Lock up the rear, and back er in.
"Back brake only, you'll crash if you use your front brake!"
- Thread starter PrivatePilot
- Start date
But then how on earth will you be able to play the bongos on your tank at a red light?!?
U
Both my current bike and my last bike have linked braking systems, but I can say with absolute confidence that just mashing on the pedal does not provide anywhere near as much braking effort on the front as pulling the front brake lever directly. There is still a significant bias towards the rear wheel. On both bikes I am/was able to push the bike into the ABS triggering on the back end while I was still not slowing down at what I would have considered reasonable had it been an emergency situation.
And here we have the *actual* issue.
Both my current bike and my last bike have linked braking systems, but I can say with absolute confidence that just mashing on the pedal does not provide anywhere near as much braking effort on the front as pulling the front brake lever directly. There is still a significant bias towards the rear wheel. On both bikes I am/was able to push the bike into the ABS triggering on the back end while I was still not slowing down at what I would have considered reasonable had it been an emergency situation.
And here we have the *actual* issue.
I too leave it in gear for the most part. I haven't had a street bike with a cable clutch for a long time and the pull on the hydraulic ones is pretty light.
Of course if I'm on my 74 Norton Commando, I'm may be more inclined to look for neutral.
If I'm on my EXC500 at a red light, I leave it in gear.
Because otherwise: 2... 1... 2.. 1. 2. 1. 2... Green Light (and not on my dash...)
Godammit!
(yes yes, paddle the bike forward and backwards, rev the engine a bit, let the clutch out a bit... but no...)
Because otherwise: 2... 1... 2.. 1. 2. 1. 2... Green Light (and not on my dash...)
Godammit!
(yes yes, paddle the bike forward and backwards, rev the engine a bit, let the clutch out a bit... but no...)
Hmmm i use the rear brake a lot... but the front brake definitely gets used any single time i want to brake "faster"
As for stopping at red lights... for A LOT of my riding im in neutral at red light,simply because for the rest of the riding while im commuting im in stop and go traffic so clutch hand wants a break. On a fun ride where im not constantly changing gears or feathering the clutch i stay in gear.
As for stopping at red lights... for A LOT of my riding im in neutral at red light,simply because for the rest of the riding while im commuting im in stop and go traffic so clutch hand wants a break. On a fun ride where im not constantly changing gears or feathering the clutch i stay in gear.
I miss rear drums. Ime, so much more feeling as they were never quite round. You could feel when you got the rear wheel just on the edge and spinning a little slower.
Drum brakes... the first anti-lock brakes, just analogue.
Agreed, but the ural has Brembo's all way round.
My current bike came with one every so slightly warped front rotor, so that experience can live on into the disc brake world too. It bothers me sometimes but not enough to replace it quite yet. When it needs pads it’ll probably get new rotors too.
Guilty
A buddy only uses the fronts on his HD because the pads are easier to change. I consider the rear brake a drogue chute for stabilization.
I’m not sure why any rider would default to one way to apply their brakes all the time. I’ve ridden different styles of machines over different surfaces and different conditions. Poor traction, poor weather, different surfaces, 2up etc.
You need to know how to use both and when one is better than another for those variables.
You need to know how to use both and when one is better than another for those variables.
Ignorance and/or lessons from ignorant teachers.
Relax
Well-known member
I'm usually in neutral at stop lights because Steve Hicks told me so when I bought my first Ducati to save my dry clutch basket and plates from premature wear. Also being short, since I can only get one foot down, I put down my right so my left is ready to shift into gear when needed. It doesn't make a material difference in reaction time if you're paying attention to your surroundings.
Shaman
Well-known member
I had to tell a guy that runs a reasonably active Discord group to stop telling people to only use their back brake forefully and with a good deal of anger after he related it to a couple of newbie riders who might think someone like that knows their stuff. I told him they'd get someone killed repeating this stupid @#$&. Some other people joined in later with the same disgust.
He regularly posts pictures of chopped cruisers with no front brake, just can't be convinced... but at least he's not telling people that the front brake is dangerous now. I get it, you build a bike where the rider is so laid back and the front is so far away seems scary and more likely to lock the front brake, but in an emergency, it's just plain stupid not to use the more powerful of the only two brakes you have.
He regularly posts pictures of chopped cruisers with no front brake, just can't be convinced... but at least he's not telling people that the front brake is dangerous now. I get it, you build a bike where the rider is so laid back and the front is so far away seems scary and more likely to lock the front brake, but in an emergency, it's just plain stupid not to use the more powerful of the only two brakes you have.
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First time I wrote a cruiser I almost crapped myself when I pulled the front brake in and the wheel just locked before the rear came off the ground.
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For sure. When I’m off road somewhere (it seems to happen quite often, see my James Bay Road thread where we probably rode a collective 100km of gravel lol) I use my back brake almost exclusively. Wet roads, both brakes. Dry roads on a hot summer day, front only.
Or getting all your “rider education” from randos on YouTube.
