Rear brake, use it or not?

Cheese · Sep 3, 2004

I came out of the Experienced Rider Course this year using the rear brake slightly all the time. Since then I've decreased it's use to never other than while stopped, starting on a hill or riding it through a u-turn. Which way should I go now, back to rear breaking a little or stay with just the front?

On one side;: A sportbike only habit that could be dangerous when done on another bike.

On the other; Rear breaking in a turn or panic stop could quickly lead to a skid so why even have it as a habit.

Thoughts or other reasons that should sway me either way?

GrandAmEmt · Sep 6, 2004

I use it sometimes. NEVER on corners... I use it to just slow a little slightly such as when approacing an intersecting where ihave the right of way or in the city, i use it when im not accelerating down a hill to maintain control and keep the bike in a sraight line, and when panic-breaking for a little extra slowing....

90gsxr1100 · Sep 9, 2004

GrandAmEmt said:
I use it sometimes. NEVER on corners... I use it to just slow a little slightly such as when approacing an intersecting and when panic-breaking for a little extra slowing....

I also use it when I'm trying to signal to drivers behind that I'm slowing down or stopped. I find it easier to "flash" the brake light than when using the front. That is likely due to the setting that I have on each lever for the pressure required to activate the brakes.

Ueafa · Sep 22, 2004

It all depends on you. A lot of my friends don't use it at all, and infact some have taken it off. Others have kept it on for the soul purpose for doing wheelies.

VIPER 1 · Sep 22, 2004

i use the rear brake alot (so much so that my rear wheel has way more grime on it than my front). i always cover or use the front for hard stops or normal stoping, but i find it way smoother (especially with a passenger) to start with the rear, then apply the front.

like Ueafa said, it mainly depends on you, each rider is different. there really is no right or wrong way.

when i had my old 600 Ninja, my rear calipers were shot, so i rarely used the back for anything. when i gor my 750 though, i found it really good for smoothing out break inputs and steadying the bike when slowing down.

i also use the rear in corners (LIGHTLY!!), and i know that even this can lead to pain if you lock in the middle of a turn. but you have way more control using the rear in a turn first (if you have to slow down for some reason), because it does not load the forks up as much and you retain more of your steering control than if you use the front brake....it is still very dangerous though (a patch of water or oil will lead to doom).

Wild Card1100 · Sep 22, 2004

Always use mine. I occasionally trail brake through a corner, but not often. It's a good habit to be in. I've never understood the guys that brag about how they never use it. You're only increasing your stopping distance. Plus, hitting your rear won't be a muscle reflex when you get in an emergency situation.

dublife · Sep 23, 2004

i use it on wheelies and that's about it

Hammer 4 · Sep 24, 2004

The front brakes offer about 90% of the stopping power...really no need to use the rear, un less you can keep from locking it up, which most riders can't....or at least newer riders can't...

Watch a pro roadrace sometime, and you'll see alot of the bikes, rear wheels come off the tarmac due to hard front braking, and these guys are hauling down to speeds as low as 70, from traveling a 150 mph...

gimpsta · Sep 24, 2004

90gsxr1100 said:

GrandAmEmt said:
I use it sometimes. NEVER on corners... I use it to just slow a little slightly such as when approacing an intersecting and when panic-breaking for a little extra slowing....

Click to expand...

I also use it when I'm trying to signal to drivers behind that I'm slowing down or stopped. I find it easier to "flash" the brake light than when using the front. That is likely due to the setting that I have on each lever for the pressure required to activate the brakes.

Maybe I never noticed but does the gixxer never lite up the rear brake light with only the front brake? But i only use the rear brake around town, but street riding, and cornering never.

lun · Sep 25, 2004

using either brake will trigger your brake lights.

Philbie · Sep 25, 2004

Personally I use it very seldom but that's me. It has it's place, I'm not gonna argue that. But the front brakes can actually provide up to 100% of your stopping power. If you've ever had the rear tire off the ground that rear brake isn't going to do you a damn bit of good.

A useful scenario is actually while cornering. Yes, I said while cornering. Light rear braking along with good throttle control will actually help shorten the wheel base of the bike slightly and make the bike taller allowing a sharper turn and more ground clearance.

