Opinion: Do you use your rear brake when emergency braking?

Sushii

Sushii

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I used to use my brakes during emergency braking until one caused a lowside (too much rear brake), now i only use the front.

Now that i think about it, isn't it dangerous to use your rear brake under heavy braking because all the weight is transferred to the front wheel which causes the rear wheel to lift up a little thus making it have less contact with the ground which equals less traction which then equals to possibly skidding?

What do you guys think? what do you guys use?

Whatever the outcome is i will still not use my rear brake under heavy braking, only will use it to smooth a normal stop or when riding the clutch.
 
The problem isn't using your rear brake. The problem is you not knowing how much brake to use or how to realize and recover from using too much rear brake. On many bikes, using your rear brake effectively can do much to reduce your braking distance and bike stability while under hard braking.
 
Front brake only. BUT ... All of my bikes have weight distribution and brakes that are sufficient to lift the rear wheel off the ground using the front brake only.

Optimum braking on a long-wheelbase touring bike or cruiser, or when carrying a passenger, will require some use of the rear brake.

It's a far more common error to use too much rear brake than not enough.
 
If you crashed using your front brakes, would you stop using them too?

Better to learn to use them properly, then to stop using them.

One of the reasons that some of the big cruisers can outbrake the supersports, is the ability to use the rear brake longer.

I can lift the rear of a bike off the ground using only the front brake, but I can still stop it sooner using both of them.
 
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turbodish said:
The problem isn't using your rear brake. The problem is you not knowing how much brake to use or how to realize and recover from using too much rear brake. On many bikes, using your rear brake effectively can do much to reduce your braking distance and bike stability while under hard braking.
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Yes but i believe that you in order to know how much brake to use you will need to drill it into your muscle, which cak take time and lots of practice. But for the normal street riders, your not thinking about anything else other then braking as fast as you can during emergency braking.
 
Sushii said:
I used to use my brakes during emergency braking until one caused a lowside (too much rear brake), now i only use the front.

Now that i think about it, isn't it dangerous to use your rear brake under heavy braking because all the weight is transferred to the front wheel which causes the rear wheel to lift up a little thus making it have less contact with the ground which equals less traction which then equals to possibly skidding?

What do you guys think? what do you guys use?

Whatever the outcome is i will still not use my rear brake under heavy braking, only will use it to smooth a normal stop or when riding the clutch.
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A balance between the front and the rear is required. If the front feels like its doing all the braking you are not applying enough rear brake pressure. I was riding at night on a twisty road and I wasn't paying attention to the speed signs as I am sure it dropped to 60 and I was doing up around 90 to 100 km on a tight turn. I realized I was going way too fast to make it and it wasn't a road to lean on so I heavily braked using both front and rear brakes. This was done sub consciously. Not using your rear brake is bad form and bad habits will catch up sooner or later.
 
Baggsy said:
If you crashed using your front brakes, would you stop using them too?

Better to learn to use them properly, then to stop using them..
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ItIsWhatItIs said:
Not using your rear brake is bad form and bad habits will catch up sooner or later.
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Thats not exactly my point. I know how to use my rear brakes properly, I use my rear brakes daily. Its just that people (or just me...) panic during emergency braking and forget everything.
 
turbodish said:
Sell the bike, get a Cavalier.
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I'd like to keep this thread flame free... I only want to know what you guys do.

P.S So how come people that go on track or professional racers (Valentino) usually only use the front brakes...
 
Sushii said:
Thats not exactly my point. I know how to use my rear brakes properly, I use my rear brakes daily. Its just that people (or just me...) panic during emergency braking and forget everything.
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conscious actions turn into sub conscious actions when the brain has no time to think. Use the front and rear always and in the emergency you will stabilize the bike by varying the pressure appied to the front and rear brakes.
 
Sushii said:
Thats not exactly my point. I know how to use my rear brakes properly, I use my rear brakes daily. Its just that people (or just me...) panic during emergency braking and forget everything.
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Isn't it? In an emergency situation don't you want to stop as soon as possible?
In daily riding you could get away with only using front or rear brakes, as you need to slow down and then stop, in an emergency you need to stop NOW!

I did a highside a long time ago from improper use of the rear brake, and looked for tips on getting the pressure right, as well as doing lots of quick stop practice. Hopefully, when I need to emergency brake, I'll naturally do it the way I practiced doing quick stops. The good news for you is that you aren't one of those people who freeze up and do nothing when they panic.

I cheat now, as I use ABS on the current bike.

As far as racers are concerned, I have no evidence one way or the other about which brakes they use, but do they actually ever completely stop? They slow down and then speed up; it is planning, not panic, that causes them to do so.
 
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Baggsy said:
Isn't it? In an emergency situation don't you want to stop as soon as possible?
In daily riding you could get away with only using front or rear brakes, as you need to slow down and then stop, in an emergency you need to stop NOW!

I did a highside a long time ago from improper use of the rear brake, and looked for tips on getting the pressure right, as well as doing lots of quick stop practice. Hopefully, when I need to emergency brake, I'll naturally do it the way I practiced doing quick stops. The good news for you is that you aren't one of those people who freeze up and do nothing when they panic.

I cheat now, as I use ABS on the current bike.
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I'd love to get ABS on my next bike :p
 
Ummm there is no "all the time" correct answer as it depends on road surface.

Emergency braking on a gravel road is an entirely different than on pavement.

On pavement especially dry which is when most of the gotta haul it down right NOW! occur.....worrying about the rear brake is perhaps a luxury than a necessity.

Getting stopped on loose surfaces you have more time but the rear brake is generally a necessity if only for directional stability.
 
MacDoc said:
Ummm there is no "all the time" correct answer as it depends on road surface.

Emergency braking on a gravel road is an entirely different than on pavement.

On pavement especially dry which is when most of the gotta haul it down right NOW! occur.....worrying about the rear brake is perhaps a luxury than a necessity.

Getting stopped on loose surfaces you have more time but the rear brake is generally a necessity if only for directional stability.
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When you learn to use the rear brake properly on pavement, your stopping distance will decrease significantly, which is not a luxury in an emergency situation.
 
Sushii said:
Whatever the outcome is i will still not use my rear brake under heavy braking, only will use it to smooth a normal stop or when riding the clutch.
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Cutting off your nose to spite your face with this decision. You should focus on developing proper "progressive" braking technique under normal and emergency conditions. If the rear wheel does lock and you've maintained even pressure on the handlebars, remained upright and are looking where you should be looking... you will ride out the rear wheel skid.
 
Sushii said:
I'd love to get ABS on my next bike :p
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ABS and linked breaking system, where if you apply front brakes, some rear brake will automatically be applied. Then you won't have to worry about the rear during an emergency. Just worry about staying alive.
 
mjavor said:
ABS and linked breaking system, where if you apply front brakes, some rear brake will automatically be applied. Then you won't have to worry about the rear during an emergency. Just worry about staying alive.
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Or i can have just ABS and just jam on the brakes.
 
Sushii said:
Or i can have just ABS and just jam on the brakes.
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Don't use ABS as a crutch.

Seeing as how you're still a fairly new rider, now's the time to build up good habits. Use the rear brakes...don't use them...whatever it is you end up doing make sure you ingrain it into your muscle memory enough so that you do it well when it needs to get done.

In other words, just keep riding and don't die.
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