First emergency stop

[Yager200i]

Well, I had my first emergency stop today.

Heading toward a traffic light, the light was green, I was about 125 feet from the crosswalk, at 38 mph (2 miles per hour under the speed limit).

The light turned yellow, then almost immediately turned red. This intersection has a traffic camera on it, and it's a notorious intersection... they decreased the time that the yellow light shows so that it forces people to choose between 'running the red', or slamming on their brakes; as a way of getting more 'you ran a red light' traffic ticket income. Unfortunately, it also causes a lot of rear-ender traffic accidents.

I quickly glanced in my rear view mirrors to be sure I had room in front of the car behind me as I cranked down on the brakes, the rear wheel locked a bit so I let off it until I could just hear it barely squealing a little bit near its traction limit.

I stopped about 3 feet inside the crosswalk, then backed up.

Now, at 38 mph, this all took a total of about 2 seconds. A car wouldn't have been able to stop, and would have gotten a ticket (or gotten rear-ended if they'd tried to stop).

Somebody should tell the DMV that their policy of ultra-short yellows as an income generator is dangerous, which is diametrically opposed to the purpose of traffic cameras in the first place.

[fshfindr]

Well, I had my first emergency stop today.

Heading toward a traffic light, the light was green, I was about 125 feet from the crosswalk, at 38 mph (2 miles per hour under the speed limit).

The light turned yellow, then almost immediately turned red. This intersection has a traffic camera on it, and it's a notorious intersection... they decreased the time that the yellow light shows so that it forces people to choose between 'running the red', or slamming on their brakes; as a way of getting more 'you ran a red light' traffic ticket income. Unfortunately, it also causes a lot of rear-ender traffic accidents.

I quickly glanced in my rear view mirrors to be sure I had room in front of the car behind me as cranked down on the brakes, the rear wheel locked a bit so I let off it until I could just hear it barely squealing a little bit near its traction limit.

I stopped about 3 feet inside the crosswalk, then backed up.

Now, at 38 mph, this all took a total of about 2 seconds. A car wouldn't have been able to stop, and would have gotten a ticket (or gotten rear-ended if they'd tried to stop).

Somebody should tell the DMV that their policy of ultra-short yellows as an income generator is dangerous, which is diametrically opposed to the purpose of traffic cameras in the first place.

[/quote]  Yes, that’s a good stop.  I practice all the time with normal stops hoping that muscle memory will kick in at the appropriate time.

[axy]

The best solution to this dilemma is not to run the yellow light if you can stop in time or go through the intersection in time.

Faced with dilemma to run through the yellow light or do sudden braking, I would always choose to avoid braking.
Crossroads are full of white lines and oil that dropped on the asphalt, so it is the last place where you want to brake suddenly, not to mention the possibility of being rear-ended by car (read: killed, become quadriplegic or otherwise get seriously injured).

I also do not agree that the car would not be able to stop where Yager did.  Most cars today have stopping distance of around 40 meters from 100-0 km/h and 10-12 meters from 50-0 km/h.

Your scoot, on a good day, needs around 12-13 m from 35-0 km/h, provided that you are sports bikes rider, brake perfectly, there is no rain, oil or white stripes.

[Wil B.]

I have found that the brakes on the Yager are very good.  Luckily I have only had to do a few 'hard' stops in the first 1000 miles.   Compared to a modern motorcycle they are definately not 'sport-bike' capable but very good for this type of vehicle.

This is my second Kymco product, and so far I am impressed with the performance, quality and attention to detail!  AND I'm averaging about 76mpg over the first 7 fillups!

Wil B.
Broadview, IL

'71 Guzzi Ambassador
'91 Nighthawk
'04 Kymco Super 9
'10 Kymco Yager 200 GT

[Agent Bob]

You had the advantage of having to stop a relatively light machine too. Weight makes a big difference.

[axy]

You had the advantage of having to stop a relatively light machine too. Weight makes a big difference.

Double the weight, four times the original stopping distance.