Cycle guys, do you use the rear brake much?

[lendaddy]

I have been on dirtbikes my whole life including MX racing. I have never had much use for the rear brake. In fact it is very uncomfortable for me to get my foot in position to use it, the toe of my boot is naturally tilted down and flared out when riding. Not to mention it's so much less effective than the front, so I almost never use it.

I would use it in the air to drop the front over big leaps, but that was more of a "stomp" rather than a natural motion, and I must admit that I actually used the front brake to drop the front as well (much more aggressive). I also use the rear in combination with the front for "emergency" stops where maximum binders is required but again it's not natural feeling or even comfortable to me.

Now that I'm riding my supermoto on the street I see more need for the rear(even if only to govern wheelies) and am lamenting the awkwardness of it. I'm considering dropping the lever and bending it outward to accommodate where my toe naturally rests.

Anyone feel my pain or have advice?

[nostatic]

I use it all the time. It is interesting because the Duc lever is way lower than the Triumph was, so I had to relearn my foot position. But it was fine after awhile. Just takes practice modulating and balancing between the front and rear.

[lendaddy]

I think it's because I was always told to brake in straight lines and power through turns, which is why I only use the front(if I stayed on it in the turn I would wash, so it helped me learn to be fast)

[scottmandue]

When I used to ride my Honda XL500 thumper I almost never used either brake... seriously.

[motion]

The rear brake is worthless on a street bike. Don't use it, unless you are in an emergency situation, such as having one of your tires going down or hydroplaning. At the racetrack, only a few people use the rear. Most don't. As your center of gravity shifts forward during braking, the rear becomes light and any braking will increase the tendency for a lockup. Now, if you have anti-lock brakes, then all this goes out the window and rear brakes become a good idea.

[Joeaksa]

Use both of them all the time. My last bike had anti-lock brakes (BMW R1100RS) and it would stop faster than most cars. Current bike has drum brakes (its almost 35 years old!) and you really need to use them both together.

Guess it comes down to how you were trained. Used to race and was taught if you were not speeding up you were slowing for a corner and to use both at one time.

[motion]

Yeah, I guess I should have said "The rear brake is worthless on a MODERN street bike or anything but a Harley", hehehe. I use the rear brake on my Harley just because you need everything it has to slow the pig down.

[JavaBrewer]

Around town I use both front and rear equally. I haven't done a track day yet but what Motion says makes alot of sense.

[motion]

There's a reason most bikes have probably 6 times the braking area on the front as opposed to the rear.

[nostatic]

well, the rear brake on the Duc is almost useless...but pushing the lever down makes me feel better about life.

[Flatbutt1]

Clearly the majority of stopping power is in the front brake. And in most street situations i use the front brake. However there are times when using the front brake is ill advised

NOTE these are non emergency situations 'K?

If you are trail braking into a corner you want to use the rear brake so you don't wash out the front. Also using the rear "stretches out" the bike rather than compressing the suspension. Therefore no compression rebound to deal with and it is superior for settling the suspension in preparation for a turn.

[Don Ro]

Originally posted by nostatic
well, the rear brake on the Duc is almost useless...but pushing the lever down makes me feel better about life.

More aggressive pads will resolve that almost useless rear brake...it will make your life even more well.

My first ride on my new '00 996S ... 'thought rear brake linkage was stuck/broken/whatever - nothing there. Different pads and braking showed up. Happy now.

I use the rear on all my bikes...old habit from the early '60's drum brakes.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Kinda'. . .

I occasionally will set the suspension as soft as possible and practice a few stops paying particular attention to keeping the bike "level" as it decelerates. This way I get a good feel for proper balance between the front and rear. In practice I heavily favor the front but "trail" the rear one. In an honest-to-goodness panic stop I clamp the front one hard and step the rear, but one needs to have a good feel for that - a lot of riders "lose it" in panic stop situations not because they hit anything, but because they over-utilize the rear brake, lock up the back wheel and the ass-end slides out from under them. Either that or they lock it up and start to slide, then release it and the bike "snaps" up on them, causing loss of control. However, not using ANY rear in a panic stop situation makes you liable to endo the bike - which isn't good either.

So there's a balance. Should it be used? Yea. Sparingly and with proper technique. Having it and using it properly is certainly a lot better than not having one.

[1967 R50/2]

On my old bikes the brake light will not come on unless you use the rear brake,...so yes, I use it all the time.

[unclenick]

I have been riding for years and it really depends on the bike. Like my old V-Rod harley, the rear brake was needed so slow the POS down because the brakes suck on it. My 03 Goldwing was the same way but needed. Now I have a 05 Suzuki Hayabusa and try not use it at all, way too touchy. Most of the time I use mostly the front and just a wee bit of rear to stop.

[JavaBrewer]

Like Todd's Duc the rear brake on my S3 is incapable of locking the rear tire. Maybe that's why I use it - no fear of a rear slide. Of course the front brake is where the action is but I still use both for normal stop and go around town. In the hills it's all front with some rear trail brake to even the keel.

[arcsine]

I use the rear brake to help stabilize the chassis. Most helpful if out on twisty roads or on track days but even in stop and go driving both front and rear brakes will stop faster than fronts alone.

[wcc]

I use the front brake all the time and once in a while I'll lightly use the rear to make sure it all works in case of an emergency. Also I use the rear brake lever at stop lights so I can have my brake lights on and sit up-right. Sometimes as cars approach behind me I'll tap it to make the brake light flash as they approach. But I always watch and have and exit stragedy in case they don't stop. There is an guy that I know was just rearended cause he was just sitting there and the other person wasn't paying attention. He lived but I guess he's a little messed up now. Still in the hospital.

Be safe out there!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Very wise. I ALWAYS hold the brake light on until there's at least one car fully stopped behind me - and I watch their approach as I'm sitting at the light. I've "taken off" on more than one bonehead that either didn't slow down (possibly didn't see me or just didn't slow down early enough in advance to convince me he DID see me). Worst case is I looked a little paranoid. So what. Beats the alternative!

[fastpat]

In corners it's all front brake, if braking in corners which is mostly a no-no since it will sit the bike up unless it's one with the forkless front suspensions. In straight line braking, it's 95%+ front brake with the rear brake used to keep the rear from coming around. The rear brake is a stabilizer during braking.