When I started riding, I was almost using the rear brake always. I know I know. So after lots of practise,I broke that bad bad habit.
I notice now many years later, I hardly ever use the rear. I know like 70% or 80% brake is from front. I bring this up because both my bikes have bent rear brake (still usable) from minor crashes. I haven't even fixed it yet ( year ago & one recent) but plan to fix it ASAP.
Slam that rear n eat up the thread on the rear tire.... Grrr
Rear brake lock ups just suck and as such don't use it ( rain forget it I almost wont touch the
rear ever)
So how often do you use your rear brake? Other than to slam it n slide sideways for fun.
When? Looking for feed backs here.
Thanks
-Ab
uphill stoplights or just generally anytime i need to get going facing uphill... and when coasting to a stop at low speeds along with the front brake. i find that doing it that way makes the suspension pitch forward less and makes it a bit more comfortable. or when i really really need to do a hard stop... i figure at that point as much braking force as i can get is prob a good idea.
Quote from: thought on April 21, 2011, 08:22:02 PM
uphill stoplights or just generally anytime i need to get going facing uphill... and when coasting to a stop at low speeds along with the front brake. i find that doing it that way makes the suspension pitch forward less and makes it a bit more comfortable. or when i really really need to do a hard stop... i figure at that point as much braking force as i can get is prob a good idea.
Same here... uphill stoplights and hard stops mostly. I also use it with easy stops every once in a while. I tell myself I'm extending the life of the front pads by using the rear/front combo every once in a while. I know it's not true, at least not making a significant difference, but it makes me feel better.
Almost never. I use it sometimes when I'm on sand or dirt.
I removed my rear brake entirely.
Hard stops, lights, hills. dubious traction conditions to distribute the load/dirt roads, below walking pace maneuvering, a little dab to settle the rear under spirited conditions...
Yeah the fronts do most of the work, but the rear has a place.
Quote from: Blackout on April 22, 2011, 02:26:32 PM
I removed my rear brake entirely.
Pictures of both bikes without rear brakes.
Or it didn't happen.
Quote from: Sad Panda on April 23, 2011, 06:52:59 AM
Hard stops, lights, hills. dubious traction conditions to distribute the load/dirt roads, below walking pace maneuvering, a little dab to settle the rear under spirited conditions...
Yeah the fronts do most of the work, but the rear has a place.
+1
Quote from: Sad Panda on April 23, 2011, 06:52:59 AM
Yeah the fronts do most of the work, but the rear has a place.
Among other things, the rear brake slows down effective shock rebound, but I'm not good enough to exploit that.
pardon my ignorance but why all the reluctance to use the rear brake? i've never done a track day or any training other than MSF, but i've been riding daily for almost 3 yrs now. i've always used both front and rear brakes for nearly all stops, just like they tell you to in the MSF course.
aside from the obvious situations like when pulling out from a stop on an uphill, why is everyone hatin' on the rear brakin'?
from what i understand it is that in a turn, losing your rear is a lot more dangerous than losing your front, in your instincts and what might happen. if you lose your front, you let of the brakes and then reapply pressure as the reaction, and if you still slide, there is a high chance it will be a low side. if you slide your rear, you have to keep pressure on it and ride the slide out, which is the opposite of the normal reaction you would have. because if you let go of the rear during the slide, it'll hook back up and there is a very high chance you'll high side.
and beyond that, the standard "almost all your braking force is in your front brake" stuff
Quote from: DucofWestwood on April 28, 2011, 04:24:18 PMaside from the obvious situations like when pulling out from a stop on an uphill, why is everyone hatin' on the rear brakin'?
I don't have anything against it, but I just don't use it much. I guess it's just my personal style of riding.
Quote from: Blackout on April 22, 2011, 02:26:32 PM
I removed my rear brake entirely.
My rear brake developed an annoying habit of locking up. This happened once so I took it apart and fully inspected, cleaned, changed fluid, bled line, etc. The next time it locked up I was on the frwy doing about 85. Damn near had a bad get off.
Truth is I never used them unless I am stopped at a light and wanna take my hands off the bars.
I tend to use mine when stopping quickly, emergency stops, and for a little hooning when I can. It's usually for mild honing, to initiate a quick slide at 30mph or so. Bikes are supposed to be fun right? [moto]
Quote from: Blackout on April 28, 2011, 07:40:56 PM
My rear brake ... locked up I was on the frwy doing about 85. Damn near had a bad get off.
That's a sign to replace the rear brake, not to stop using it!
Using the rear brake on the street is not a "bad habit." It's not uncool to use it. You should know how your bike responds to each brake in different conditions and how the three brakes interact (front, rear, and engine braking). And it varies by the bike. A cruiser and a superbike do not brake the same!
