I just started riding and I have a question about braking. My buddy is teaching me to ride and he has told me not to use the rear brake. I've been downshifting and tweaking the front to make quick stops if needed. I haven't used the rear once. Should I play with it and see how I feel using it? What is is good for? Obviously it's useful for something or it wouldn't be on the bike.
Braking???
- Thread starter Nuage420b
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Regular Guy
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MSF teaches you to use both, with emphasis on the front brake. It's still extra stopping power, so I would definitely use it. Just be careful. If you rely on it a lot, it's easy to get into the habit of using it too much and you'll end up locking up the back tire and lose the rear end of the bike (especially in the rain) when something unexpected happens and you need to stop suddenly.
I would say I probably go 70/30, front/rear brakes
I would say I probably go 70/30, front/rear brakes
Regular Guy
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Yeah, probably not a bad idea to eaaassseeee into using it later. [up]
Regular Guy
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70/30 isn't anything official - Just a guestimate of what I personally find myself using. Use less of both under slick conditions and leave yourself twice the stopping distance.
the rear brake on my buell as most would say is kinda wooden or a little doughy in feel but it still should be used. As others have said say 70 front 30 rear. I use mine on every stop but vary the input ( more front on a harder pullup ) but on the average stop i use the rear to aid a steady stop.The only way is to practice practice and practice but i would strongly avoid a reliance on the front brake alone.
taildraggin
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Your buddy is smart.
In a panic stop, most noobs stomp on the rear brake to stop (instinct from cars). He's trying to get you to react using the front brake. Takes practice to map the muscles to do it.
Rear brake-only isn't so bad straight on - just lousey stopping distance (front brake has 3x the stopping power of the back), but in a curve, it's a problem. It puts a force on the bike that stands the bike upright and you'll go wide in a turn.
Best example I have was sitting at a light about to enter my secret, nearly empty, tight twisty road and the latest sportbike pulls up with a guy in new leathers. "This road good? Can I follow?" Sure.
Half mile of twisties later, he's not in the mirrors; I stop, wait a sec and spin around. A few curves back, he's dragging his bike out of the woods outside the apex of a tight right hander, physically OK - he'd just missed a couple of trees. He had leaves and crap stuck to his helmet, leathers and bike and the bars, pegs, fairing, tank were all tweaked, but the bike was rideable. It was a slow turn and he locked up the rear, stood it up, and went straight through it.
(We got it started, about the same time he got angry with me(!) for 'going so fast' or some crap like that. He was OK and I wasn't going to put up with that BS; fare thee well!).
Long answer, but your bud is right; learn to rely on the front brake instinctively, then add the rear later.
- Charlie
In a panic stop, most noobs stomp on the rear brake to stop (instinct from cars). He's trying to get you to react using the front brake. Takes practice to map the muscles to do it.
Rear brake-only isn't so bad straight on - just lousey stopping distance (front brake has 3x the stopping power of the back), but in a curve, it's a problem. It puts a force on the bike that stands the bike upright and you'll go wide in a turn.
Best example I have was sitting at a light about to enter my secret, nearly empty, tight twisty road and the latest sportbike pulls up with a guy in new leathers. "This road good? Can I follow?" Sure.
Half mile of twisties later, he's not in the mirrors; I stop, wait a sec and spin around. A few curves back, he's dragging his bike out of the woods outside the apex of a tight right hander, physically OK - he'd just missed a couple of trees. He had leaves and crap stuck to his helmet, leathers and bike and the bars, pegs, fairing, tank were all tweaked, but the bike was rideable. It was a slow turn and he locked up the rear, stood it up, and went straight through it.
(We got it started, about the same time he got angry with me(!) for 'going so fast' or some crap like that. He was OK and I wasn't going to put up with that BS; fare thee well!).
Long answer, but your bud is right; learn to rely on the front brake instinctively, then add the rear later.
- Charlie