Think I'm full of shit? Go put your bike in gear, apply the rear brake and let the clutch out slightly. What happends? The bike stands up due to the location of the countershaft and the angle of the swing arm. It doesn't squat. Go figure.

retread · Sep 25, 2004

I always use the front and rear together, 80% front, 20% rear. It just makes sense to have both wheels acting against the forward motion than just the front. If you start braking early and smoothly the rear shouldn't come up at all. I also use the rear by itself for trail braking.
Just my 2 cents.

gimpsta · Sep 27, 2004

well trail braking is a whole another issue. I just come up hard, grab front brakes hard, and let off as soon as I start to go over to grab the corner. Then I start to accelerate when I can tell where the apex is and how tight its gonna get. I'm no racer but I usually hold my own.

krad013 · Oct 3, 2004

I always use both front and rear. As I approach the turn I apply the rear and then the front a split-second later. As I start to turn in, I let off the front brake completely, and if I need to tighten the radius of the turn, I stay on the rear as I lean the bike over. ALWAYS USE BOTH when you're upright, using the rear in turns depends on how accute your sense of rear tire traction is.

lightsurge · Oct 5, 2004

krad013 said:
I always use both front and rear. As I approach the turn I apply the rear and then the front a split-second later. As I start to turn in, I let off the front brake completely, and if I need to tighten the radius of the turn, I stay on the rear as I lean the bike over. ALWAYS USE BOTH when you're upright, using the rear in turns depends on how accute your sense of rear tire traction is.

True that... before I started riding street bikes about 5 months ago Ive ridden dirt bikes alot. Got really used to using rear brake and front brake. I also tail brake during turns sometimes if I know its gonna get too tight or I see a car coming around a blind corner...but my friend whos been street riding for a few years cant rear brake worth squat... only time I watched him try he locked it up and almost crashed *shrug* guess it all just depends on your style. But one thing is for sure, you MAJORLY notice a difference between using 1 brake, and using both brakes, its just common physics.... forward motion being stopped by 1 force..or by 2..

Also.. (ya, i know this is a long post

) even though im pretty good at using both brakes...its easier to lock up tires when youre trying to do 2 things at once heh... but ive only had that happen once so far, and it was on a dirt bike (as far as doing it by accident anyways)

Just my 10 cents anyway haha

Keep on truckin

Cheese · Oct 6, 2004

In the month that's passed since my original post I have gone back to slight rear braking all the time. IMO it yields smoother stops and seems to be more effective for shortening stopping distance. Almost all of my quick stops have been in a straight line so even if I did lock up the rear it wouldn't be a problem. I've also switched my oppinion from, "Why use it and risk a high side or low side" to "Getting the feel of it during normal riding will prevent a lock up during a panic stop".

I've always liked the way riding the rear brake steadies the bike during slow turns or U-turns and using it at speed also seems to improve the handling while decellerating. Only draw back to this point is a bunch more brake dust on the rear wheel.

Thanks for all your helpful advice! Ride safe, rear brake or not.

skidmark · Oct 17, 2004

I have had warped rotors for the last couple of months so all I use now is my rear brake. I like it WAY more than my front, and I'm good with it since I use it to control wheelies too... you also expiriance less dive when you get on the rear brake to slow down, and trailbraking through corners is a must

I use my back brakes a lot more than the front...

Hammer 4 · Oct 18, 2004

skidmark said:
I have had warped rotors for the last couple of months so all I use now is my rear brake. I like it WAY more than my front, and I'm good with it since I use it to control wheelies too... you also expiriance less dive when you get on the rear brake to slow down, and trailbraking through corners is a must

I use my back brakes a lot more than the front...

Dam Skid...you need to get some front rotors.. In a panic stop situation, your gonna be hurtin if ya use Just the rear brake...especailly at higher speeds..

I had warped rotors on the front of my 99 750, and they were scary if ya had to slow down from over 100 mph...

YoYoCome · Oct 22, 2004

I use my rear brake. But it's starting to bug me since it squeeks!

Alstare Guy · Nov 11, 2004

It depends on the situation for me. Riding around the city, I will use both brakes. However, whenever it is an emergency stop (ie. highway or close to highway speeds) I will only use the front brakes and downshiftiing to stop. You may not realize it but in panic stops, especially at speed, the contact patch of the rear wheel almost completely becomes non-existent. Therefore if you use the rear brake you are actually on the verge of causing it to skid (therefore you have not decreased your potential stopping distance..instead you have actually increased your potential stopping distance.) If you don't believe me find a rode with little or no traffic where you can get up to around 60-70mph, the gear you are in will play a part in this. Stop using both brakes. Now stop using only your front brakes and smooth downshifting. The downshifting should be smooth enough where the bike is not lunging, but instead you can only hear the sound of the engine revs changing slightly. Also, keep in mind this has to be really hard braking. If you did everything right you should have stopped in a much shorter distance than using the front/rear brake simultaneously.

Rear brake, use it or not?

Cheese

GrandAmEmt

90gsxr1100

Ueafa

VIPER 1

Wild Card1100

dublife

Hammer 4

gimpsta

lun

Philbie

retread

gimpsta

krad013

lightsurge

Cheese

skidmark

Hammer 4

YoYoCome

Alstare Guy

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