If you slam on the brakes at high speeds your weight shifts forward, allowing the lightened rear tire to lock up under lighter brake pressure. If you run off the road into sand or gravel, you will want to have a good relationship with your rear brake, because a fistful of front brake will get ugly fast.
It's safe to use both brakes in normal driving. If one brake light switch goes out then the other one will keep you safe from the traffic behind you. Learn it, and use it, and make sure it functions properly. It may hold you at a traffic light, but will it slow you down from speed?
I agree that prudent use of the rear is warranted in most conditions.
The "hating" on the rear brake comes from those who are learning to ride at race or near race pace where the rear lightens up making the rear brake useless or dangerous to the uninitiated. That said, ever wonder how racers get the rear out to tighten their lines? You guessed it....rear brakes.
The rear brake is a control mechanism. You should learn to use it effectively.
The same folks who say you shouldn't use the rear brake are the same ones who won't use the front brake whilst turning, despite the fact that trail braking is a legitimate motorcycle control technique.....just like dragging the rear brake to settle the suspension or covering the rear to control wheel stands.
If it was useless, why do you reckon manufacturers would spend money to install decent ones?
I like your effective use of the rear brake in your avatar pic. ;D [evil] [beer]
Quote from: Cloner on May 04, 2011, 09:51:57 PM
<snip>
If it was useless, why do you reckon manufacturers would spend money to install decent ones?
Because some regulation requires it. ;D
QuoteBecause some regulation requires it.
Then why would they keep it on track if they could shave off all that "useless" weight? ;)
Because a racebike won't pass tech without a rear brake.
Quote from: vinny on May 10, 2011, 06:52:41 PM
Then why would they keep it on track if they could shave off all that "useless" weight? ;)
I'm one of those guys that Cloner mentioned that rides kinda fast on track and doesn't have the talent to effectively use the rear brake.
I have mine on there to slow down when I'm in the grass, ;)
Quote from: ducpainter on May 12, 2011, 03:47:03 AM
I'm one of those guys that Cloner mentioned that rides kinda fast on track and doesn't have the talent to effectively use the rear brake.
I have mine on there to slow down when I'm in the grass, ;)
It ain't talent, Nate, it's survival instinct. I use mine in the grass (wait....this is New Mexico....make that sand and tumbleweeds) far too often, too. :o
And Cider obviously doesn't race here. I can squeeze nearly anything through tech if I put enough duct tape and/or safety wire on it. ;D
Thanks, Statler. I guess I could post this:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc428/tscloninger/cloner_wheelie.jpg)
to demonstrate the other extreme...but what would be the point? [evil]
slow speed manouvering is drastically improved with feathering of the rear brake..........especially on more top heavy bikes. I couldn't imagine trying to ride my old triumph sprint around a parking lot without it. Even though the monster has a low centre of gravity, rear brake usage makes slow speed turns so much easier.
I learned the hard way why you want to be in the habit of using both brakes at all times. I came up to the stop sign at the end of my block pretty hard and used only my front brake as is my old habit. Well when you brake really hard (with only your front brake) your rear end gets light. I basically did a little endo that led to my back end sliding out and I low sided. I am righting this while icing my foot at work; luckily I learned the lesson while only going about 30 mph. I usually engine brake but this particular time I didn't release the clutch soon enough and I will from now on always use my rear brake as dropping my baby definitely ruined my day and my knee and my foot.
Luckily I got to practice using my rear brake right after the crash although my shifter is slightly out of place and riding with slightly bent handle bars is exceptionally awkward. All that had to be fixed immediately was my foot peg.
GET IN THE HABIT OF USING YOUR BACK BRAKE EVERY TIME YOU BRAKE!!!!
Quote from: CJr on June 28, 2011, 09:46:14 AM
Well when you brake really hard (with only your front brake) your rear end gets light.
That's not correct. Use of the rear brake has no impact on the rear getting light and potentially coming off, if you brake hard enough on the front. Your implied connection that using the rear brake will prevent the rear from getting light is wrong. The physics of the system don't change like that
While you could achieve the same deceleration force you wanted in that situation with both brakes, reducing the amount of brake force needed from your front for sure. This would keep the weight more even distributed - but not using the rear brake was not the cause of your accident.
Quote from: CJr on June 28, 2011, 09:46:14 AM
GET IN THE HABIT OF USING YOUR BACK BRAKE EVERY TIME YOU BRAKE!!!!
I've found a good balance is best as well. My old bobber only had a back drum that you had to practically stand on to get it to stop. That bad habit had to be broken real quick when I got onto my regular bikes.
I have to get use to using the front one. Kicking the havit out little by little