Rear Brake Questions

[jbooth2099]

I have only been riding street for a little more than a year.  Sold my VSTAR 1100 at Easter and bought an I/S.  Been riding/racing offroad for 30+ years.

My question is this.  My rear brake will not stop the Valk by itself (Should it be able to?)  I can put all the force I can muster on the pedal and the bike will slow, but will not stop without using the front also.  My friends with Valks say theirs do not stop well with just the back brake.

I'm used to using the rear brake a lot. I can re-learn to use the front if need be, but it just seems like the rear should be better.

Just wanted to get a base-line before I start jacking around trying to fix what might not be broke.

Thanks,
JB

[doubletee]

You're going to get a whole lot more stopping power from dual discs up front than from the single in the rear. The additional weight transfer to the front during stopping also illustrates why one should use the front brakes. Many times, when I'm cruising slowly and have to stop, I only use the fronts. The lady is a big bike with a lot of weight. Need to use both front and rear brakes to haul her down.

That said, using the rear alone should be able to completely stop a valk. It just might take a country mile to do it.   

[DeathWishBikerDude]

Did you ever replace your fluid?
Brake fluid collects moisture over time,reducing brake efficiency.
Bleed the lines,check the pads and rotors.
The rear brake should be able to stop the valk on their own.

[Bagger John - #3785]

The rear brake should be able to stop the valk on their own.

Not in a reasonable distance when you're talking about an I/S. Remember - it weighs roughly 200 lbs more than a Standard. The OP is not alone in his observations with regards to the I/S rear brake. 'Adequate at best' is an appropriate description.

[R J]

jbooth:

You will have to relearn.    I also used to race bikes and off road a lot.   It was always safer to use only the rear brakes in the dirt, and on the track.

I grab the front brake in a stop and then touch the rear.........

I will go through 2 sets of front pads to 1 set of rear pads........

Just remember, DO NOT, hit the front brake on wet grass, in a slow speed turn with sand in the travel area.

Best bet would be to go to a MSF beginners course, and then take an Advanced course using your own bike..........   Then practice practice practice and practice some more.......

[Robert]

I can lockup my rear, if you cant there may be a problem.  The Valk at close to 1000 lbs isn't going to stop quickly on the rear brake alone unless you are going 10 mph no matter what you do.

[F6Dave]

The rear brake on my '98 Tourer seemed to be getting weaker and weaker.  It happened over time so it wasn't easy to notice, but compared to my other Valk (a '99 IS) it became clear something was not right.

The problem turned out to be the pivot for the pedal.  It had become corroded inside and was causing the pedal to bind so much that it couldn't travel through the full range of motion.  I took it apart and a bit of steel wool and grease had it working like new.

Motorcycles transfer so much of their weight to the front tire under braking that the rear has little to do.  But you should be able to lock the rear fairly easily; if not, there could well be a mechanical problem.

[VALKTERY]

Would have bet money couldn't lock the rear wheel untill last year had to make a life and death panic stop, oh yea that  rear wheel will lock up, found that out when the rear wheel swung around to the right a couple feet. lucky I didn't go down , but stored that infomation in my mind for next time...

[vanagon40]

Not an interstate, but I can lock up my rear tire.  I would think that if you cannot lock the rear tire, something is wrong.  That said, I agree with the other posters that the front brakes should be doing 80-90% of the braking.

[jbooth2099]

Well,

It seems the concensus is that I should be able to lock the rear wheel.  I can not.  I will start trying to fix it using some of the suggestions that I have gotten.

Thanks for all the input.
JB

[Baloo]

I have a 99 I/S and had to make a panic stop last year ( some stupid coming the other way turned left just a few feet in front of me while I was going 55 mph). I can tell you that I can lock the rear!

[Ricky-D]

Yeah, I can see the consensus here and I too agree.  Haven't locked up the rear since going darkside, but it sure is a better stopper with that tire now.  Used to be easy to skid the rear,,,, now I'm not so sure.  Do you think the pedal will break if I push it too hard????

[hubcapsc]

You will have to relearn.    I also used to race bikes and off road a lot.   It was always safer to use only the rear brakes in the dirt, and on the track.

I always did most of my stopping with the front brakes, thought everyone did.



Anywho... the OP's rear brakes sound like mine at first, all better after a rebuilt
caliper, new pads and new fluid...

-Mike

[Ghillie]

Having only ridden cruisers, the front brake is designed to provide 60-70 percent of the stopping power. I also will run through two sets of front pads to one rear set. My 98 had a weak rear brake when I got it, draining all the hydraulic fluid flush and fill fixed the problem. Not an IS but I can lock the rear brake.

[Kingbee]

After going darkside on my Interstate, I had to know.  Much more traction with the car tire, but still easy to lock-up on clean, dry pavement