Rear brakes...

[Chyna]

Yeah... gosh i'm lucky.

[thro]

Originally Posted by Chyna

Bikes have front brakes?

Yours does, somewhat

I see what you mean with it, i reckon your disc is warped, or otherwise damaged somehow. It works, but pulses...


edit:
what devnull said.

In short, i reckon:

- if you use it, good for you
- if you don't use it, good for you

however

DON'T BE SCARED OF IT. Learn how it works, and decide for yourself

Interesting comment on dirt riders tending to use it. I started on dirt, and I use it. I believe saf, however has mentioned previously that he doesn't (or at least has made comments about removing rear brakes and having riders go faster)... and I guess he he's more competent on dirt than most here? Saf?

[Scoundrel]

At a trackday, I use nothing but the front. On the street, I use the back quite often, especially when carrying a passenger or on wet roads. Helps distribute the braking force and the weight shift when under brakes.

[Maxo]

I think the point of that thread was that it was a 250 learner nub, who was ONLY using the rear brake.

And that is naughty.

[Pete]

I used to tell noobs to leave it alone until they at least learn how to handle the front.

Why? Because i have seen heaps of noobs lock it up in a panic on corners or attempt to emergency stop with it. Now i know its a good way to thin the herd of unco riders.

When I'm hooning I use it myself for trail braking exiting a corners but i always trail brake the front entering the corner.
Also when im coasting and cornering inbetween power and engine braking the rear comes in handy to adjust and smooth lines.

But the most important use for the rear brake is of course the SKID.

[Kingkezza]

Not trying to stir up an argument from the closed thread, from an assessment perspective, yes they'll fail you if you only use rear brake, and rightly so. Conversely, I believe they'll also fail you if you use no rear brake, especially in emergency stops, because it will reduce your braking distance when used in correct combination with the front brake.

I'm not an experienced rider but as it's been pointed out bike have a back brake for a reason

[Maxo]

^correct

Give that kid a biscuit and a gold star.

[lord_zod]

I use my rear brake occasionally so that if I drive a car again I remember that the brakes are activated by foot and I'm not hunting for a lever to squeeze with my hand.

[padfoot]

You what?

What about gear changes? Do you hook up a shifter for your hand on the bike so you don't forget where the gear stick in in a car as well? And your clutch lever?

[Robbo]

Originally Posted by lord_zod

I use my rear brake occasionally so that if I drive a car again I remember that the brakes are activated by foot and I'm not hunting for a lever to squeeze with my hand.

What a load of crap.

[Scoundrel]

Originally Posted by Maxo

I think the point of that thread was that it was a 250 learner nub, who was ONLY using the rear brake.

And that is naughty.

I'm not privy to that thread or discussion or circlejerk so I was just passing on my views that I thought were relevant to this one. However I have told L platers off before for favouring the rear brake over the front. Also, you would be surprised at the amount of people who think or who are told to use the rear brake all the time. Quite scary actually.

[kwakas]

Originally Posted by lord_zod

I use my rear brake occasionally so that if I drive a car again I remember that the brakes are activated by foot and I'm not hunting for a lever to squeeze with my hand.

so do you often search for the gear stick with your foot and the accelerator with your hand?

[Maxo]

Originally Posted by Scoundrel

I'm not privy to that thread or discussion or circlejerk so I was just passing on my views that I thought were relevant to this one. However I have told L platers off before for favouring the rear brake over the front. Also, you would be surprised at the amount of people who think or who are told to use the rear brake all the time. Quite scary actually.

^totally agree

My post was in reference to the thread. Most people will find that using the rear is a learned behaviour that you pick up similar to shifting weight properly, or blipping the throttle, etc.. I don't even notice myself doing it.

Throwing the noobs in the deep end by telling them to do everything at once kinda sucks imho.

[Gryphen]

I use the rear to wash off a little speed in traffic, when it doesn't warrant a handful of front, also use it in combination with the front for harder braking, but at times also just use the front... depends on when/where/desperation...

Plus the carbon pads on the back squeal like all shit (never ever again) but the cintered race pads on the front are cool...

[Pkunk]

Originally Posted by lord_zod

I use my rear brake occasionally so that if I drive a car again I remember that the brakes are activated by foot and I'm not hunting for a lever to squeeze with my hand.

I use my rear brake occasionally when I want to do a huge skid

[XSorXpire]

I use my rear brake when i want to slow or stop the rotation of the rear wheel for some reason!

[lord_zod]

Yeah, my excuse was pretty crap but it was all I could think of. I use the back brake a little with the front brake when it's wet for stability and when I'm going slow in traffic because....umm...it's there to be used and it's not the front brake??

[jules_1972]

Originally Posted by arwon

I obviously don't know anything about bike dynamics since i don't use the rear brake, but my slipper clutch makes upfor it quite well providing me with just the right amount of rear brake. whether you use the rear brake or engine braking you are getting the same effect . Just one pulls on the disc and the other on the sprocket.

+1..

Im with you on this one.

Ducati rear brake is for show and ADR......

[kiknet]

I'm a noob but I normally used the rear brake specifically for when I wanted to wash off a little bit of speed mid corner.

[arwon]

Originally Posted by kiknet

I'm a noob but I normally used the rear brake specifically for when I wanted to wash off a little bit of speed mid corner.

see i would do this different, in that, i tend to ride at higher revs and if i back off i get engine braking. So by rolling off a bit i scrub off the desired amount of speed without using the rear brake.

Using the rear will obviously work, but once you get used to riding without brakes it makes you smoother and faster.