Using the Rear Brake

[Doorag]

Right, how much do you use your rear brake? I have noticed that I use mine almost every time I stop, not matter how fast (or not) I'm going.

Am I the only one who will need to replace their rear pads soon?

 

[reiobard]

I have always used about even front/rear brakes and i was on my 3rd set of rears on my last bike for my original fronts. I have been trying to stop with the rear brake other than emergencies.

 

[fz6nick]

I try not to use my rear brake at all. Well ecspecially in the canyons, it can be your worst enemy. I sometimes use it to help me stop getting off of the Freeway, lots of down hill exits, but thats about it.

Now when I do a track day, im going to have to get rid of that bad habit.

 

[wrightme43]

I barely use it. Mainly it is how I finish stops at lights, and when I am on gravel or dirt.

 

[lattin25]

I use it mainly when I am practicing my downshifting coming up to stoplights. Trying to get the blip and clutch down smooth. Tend to look like I'm having a seizure if I try and use front brake and downshift and blip the throttle at the same time lol. I use both brakes when I'm in the twisties.

 

[fast blue one]

It's mainly a heavy traffic thing for me to stretch the frame a bit.

 

[AJ_rider]

I use it everytime I slow down...I figure that way in an emergency stopping situation I wont even need to think about using it becauase it is already second nature. I do need to replace my pads soon though...

 

[mstewar1]

I selected the emergency stop option only because I know I've got the brake, I just don't ever use it. I haven't been in an emergency situation yet -- and would very much like to keep it that way.

 

[Doorag]

I take the point about track riding, but I never use it in turns. I tend to use the rear brake first, then bring in the front brake as well. I find it's better when trimming off little bits of speed. In fact, I find the rear particularly good when slowing for a quick roundabout. It enables me to set my entry speed without having to transfer all the weight to the front and then get back on the gas too hard to get the weight back again. Does that make any sense?

 

[oldfast007]

I use it quite a bit, I have developed quite a good feel for it, helps on corner entry and to trim a little speed off mid corner if I went in too hot...

 

[Oscar54]

I use both brakes when I stop.

I have found that when going into a turn that requires a little reduction in speed that using the rear brake while keeping the throtle the same keeps the balance from shifting forward and allows easy acceleration when in the turn by just releasing the brake.

 

[AlanB]

I use it mainly when I am practicing my downshifting coming up to stoplights. Trying to get the blip and clutch down smooth. Tend to look like I'm having a seizure if I try and use front brake and downshift and blip the throttle at the same time lol.

That's my biggest issue in riding...smooth downshifts from 50 or 60mph into a second gear turn, especially downhill. I too feel like a 'tard trying to use front brake and blip and clutch, but unlike you, I have not overcome the MSF "both brakes all the time" mantra. I'm trying this on my way home tonight!
Thanks!

 

[sideshow_downs]

I use it everytime im slowing down. I use it even more when im out in the twistys to scrub off speed going into a turn without upsetting the balance of the bike.

 

[Botch]

I use it on moderate to hard stops along with the hand brake; on most normal stops I use engine braking with the hand brake (and I need to teach myself to use the handbrake throughout the whole stop, as just engine braking doesn't light your brake light, letting the guy behind you know you're slowing down ).

I just got the Palladino DVD on slow-speed steering, and he preaches lots of foot brake during slow-speed maneuvering, something the MSF course teaches also but I never quite adapted to. :spank:

 

[Pirosko]

What's a rear brake????

 

[nimzotech]

If we had an "Always" category I would have chosen it. It's kinda of a reflex when I had my BMX bike and I would lock the rear break causing it to fishtail. Two days ago on the freeway I think I stepped on the rear break too hard when I had to stop abrubtly and the rear tire started skidding. Anyway I know the majority of the stopping power comes from the front break, but at that point I think most of my weight was already in the front of the bike and I did not want to pull a Superman.

 

[FZ1inNH]

Heavy breaking and emergency only. I use the gears and engine as much as possible, the front next and the rear when I need to really unload forward momentum fast.

 

[AJ Babaganoosh]

I have gotten into the bad habit of not using it much at all except to hold the bike in place at an uphill intersection. I try to use it in the twisties to scrub off some speed before the turn in but I ride twisties so seldom that I've gotten out of the habit of using it. I know it has its uses but I have found that it is next to useless in an emergency stop. I ride with the front brake covered. I don't ride with the rear brake covered and in a true emergency stop, I'm on the front brake hard and fast enough that I'm doing a stoppie. When I try and use the rear, it almost immediately skids or is already in the air. I've often wondered why people upgrade the brakes on our bikes. It seems to me that if you are doing a stoppie you are getting the maximum possible braking. Anything further would just skid the front. I'm sure I must be doing/thinking wrong because a lot of you are more experienced than me. Someone set me straight please.

 

[damnpoor]

Heavy breaking and emergency only. I use the gears and engine as much as possible, the front next and the rear when I need to really unload forward momentum fast.

Pretty much the same here. I use the rear brake when I anticipate coming to a full stop or when I need to slow down very quickly. If I'm just slowing down to make a turn I don't use it.

 

[cv_rider]

I used to use the rear as my primary way of scrubbing some speed, as I found it a bit more convenient than grabbing the front lever. After I read Houghton's Proficient Motorcylcing, I realized I was in a bad habit. Your stopping power comes from the front wheel, and in an emergency, you'll do whatever your habit is. My habit was developing into using the rear brake, and in the emergency, that would have sent me skidding. So I've started to focus only on the front brake, so that in the emergency situation, I'll do the right thing. I sometimes tap on the rear a bit too, but I don't have much faith in the rear. I've skidded in hard stops without much pressure on the rear. I don't think that rear brake is doing much of anything. Since I don't trust myself to use both brakes in the exact right proportion, I think my best response in an emergency is just going to be to use the front properly. Whatever I can manage to get out of the rear will be bonus.