Here is a snippet from Proficient Motorcycling for those of you who still consider laying a bike down an alternative braking procedure.
"There was a time when motorcycle brakes and tires didn’t perform very well, which led to the standard quick stop technique known as “laying it down.†Many riders from the good old days think that this is the best way to stop a bike in an emergency.
Even though motorcycle brakes have evolved remarkably over the years, this archaic method lives on with more than a few of today’s riders out there who think that “laying it down†is still a reasonable option. Sadly, some of these riders continue to pass on this technique to newer riders in the guise of sage advice. The way I see it is that if the tires can grip and the brakes are able to dissipate energy, then why not use them to their
fullest? The “laying it down†method gives up on any hope of stopping with the motorcycle on its tires and instead relies on chrome, plastic and metal sliding on pavement to somehow slow the bike down. It’s interesting to note that some riders will often state that they had to lay it down to avoid a collision, when in reality they simply skidded and lost control.
While there may be a few rare situations where strategically laying a motorcycle down may make sense, it is better for riders to focus on proper braking skills that keep the rubber on the road. It’s also important to use strategies that avoid the need to use emergency braking skills in the first place".
