rear brakes only

[stormrider]

Jeff, chrisj, had a fellow slide into him who uses the rear brake only. Then today, after lunch, a fellow comes up checking out Honey's B. Says he has finally gotten over a spill he took last year. Says his rear brake locked up on him. Now, I'm sitting there thinking maybe something freaky happened till he clarifies for me. Says he's on this charity ride, the line of bikes slows in front of him so he applies the brake, rear brake. Next thing he knew he's coming to a halt with less fabric covering his bones. Says he doesn't use his front brake. Sounds to me, applying the rear only can be a real hazard. I know I almost always apply about 60% front and 40% rear along with downshifting. The only time I'm only on the rear is going real slow or coming down my gravel drive (slowly) and as I make the turn up the concrete apron going up to the carport.  Anyone else know of rear brake only crashes? Just curious, is this common for folks to use rear only and does it increase the likelyhood of the rear wheel breaking loose and causing that grinding sound we all hate to hear?

[RoadKill]

Brakes ?   What are those for? 

[Dan Manko]

I was talking to a retired L.A. motorcycle cop. He still rides a Harley. He said he only uses the rear brake. I was going to question him, but since I hadn't been riding long at that time I didn't.
 Next time I see him I'll have to ask him about it.  [I use front and rear]

[Rio Wil]

I have a friend that when we ride together takes forever to come to a stop at a stop sign/lite.  One day I went with him to get a rear tire changed and inspection of the rear rotor showed it was very worn out! Looking at the front rotors, the cross hatch grinding marks we still visible. I don't think he had ever used his front brake and he has been riding HD's for 30 years......so is it a Harley thang?  I finally replaced my rear pads at 90K miles and have been through 2 sets of front pads in the meantime.....so his slow approach to the stops was to prevent rear wheel lockup!!!!!!!!!

[BF]

I'm probably alot like you.....mostly front brake....60% ft, 40% rr.  It's where most of your braking power is gonna come from anyway.  But I do use the rear too........but never by itself. 

But then again, I use my rear brake (drag brake) to make the tighter-slower turns. 

[..]

All you need to know.  

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/braking-tips.htm

For those who only use the rear brake as your main anchor.    USE THE FRONT !!!

[X Ring]

When I first stated riding 4 years ago, a LOT of long time riders told me to never use the front brakes because it would cause you to crash.  That was before I took the MSF beginners course.  Thank God, I didn't listen and followed what I learned in the course.  I've had a few close calls that would have been accidents if hadn't used the front brakes.   Like BF, I use the rear brake to stabilize the bike during slow speed manuevering.

Marty

[Jess Tolbirt]

i use my front brake about 90% of the time,, hardly ever use the back except to stop or slow down pretty quick...

[fudgie]

did he say what bike he had? I believe my coworkers BMW brakes are linked together. Press on the rear, rear and front brakes are applied.

[Jack]

OK, I'll say it since nobody else will.  Not using both brakes to stop is STUPID. 

[Chrisj CMA]

I have a friend that when we ride together takes forever to come to a stop at a stop sign/lite.  One day I went with him to get a rear tire changed and inspection of the rear rotor showed it was very worn out! Looking at the front rotors, the cross hatch grinding marks we still visible. I don't think he had ever used his front brake and he has been riding HD's for 30 years......so is it a Harley thang?  I finally replaced my rear pads at 90K miles and have been through 2 sets of front pads in the meantime.....so his slow approach to the stops was to prevent rear wheel lockup!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it may be a HD thing.  The guy that crashed us said that after I ragged on him for a while about not using his front brakes he went seeking further advise from his Harley friends and most if not all confirmed his opinion that the front brake "WILL PUT YOU DOWN" I think it may be a hold over from chopper riders that have a single disk on the side of a very long fork and that front brake can be tricky.

This HD rider now knows he needs training........IF he ever rides again

[ArmyValker]

I've got several HD buddies that preach the "no front brake" philosophy.
The way I feel about it is that when your on a bike that weighs 800 lbs, going any speed, the energy that needs to be dispelled through the braking system is simply too much for the traction of one tire to handle. Once the forward momentum of the bike exceeds the traction abilities of your contact patch, your going down.
They say 70/30 on bikes, and I tend to believe them. On my Valk it seems like the primary use for the rear brake is keeping the front of the bike from diving all over the place when stopping.   

[Rowdy]

I took one of those manuvering courses from a police motor cop - we practiced slow riding where the back brake was primary for the slow manuevers    

For a fast stop - straight - the front brake is more apt to get you stoped in a hurry - if your not straight look out,   I can recall my front end going squirly when I aplied too much front brake, but I was also trying to manuever to miss something at the same time   - need to use both in my opinion  

[..]

did he say what bike he had? I believe my coworkers BMW brakes are linked together. Press on the rear, rear and front brakes are applied.

Equal brake pad pressure is not applied when using the front or rear.

