Front or Rear (oooer missus!)

Not as fun as title sounds sadly but refering to braking preference!!

May sound like real newbie question, but as i'm still fairly new just thought i'd throw it out there as hear differing opinions and often get some weird looks when mentioned.

Since passing my test and getting miles on the road i would say i have used the rear brake on few enough occassions you could count it on one hand, I think this arose as after failing mod 1 first time for locking up on emergency stop instructor said to just give it a fistful of front brake and just cover rear to make it look like using it slightly.

When riding I follow the reduce speed on straight into corner, then just take bend whilst tapping on then give it throttle when you see the exit, however, some people look at me gone out when i state this and others are in agreement and often say 'rear brake whats that then' kind of comments!!

And again today a customer i was talkin to at work also said it's all front brake and never touches the rear.

Whats everyone elses opinion on this???

Helloooo
I am quite new too and I pretty much forget about the rear brake and only use the front brake. Even if I have to brake really really hard I use the front one with sensibility.
Sometimes I race around a bit here with a Focus RS (one of my mates) and even though its only the front brake I use he has to brake that hard behind me that his hazard warnings come on by itself
(to be fair though, as there is no speedlimit in germany we might get a bit overexcited on the autobahns...)

In germany we have a very hard (and expensive) schedule with lessons, only one pupil per lesson and instructor, and the test is nails. at least 7 hours of theorie plus test and at least 12 special lessons plus normal riding. We learn how to brake everywhere, in rain and all sorts with all kinds of speed. My teacher would probably chin me now if he knew how i brake bless him.
I feel more comforable with the front brake! Like a lot!

i've had to work really hard to learn to use my front brake as much as i should - i always come to a stop on the rear unless its a quick stop but the only difference now is i do use the front too!

when braking normally or quickly i use the front all the time, i do dab the rear sometimes when going into corners , its a comfort blanket ocd thing i have from the old old days when bikes felt like they had a hinge in the middle etc, bloody annoying to anyone following , so have been trying to stop doing it

was always shown by some very good riders when i was a wee strapping lad , to use the front to do all the stopping as the back goes light and can let go , get skippy or just plain come round on you if using it a bit hard

that my 2 penny worth anyway, and if its good enough for the people i know , who lets be honest can ride rings around me then its sure as hell not going to do me any harm

pete

I did 22,000 miles on my first set of front pads on my Fireblade. I'm up to 34,000 miles now and still on the original rear pads.

I think the only time I use the rear brake is if I have gone into a bend too hot and need to scrub off a little speed.

It has been commented by people who have followed me that my brake lights don't work. They do, I just don't use them very often, I tend to use engine braking a lot.

It really is down to what you feel comfortable using but it should be about 90% front brake 10% rear, imo.

Tony

I mainly use my front , but like some others I do use the back for a bit of stability if I've taken a bend to quickly . Also I use both at the same time if I have to make an "emergency" stop , obviously applying more to the front than the back. But in general use and coming to a normal stop I tend to use the front.

Appreciate all the replies, was beginning to think i was makin some kind of major error but again as with so many things on the bike, it's whatever works for you, thanks again,

Like most people, I'm a mainly front brake kinda guy and just use the back if I really have too

That said though, I think the engine braking is pretty good on the cat and saves on the wear and tear

Now it's way to early to be up on Saturday with a hangover, time for a coffee

I use the front 99% of the time, but the rear has its uses. It can be useful in really slow manoeuvring. I also found myself using it a fair amount on the recent German tour, on the hairpins - trail a little rear brake through the corner so that when you open the taps mid-corner you can blend off of the brake to feed the power in gradually with no jerk or sudden input from the rear wheel.

Also useful when waiting at traffic lights on a hill!

You'll find that racers differ in their opinions - some use only the front but others use the rear as well, particularly to control wheelies.

BRAKES ? oh yer them things that slow the bike down mmm
im with tc on this some times use going into corners a little hot use to scrub off speed & had to get out of using the back to brake ( old tiger club rider )
pete

Me, I mainly use the fronts but do use the rear if I'm coasting to lights / junction / roundabout rather than having to stop. I figure the price of two pads will be cheaper than four!

Interesting replies there. I've been thinking about my braking habits since I got back in the saddle last year and even more so today when I got caught in a quick downpour and forgot to adjust my technique to suit (a little unsettling, bike and nerves-wise).
I do use the rear, quite often. I never use it on it's own, except for slow control and to trim a little speed on a bend (VERY rare, I don't ride fast enough to overcook it into a corner much), but I definitely apply some rear if I'm braking from any significant speed.

Glad I'm not the only rear person here, use both but I estimate 60/40 front/rear. I'm sure if measured I use a bit more at the back. Maybe a hangover from bikes of yesteryear and I'm not converted to only or nearly only front.

I bad weather less on the front in favour of the rear, but then I'm not riding the same as in good weather anyway

I too was taught 70/30 and just cover it in an emergency stop to make it look like your using it, but thats mainly to pass your test.

I was also taught to use it under 10 miles per hour, slow stopping scenario.

I tend to use it at lights/junctions to give my hand a rest LOL


Ellie

petercriss wrote:
I do use the rear, quite often. I never use it on it's own, except for slow control and to trim a little speed on a bend (VERY rare, I don't ride fast enough to overcook it into a corner much), but I definitely apply some rear if I'm braking from any significant speed.

With you on that one i still use the rear probably more than i should and occasionally still my foot still goes towards it on a bend even if i don't do anything with it - i think its a comfort blanket lol i always come to a slow stop on it rightly or wrongly and then straight away transfer everything to the front brake if there's anything behind me and i think they might rearend me