Yes or No

Energy One

Cecil

Member
Was talking to some guys i know who have been riding along time, alot longer than myself, and was surprised to hear them say they dont use there front brake to stop. Do you?
 

Five Five

Well-Known Member
Back in the day when I built my choppers I never had a front brake just running rear mechanical drum brakes ... Most of my friends did too.... But now I use both, and the front brake has saved my ass many a time with these crazy ass drivers here in So Cal..... If you have both brakes use them.
 

ksmike

Active Member
I probably use the front more than the rear, but having raced MX for several years I have a "feel" for when the front end is going to wash out..... I have a friend that has a Honda VTX 1800 that actually has the front and rear brakes tied together hydraulically. Using the rear is less likely to cause you to crash, but he front will stop you quicker. Both is the way to go...practice....:up:
 

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
I've always used both. If I remember correctly, the front provides about 70% of the braking ability (At least it did on my motocross bike where you are pushing down hard on the front end).
 

9secondsflat

Active Member
The front brake is responsible for 70-80% of your stopping power, not to use them is foolish. If you only use your rear brake your developing very poor habbits. Should the need arise where you have to stop quickly (a car cuts you off, a dog runs out) your muscle memory skills are only going to go for what is used on a regular basis....the rear brake which is going to delay your abilty to stop by a huge margin.

Years back SportRider Magazine took a Bandit 600 (I think we all can agree it will stop faster then any big dog all things being equal, the laws of physics..a 450lbs bike vs a 700lbs bike and this is with out factoring in dual front disc vs single etc.

What the found stopping from 60 mph using just the front brake resulted in the following.

60-zero

front brake only 151 feet
rear brake only 289 feet
both front/rear 146 feet.
 

bruce

Active Member
I use mainly rear and always have ( 40 years of riding), use both if needed for faster stop. I alway try and left extra room in front of me. when I started riding most rear brakes were drum brakes and they had most the stopping power, with disc. brakes that has changed, but old habits are hard to break.
 
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