My ST1300

The front lever operates the outer pistons in the two, three-piston calipers in front and the one out back. The pedal activates the middle pistons on the front, with a new delay valve going to the front that's supposed to minimize front-end brake dive. Also activates full rear brake.

[ChromeDome]

When I took the Basic Riders course I discovered a number of things that I had been doing wrong and braking was only one of them. There will be times that I just tap the front to lower it but I will always try to use both front & rear brakes ... together.

[Pete]

There are many excellent discussions and articles on using brakes.
NOT A ONE SAY USE ONLY THE REAR BRAKE for normal and/or emergency braking.

Then again I guess manufactures put the front brake on there so it would not be used.

Sometimes I suspect that at least some segment of the motorcycle community should not be riding. It appears to be beyond there mental capability.

Of course over time this problem will resolve itself, via natures law "survival of the fittest".

[Challenger]

We were at the Damm in Black Canyon of the Gunnisons Co. (5 mi 16% grade) when a guy on a rented bike (will not mention make) got to the bottom, his rear brake rotor was a funny color of blue and emmitting smoke, I asked why he did not down shift and use the front brake, He replied the dealer told him not to use the front brake and down shifting will cause the engine to use oil. WTF!

[Mickey Runie]

I nearly always use both brakes too.  All my bikes have a valve linking some of the rear peddle pressure to at least one side of the front brakes.

I will go on to say that YES, THE FRONT BRAKE CAN, under certain conditions, PUT YOU DOWN.   

I had it happen to me while slowing on a down hill slope for a driveway where the pavement was to change to gravel.  I  had a pickup truck following dangerously too close and I had one eye on the mirror, hoping the guy would go around, while I slowed towards the side of the pavement.  As my front tire reached the last two feet of pavement, the darn stuff crumbled ever so slightly under the braking pressure of the front and the bike seemed to pitch out and to the left seemingly instantaneously.  BOOM, we were thrown to the right off the seat and into the driveway.  One mere heartbeat later, and I would have released the front brake in anticipation of being in the gravel driveway, yet it happened so fast, I couldn't get out of that brake lever quickly enough to do anything differently.

Oh well, it happens.  Rarely, but it happens.  I think the saying goes - Ca ca happens, and if it can happen, it WILL happen to ME.    

I continue to use both brakes and will vary pressure front and back to fit the situation to the best of my ability.  I can't think of too many situations where a rider would want only the rear.  Maybe while doing movie stunts and deliberate crashes?

[czuch]

Looking at the surface area of the pads I seem to use more straight line stopping power of the front brakes than the rear.  Its the two sets that are relativley easy to replace.I dont seem to be much in favor of down shifting because I'm a cheap summagun and have little interest in buying a clutch.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

Rule number 1 of group riding with a new group.

1. Ride last (the rear).

This thread is proof that many many people, including Valk riders need to read some stuff on motorcycle control. Take a class, read read read. There is a time and a place for the back brake (dirt and gravel drives) but not often. Front brakes RULE!

In the last 7 years of Valk riding with groups most every mishap I've seen is back brake related.

Raymond

[Jabba]

Not only use the front brakes... but practice pannic stops.  With and without your passenger.  Get the feel of HOW to modulate them front and rear.  If you're turning, either the front OR the rear can put you down.  There is only SO mych friction available to both corner AND brake... and you have to stay under the threshold.  Practice practice practice.  Brake pads are cheap, and swapping them is CHEESY EASY.

Jabba

[Willow]

I have a very good friend who uses rear brake only.  He's the only one I know of that has a legitimate reason to do so.

[Chrisj CMA]

I have a very good friend who uses rear brake only.  He's the only one I know of that has a legitimate reason to do so.

Willow.....didnt bandit have something done to modify the hydraulics so the rear brake actually involves the front too?  Maybe Im merging old war stories

[stormrider]

10-4 on the HD riders. Both incidents were HD riders. Others may be so inclined to use rear only but not this cracker.

[Willow]

Willow.....didnt bandit have something done to modify the hydraulics so the rear brake actually involves the front too?  Maybe Im merging old war stories

No.  He does ride with a car tire on the rear which allows him better use from the rear brake, but he truly doesn't use front brakes at all.

If you're ever in need of some perfect condition front rotors, I know someone who has some.   

[Black Pearl's Captain]

I have a very good friend who uses rear brake only.  He's the only one I know of that has a legitimate reason to do so.

Poor old dirt farmer in his overhauls. Can't afford to buy any new clothes for the "kid" either. Look at them holey jeans. 

Raymond

[fudgie]

I use my rear alot harder then need to and seem to wear out more pads then the fronts. If I need to slow very briefly I just hit the rears. In heavy stop and go I use my fronts only. 

[Chrisj CMA]

I use my rear alot harder then need to and seem to wear out more pads then the fronts. If I need to slow very briefly I just hit the rears. In heavy stop and go I use my fronts only. 

what you go to first is what you will react with first in an emergency.  Both brakes used together are essential for safe and fast(est) stops.  How you ride everyday is how you will react.  If your first reaction in an emergency is not the best reaction it could be the difference between a safe stop and NOT

[Jack]

My previous post does not apply to Bandit.  I've seen him ride with my daughter with him thru Houston area traffic.  He is one of very few I would trust on a bike with her.

