Comments on: Should You Use That Front Brake Lever?

By: Keith Gill

Keith Gill — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:54:07 +0000

I often wonder how much the fact that US bicycles have their front brake on the left contributes to this problem. I can’t imagine trying to teach my subconscious to use the right hand for front brake on a motorcycle and the left when the power comes from my legs. Consequently, my bicycle brakes are reversed before I even leave the store, what is sometimes called ‘motocross’ style.

By: cbrf2_rider

cbrf2_rider — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:21:41 +0000

I’ve used front and rear from day 1 and it’s kept my fanny off the asphalt thus far (and there’ve been some hairy moments!). It’s like anything else you learn. If you learn it wrong it’s harder to correct when it becomes imperative to do so. I be dead, maimed or, at the very least, bikeless had I not learned to brake properly from the beginning.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:56:12 +0000

MSF says and I agree, brake with both hand and foot… all the time, because the day will come when you really need all the stopping power of the bike and your second nature reaction WILL be with both brakes. If you are using only one all the time then thats all you got. Better to have 100% stopping power than 30 or 70% only.

By: Allen

Allen — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:03:52 +0000

When I work with new riders, somewhat contrary to conventional (sound) wisdom, I advise riders to ONLY use the front brake. Why? A new riders dexterity is much greater in their hands and fingers than their feet. Riders have MUCH greater feel in their fingers than the sole of their boot.

Many riders who low side (and the occasional high side) are caused by this lack of feel on the rear brake. The rider appropriately uses both brakes, but then fails to modulate or release the rear brake. And that’s when trouble starts. I consider rear braking to be a near advanced technique because of that.

FWIW

By: Bobby

Bobby — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:47:12 +0000

I had to try stoping my bike with just the rear brakes. at 100kph (60mph) it took me well over 150m to pull up my 900 sports bike (fitted with the best brake system avalible for my model). in any sort of emergency or even an unexpected corner im really hurting if not dead. But its not just the fact that this customer did not realise the nessesity for a front brake, even minimal riding experience teaches us the importance of posture under braking, preloading the front suspention, syncronised engine braking or even how the road surface dictates the weight/power applied. without all of these skills you cannot hope to be called a novice rider, your simply someone who opens the gas and hangs on.
Here in Australia were put through a wekend course to get a learners permit to ride on road and then we are restricted to 250cc and under for the first 2 years. Any less is simply negligence on behalf of the riding community and thier state government.