Rear brakes...

[Rich]

So alot of you say you don't use the rear brake, or only use it at very low speeds...

So why does a MotoGP bike have a rear brake?

Hmmmmm...

[padfoot]

I had the same thought before the thread was locked...
Sure, front brake is your main brake but the rear is useful as well.

Do you guys honestly never use your rear brake? Or is the because rear brakes are for n00bs?

[Havago]

So they dont flip there shit after winning the race

[D'Artagnan]

For when wheelies go bad...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bi7I7wBB50"]YouTube - Max Biaggi - World Famous Wheelie - Youtube Exclusive[/ame]

Edit: Damn you guys are quick....

Edit2: i use the rear a lot. But I is a n00b!

[Davey]

I only saw one or two in that thread state that they NEVER use rear brake.

I have NEVER used ONLY rear brake though. (in order to STOP the bike I mean..)

[padfoot]

The one that got in first or the one that got in first with video... Hmm.
Sorry Havago, you were outclassed!

Edit: Fair point Davey... But some people seem to mention it every now and again that they don't use it at all. Makes me wonder if they just say that or whether they actually don't use the rear.

[Rich]

Why did Mick Doohan have a thumb brake set up when he couldn't use his foot?

Must be a use for it...

[Xuaxace]

Always use the rear break, the more breaking power the better. + I find it very useful to break on the wet

[Havago]

I couldnt be fucked looking for the vid

[g0zer]

For when wheelies go bad...

even max gets it wrong?



maybe instead of a who has not crashed yet poll we could have a who has not looped a wheelie yet poll
\

edit: g0zer says wheelies are bad mka

[MichaelGsxr]

Using the rear brake through a corner is called "trail braking" and is a useful technique. I use it quite a bit iin tight corners and it works well. heres a link:

http://motorcyclebloggers.com/tech-t...trail-braking/

[Desmo]

It steadies you around corners.
People who don't use the rear brake don't understand the dynamics of a bike, and aren't going to be abl to fully use that bike.
t has a rear brake for a reason.

[XSorXpire]

I thought it was to balance your bike, as in that you use it all the time to the point just before locking up when you stop.
It also takes the lash out of the chain and gearbox coming from deceleration to acceleration when cornering.
Stops pillions heads from hitting yours as you slow then accelerate.
It's an integral part of the smooth operation of the machine.

[Spock]

Why did Mick Doohan have a thumb brake set up when he couldn't use his foot?

Must be a use for it...

It is said that Mick Doohan used his rear brake (thumb operated because of his ankle disability) to modulate wheel-spin under power.

[Rich]

Well theres 2 people that have an understanding of the physics of a motorcycle...

Its used to adjust and balance the forces of a moving motorcycle...

Also really good for leaving long black lines...

[thro]

Rear brake is a tool, just like your clutch or throttle.

Learn to use it.


I see heaps of people saying "don't use front brake in corners! you'll die!" or words to that effect, too.

Again... learn to do it. Sooner or later you'll need to do it for one reason or another... better to learn *BEFORE* its brown undies time than on the spot...


edit:
I go through rear brake pads well before my fronts. An no, i dont use it exclusively at all... i do make use of it every time I apply the brakes though.. trail it occasionally, low speed stuff... what XS said too...

[Rich]

Mick did use it to counteract wheel spin...

He was also a firm believer in using it to tighten a line...

[Spock]

It also takes the lash out of the chain coming from deceleration to acceleration when cornering.

In my opinion and experience, very few bikes nowadays have such sloppy drive-trains (if the chain is adjusted correctly) and/or “snatchy” throttles that is any need to trail the rear brake in corners.

There is however one use for the rear brake in cornering, and that is when you have adjusted your speed for a corner (and released the front brake) and are just about to tip the bike in but then realise you are still going a little too fast. At this late stage applying the front brake will unsettle the bike by causing fork dive, but applying a little rear brake allows you to scrub off a bit of speed with little or no fork dive.

[padfoot]

It steadies you around corners.
People who don't use the rear brake don't understand the dynamics of a bike, and aren't going to be abl to fully use that bike.
t has a rear brake for a reason.

Exactly my thoughts on the matter.

I am apparently a fairly heavy rear brake user... My instructor taught me to ride using the rear brake fairly heavily in corners and low speed work and It's become a part of my riding...
Not as half much as it was when I was learning, but the rear brake certainly doesn't remain unused...

Edit: It gets used in the exact manner Spock just described!

[Drach]

i use my rear fairly often, i find the bike feels better when i use both rather then just the front.