OK, This Takes the Cake

[Chrisj CMA]

I was in my truck, this dude on a very small Harley was in the left lane right next to me.  So he has to stop, all seemed normal until he got to around 10 mph.  Then it got wierd.  At 10 or so mph both legs go out feet flat on the street and the final stopping was the Fred Flintstone method of dragging his feet.

So the first time I thought he must be afraid of the front brake.  So I watch again at the next light.  Same story, now I looked very closely and he did have one or two fingers on the brake handle.  He either has HORRIBLE front brakes or is just afraid to use them properly.

Dude must go through some boots.

[John Schmidt]

Chris, it wasn't more than a week ago something along that line happened to me. Only this guy was the one in the truck and had been following me for a few blocks in heavy traffic, driving in the adjacent lane. He finally rolled down his window and said something to the effect "I couldn't help but notice you have a very dangerous practice while riding." When asked what that might be, he was appalled at the fact I was using the front brake all the time. He said "you make a real smooth stop by adding just a bit of rear brake near the end, but using that front brake is going to get you killed one day, you should hardly ever use the front." I asked "seriously, you believe that crap?" Then told him I've been riding longer than he's been breathing, I learned to use the front brake properly many years ago and have yet to even come close to going over the handlebars. The light changed and I took off, using the front brake at the next light as always. Where do these people come up with this stuff?

[Firefighter]

Really bad habits, I see bad driving habits all the time, bikes and cars. Always think, keep your feet on the pegs till you stop.  Will probably cause him injury some day.

[Chrisj CMA]

Chris, it wasn't more than a week ago something along that line happened to me. Only this guy was the one in the truck and had been following me for a few blocks in heavy traffic, driving in the adjacent lane. He finally rolled down his window and said something to the effect "I couldn't help but notice you have a very dangerous practice while riding." When asked what that might be, he was appalled at the fact I was using the front brake all the time. He said "you make a real smooth stop by adding just a bit of rear brake near the end, but using that front brake is going to get you killed one day, you should hardly ever use the front." I asked "seriously, you believe that crap?" Then told him I've been riding longer than he's been breathing, I learned to use the front brake properly many years ago and have yet to even come close to going over the handlebars. The light changed and I took off, using the front brake at the next light as always. Where do these people come up with this stuff?

That's probably just because you don't have to thick enough soles on your boots or big enough feet to use the Fred Flintstone method

[Hook#3287]

"but using that front brake is going to get you killed one day, you should hardly ever use the front."

Do these people think that bike makers are out to get them, putting TWO brake rotors and calipers on the FRONT wheel?

Maybe for balance?

[Jess from VA]

First time the sole wears through a boot, or his foot goes in a hole, he'll be cured.  Or his foot will be.

[..]

Be careful. Some on this forum are rear brakers. Scarey.

Some believe that using a car tire means that they no longer need to use the front brake.

They will continue because they are ignorant.

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

[Chrisj CMA]

Be careful. Some on this forum are rear brakers. Scarey.

Some believe that using a car tire means that they no longer need to use the front brake.

They will continue because they are ignorant.

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

I have known two back brakers, they both crashed because of it.  One took me out when he lost it.

Yes, it's a pet peeve of mine

[Oss]

I tend to lie back and use my highway pegs a lot on a long ride

If not an emergency type stop I generally use just the front brake until I get around 10mph then  I am using rear brake also

When I come to a stop and in a parking lot I try to use just light rear brake  and throttle both when doing a turn or u turn and sometimes I will use a bit of both front and rear BEFORE entering a turn on a twistie road

Think I learned that in motorman's book way back

[Hooter]

   I use the front equal to or even a little more than the rear. Just a feel is all.

[Patrick]

Hmmm, is that what that right side lever is for ?  I've always wondered about those 2 big round thingys in the front wheel.

[Chrisj CMA]

IMHO, this is where the difference is made.  In an emergency stop, what control lever gets activated first?  Anything other than the front brakes and you increase your chance to die by an unacceptable margin.

