Rear brake usage

[ab]

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

[thought]

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.

[rideserotta]

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.

[Cider]

Almost never.  I use it sometimes when I'm on sand or dirt.

[Blackout]

I removed my rear brake entirely.

[ab]

I removed my rear brake entirely.

[Slide Panda]

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.

[Speeddog]

I removed my rear brake entirely.

Pictures of both bikes without rear brakes.
Or it didn't happen.

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

[Cider]

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.

[DucofWestwood]

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'?

[thought]

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

[Cider]

aside 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.

[Blackout]

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.

[ChrisH]

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]

[ODrides]

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?