[bigdog99]

90% front and down shift.  took rear pads off this year to change them and they looked new. 78,000 miles and only on the second set of front. they even looked new. i think down shift is the way to go,,,,,,or nail it and run it orange. 

[R J]

Rule number 1 of group riding with a new group.

1. Ride last (the rear).

This thread is proof that many many people, including Valk riders need to read some stuff on motorcycle control. Take a class, read read read. There is a time and a place for the back brake (dirt and gravel drives) but not often. Front brakes RULE!

In the last 7 years of Valk riding with groups most every mishap I've seen is back brake related.

Raymond

Dam I hate to agree with this rascal, but he is right.

HD riders, a lot of them rode Choppers back in the day.   NO FRONT brake usage as any at all would put the front end into a chatter and put ya down.   It even spoked all LEO's in California Motor School training.    I had learned to use the front and was not about to stop unless I was on a chopper.   Most of these riders are the ones who talk to the young riders and tell them no front brake..........     Typical, my son has a chopper, don't use it because of the chatter.    Asked him if he used the front when he rode mine, he said NO, I said, you no use the front brake, dad's 9 1/2 double EE will be where the son no shine.....

[BudMan]

I think it is a "bad riding" thing rather than a "Harley" thing.
And so what if the back wheel locks up and even starts to come around?
Just keep the front pointing where you want to go and let the back slide.  (It's actually kind of fun on a lighter scooter, but not too good on the tires.)

[Bandit]

I've decided to weigh in on the brake issue and also defend my riding apparel.  I have tried different valves to make the percentage of braking safer for myself front and back.  The problem I've had with those is the lack of personal feeling, i.e. hand control.  I have no doubt after 50+ years of bike riding the combination of front to back braking is very helpful and without saying, safer than just back brake.  As Willow stated, it's not just a choice for me.  Yes, I have went down but no one time were they brake related.  That being said, riding ability or the lack thereof combined with improper brake usage, i.e. panic stopping with the front brake, not reading the road and basically not paying attention is one of the main problem we have with so many bike wrecks.  In closing I may not be able to brake as fast as the next person but I won't be far behind in my overalls, with my passenger in torn jeans.  Mainly because my 3 piece suit and her prom dress is still at the cleaners. 

[stormrider]

speaking of rear brakes. Just got in from a customer's that has 2 HDs. Both have had the rear calipers come off. Completely unbolted and lost bolts. One fairly new, the other a used 06. Geez, don't make em like they used to. 

[HayHauler]

Like Bandit, I will weigh in on this topic.  Not to defend my apparel or my riding style, but to state the obvoius.....
Honda, and many other bike manufacturers, put 2 ROTORS AND CALIPERS on the front end and only 1 on the back. 
Wonder why that is?   

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Stanley Steamer]

I don't even know where to begin??...to not use the front brakes??....REALLY???... ???..most of your braking "power" comes from the front brakes....the rear brake in loose gravel is a no-brainer....especially if you are going downhill or turning onto or off of a gravel road......downshifting, bleeding the speed off BEFORE a curve is best, but you can still use both brakes in a curve as long as you don't go crazy and lock either one up....I've had a few butt clinchers when I was a little too hot going into a corner.....and a few times where the back end broke loose coming to a hard stop when my big right foot got ahead of my right hand...my error and they were corrected QUICKLY to straighten the bike back up.....

[KW]

How bizarre  . . . I didn’t even know this was an “issue.”  Not using the front brakes!?! Wow! I honestly have never heard anyone say that. I ‘grew up’ on dirt bikes. Most of them didn’t even have a back brake on em. . . To this day, after 40+ years of riding, I have to fight to remember to use the back brake at all.  

[oldtimer]

BF, I also use my front brakes exclusively and rear brakes mostly for tight, slow turns. I have only replaced my rear shoes twice in 50,000 miles.

[asfltdncr]

I use my rear alot harder then need to and seem to wear out more pads then the fronts. If I need to slow very briefly I just hit the rears. In heavy stop and go I use my fronts only. 

what you go to first is what you will react with first in an emergency.  Both brakes used together are essential for safe and fast(est) stops.  How you ride everyday is how you will react.  If your first reaction in an emergency is not the best reaction it could be the difference between a safe stop and NOT

Great point-might as well practice safe-stopping practices.
Aslo, I've read somewhere where Harley's best stopping power IS with the rear brake.If that is so,their front brakes must not be very good.Back brakes are for beginners negotiating curves.

[Michael K (Az.)]

What an eye opener for me!
Not the actual braking issue, but the fact there are folks out there who are opposed to even using the front! Makes me want to have peeps raise their hands as to who would NEVER use the fronts when I'm staging up for a group ride so I can stay BEHIND them. Sheesh!! ???