[Alien]

I see what you're talking about all the time.  It's not the braking technique (or lack thereof) that bothers me so much as the splayed feet 50 feet from the stop light.  These folks will invariably take off the same way "outriggers" deployed all the way across the intersection, engine screaming because they are in no position to shift.  It's not just HD's either, I see it on all types of bikes.  It is so prevalent here that I am getting to the point where I'm wondering if this is how they are being trained in a rider safety course.  It drives me nuts.

Ride Safe,

Alien

[Jess Tolbirt]

doesnt matter on my bike which brake i use, i have abs and the brakes are linked,,so hit the front or the back, doesnt matter until i get below 15mph..then it becomes separate

[..]

doesnt matter on my bike which brake i use, i have abs and the brakes are linked,,so hit the front or the back, doesnt matter until i get below 15mph..then it becomes separate

But doesn't the front brake lever exert more stopping power to the front than the rear pedal exerts to the front?

ST1300 front brake activates 2 pistons at the front, 1 to the rear.
Rear brake activates 1 front piston and both rear pistons.

[Jess Tolbirt]

yep, i think like 70% to the front and 30% to the rear until it turns off below 15mph

[..]

yep, i think like 70% to the front and 30% to the rear until it turns off below 15mph

In that case the front give you more stopping power than using just the rear brake pedal.

[Chrisj CMA]

doesnt matter on my bike which brake i use, i have abs and the brakes are linked,,so hit the front or the back, doesnt matter until i get below 15mph..then it becomes separate

It matters.  Safe skills are safer than no skill or unsafe skills.  ABS is there to enhance your safety, not to take the place of proper teqnique

[Jess Tolbirt]

doesnt matter on my bike which brake i use, i have abs and the brakes are linked,,so hit the front or the back, doesnt matter until i get below 15mph..then it becomes separate

It matters.  Safe skills are safer than no skill or unsafe skills.  ABS is there to enhance your safety, not to take the place of proper teqnique

ABS didnt take away the proper technique its the linked system that did,, on my bike it doesnt matter which brake you use in a panic stop,, they both do the same thing,,this system is pretty neat,, they even gave me a CD to watch about it..

[Jess Tolbirt]

yep, i think like 70% to the front and 30% to the rear until it turns off below 15mph

In that case the front give you more stopping power than using just the rear brake pedal.

nope, either i explained it wrong or you misunderstood,,,you can bear down on either the front or the back or both,,they all do the same thing,, when you grab the front and squeeze it it applies the brakes 70 to the front 40 to the rear, and the rear brake pedal does the same..grab em both and it does the same thing..

[MP]

yep, i think like 70% to the front and 30% to the rear until it turns off below 15mph

In that case the front give you more stopping power than using just the rear brake pedal.

nope, either i explained it wrong or you misunderstood,,,you can bear down on either the front or the back or both,,they all do the same thing,, when you grab the front and squeeze it it applies the brakes 70 to the front 40 to the rear, and the rear brake pedal does the same..grab em both and it does the same thing..

Soooo, if you want to drag the rear a little, with a little power, to help stand you up in a tight corner, no go!  Sucks. Dumbing everything down to lowest common denominator.

[czuch]

I'm a big time front braker. Long, dry, straight, light traffic off ramps get the front all the way down. Those front pads are easy to change.
Twisties, quicker, two up, they get the proper stop technique.
45 years riding. It was a hoot when I took the safety licence class last year.
 The instructor said I probably wouldn't learn much because if I had never been ticketed I was a good rider. Actually, I learned quite a bit.

[rocketray]

In Dallas Texas it may not rain for awhile and that center stripe where all the cars stop at intersections and 50 feet back are likely very oily--an even modest pull on the front brake will lock you up and put you down instantly......avoid it or else...

[scooperhsd]

Actually - you can say that about most intesections - watchout for the oil slicks in the middle of the lanes.

I'm not quite sure how trikes deal with that piece of advice, however.

[Chrisj CMA]

Actually - you can say that about most intesections - watchout for the oil slicks in the middle of the lanes.

I'm not quite sure how trikes deal with that piece of advice, however.

