will suggest one avoids sandals or slippers while riding.

Your experience with the CBR and willingness to share the information on forums, was the foundation for countless other Honda owners in India to refer to and learn from. I am sure that your upcoming years and tens of thousands of kilometers with the Interceptor 650 will also result in a similar sharing of your real world experiences and wisdom. I look forward to more updates on this thread and congratulations once again!