I have never seen a trike fall over just because of front brakes in a straight stop, maybe in a very crazy power turn

[MP]

Actually - you can say that about most intesections - watchout for the oil slicks in the middle of the lanes.

I'm not quite sure how trikes deal with that piece of advice, however.

I have never seen a trike fall over just because of front brakes in a straight stop, maybe in a very crazy power turn

Probably about like how my sidecar rig does.  Doesn't care!  LOL

[old2soon]

To this very day I have "experienced" "riders" attempt to tell me using the front brake(s) is bad. AND one or three of them "had" to lay it down to avoid an accident.  Those folks do NOT wanna hear bout proper braking techniques.  Like keepin THEM ahead of me!  RIDE SAFE.

[MP]

I mostly use the front brake.  Lots of times, it is all I use for normal braking.  That way, in an emergency, I will use it.

Those who normally only use the rear brake, and say they will use the front if needed, wind up not using the front in an emergency, because they are not use to using it.

[michaelyoung254]

Valkyrie's got rear brakes? Damn, always learning something new on this board 

Seriously though, I've seen riders who either never use the front brakes, or use them as little as possible. As Alien said, they same riders seem to be the same ones who leave their feet out like outriggers whenever taking off.    I just try to avoid them because they obviously don't know how to ride very well. It'll only be a matter of time before they crash into something, and I want to be as far from them as possible when that happens.

[Gavin_Sons]

i'm also a front breaker  learned years ago back in my dirtbike days. there is a time and place for rear brake, like if you need to reduce speed while in a corner, or in an emergency stop. i have seen guys drag their feet coming to a stop, have also seen them drag their feet after taking off from a light for a hundred yards or so. As soon as i take off my feet go on the pegs. I always stop with one foot forward and roll to a stop til it is directly under me.

[Willow]

...
Some believe that using a car tire means that they no longer need to use the front brake.
...

I have a friend who rides with only one hand, the left.  His throttle is moved over to the left side so that the clutch and throttle can both be operated by his left hand.  He has chosen to equip his Valkyrie with a non-motorcycle specific tire for the benefit of not needing to use a front brake as the lever for the front brake is still on the right side of the handlebar.  Linked brakes is an interesting concept that would solve that issue, but the classic Valkyrie was not set up for that.  He actually rides better than most without ever using a front brake.

I use both brakes.  It's likely that I use the front more than the rear.  I do so because I can, not because I have to.  There are times when I could choose to brake entirely with the rear and times when I could choose to brake entirely with the front.

I suggest that all riders be in the habit of using both brakes on a regular basis as, as John pointed out, if one doesn't use it regularly he probably won't use it when it really is needed.

Ignorance comes in a lot of flavors.  People who use the word most often are most likely the commonest practioners of it.  Oops!  I just used the word, didn't I?    

[..]

...
Some believe that using a car tire means that they no longer need to use the front brake.
...

I have a friend who rides with only one hand, the left.  His throttle is moved over to the left side so that the clutch and throttle can both be operated by his left hand.  He has chosen to equip his Valkyrie with a non-motorcycle specific tire for the benefit of not needing to use a front brake as the lever for the front brake is still on the right side of the handlebar.  Linked brakes is an interesting concept that would solve that issue, but the classic Valkyrie was not set up for that.  He actually rides better than most without ever using a front brake.

I use both brakes.  It's likely that I use the front more than the rear.  I do so because I can, not because I have to.  There are times when I could choose to brake entirely with the rear and times when I could choose to brake entirely with the front.

I suggest that all riders be in the habit of using both brakes on a regular basis as, as John pointed out, if one doesn't use it regularly he probably won't use it when it really is needed.

Ignorance comes in a lot of flavors.  People who use the word most often are most likely the commonest practioners of it.  Oops!  I just used the word, didn't I?    

Exceptions can be found in most situations.

Doesn't mean that exception should become the norm because most aren't exceptional.

[czuch]

My ignorance is butterscotch.

[Willow]

Exceptions can be found in most situations.

Doesn't mean that exception should become the norm because most aren't exceptional.

LOL!  I can only assume you're referring to my use of the term ignorance.  Thank you for your observation.