How do u brake?

[Gemini]

noticed different habits on site so wanted to run a poll

i only ever use my front brake, was always told by an ex bike racer that when riding on the road only use rear brake if about to crash so to scrub as much speed off as poss, other than that just use engine to control rear wheel

so how do u guys brake?

gem

[masterofinsanity]

i use both, but front for stoppies

[f17th]

These things come with brakes ??

But this week I have mostly been using the front brake..... (*Harry Enfield*)


Yeah pretty much use the front brake but does depend on what situation you are in,

[Rob636]

Front brake mostly in the dry,
rear brake alot in the wet and always rear braking at slow speed, junctions / roundabouts etc, and both together when going in a little to hot for a bend

Rob

[CarneyUK]

Loads of front brake in the dry, 50/50 in the wet, back brake when in slow traffic........

100% front and back just before hitting road signs

[Rob636]

ive one time used the rear end of a car to stop once, does this count ?

[tam133]

I just passed my test about 3 weeks ago, got my ZXR at the weekend and only been out on it twice for short times as i'm having starting problems with it, but when I was on it I mainly used front brake as weather was good and only used back when was coming up to junctions, traffic lights etc.

Quick question also, when I was doing my direct access course and was driving the 125cc bikes (I hated those things) the instructor taught us about counter steering, but when I was on the 500cc the other instructor didn't. Since I just passed my test and only been on my bike couple of times (been taking it easy), just wanted to know if all you's use counter steer and does it take a while to get used to cos at the moment i'm just leaning and not doing it cos it totally freaks me out and tend to not lean so much when trying to counter steer.

[Gemini]

counter steer is something i would only do when going round bends fast as it drops the angle of the bike right down, quite strange at first

gem

[Rob636]

depends on what you mean by counter steering, if its like what gem is getting at then dont worry just ride natural, its upto you if want to play with pushing on the bar to help drop the bike quicker, i just hope your not on about drifting as this isnt for noobs, where i mean your lighting the rear end up round a bend and are forced to counter steer to drift the bend out, you need a combination of good heated tyres balls of steel and a mind of a gp racer !

Rob

[Jamz]

I just passed my test about 3 weeks ago, got my ZXR at the weekend and only been out on it twice for short times as i'm having starting problems with it, but when I was on it I mainly used front brake as weather was good and only used back when was coming up to junctions, traffic lights etc.

Quick question also, when I was doing my direct access course and was driving the 125cc bikes (I hated those things) the instructor taught us about counter steering, but when I was on the 500cc the other instructor didn't. Since I just passed my test and only been on my bike couple of times (been taking it easy), just wanted to know if all you's use counter steer and does it take a while to get used to cos at the moment i'm just leaning and not doing it cos it totally freaks me out and tend to not lean so much when trying to counter steer.

You're already using counter-steering, else your bike wouldn't be going around corners!!!

The only time you don't use counter-steering to turn is from a standstill, and even then you CAN use it for things like u-turns... Any speed over about 5mph then you are counter-steering, whether you realise it or not! It's how bikes work!

I can ride quite happily never touching the brakes unless coming to a complete stop, but otherwise I use both brakes.

Back in the 125 days I never used the rear brake, and had to learn for the 500cc test.

[Jamz]

depends on what you mean by counter steering, if its like what gem is getting at then dont worry just ride natural, its upto you if want to play with pushing on the bar to help drop the bike quicker, i just hope your not on about drifting as this isnt for noobs, where i mean your lighting the rear end up round a bend and are forced to counter steer to drift the bend out, you need a combination of good heated tyres balls of steel and a mind of a gp racer !

Rob

Yeah, backing it into corners with the rear brake is one thing I can do, but sliding around the bend on opposite lock is not something you want to be doing on the roads, and I shouldn't think many on track could do it reliably, either!!!

[Rob636]

depends on what you mean by counter steering, if its like what gem is getting at then dont worry just ride natural, its upto you if want to play with pushing on the bar to help drop the bike quicker, i just hope your not on about drifting as this isnt for noobs, where i mean your lighting the rear end up round a bend and are forced to counter steer to drift the bend out, you need a combination of good heated tyres balls of steel and a mind of a gp racer !

Rob

Yeah, backing it into corners with the rear brake is one thing I can do, but sliding around the bend on opposite lock is not something you want to be doing on the roads, and I shouldn't think many on track could do it reliably, either!!!

yup thats why i said look to gp riders, there a few of them that can slide in and out of bends

[rene]

loads of front brake, the back is no were sharp enouth. Also when really going for it im braking that hard the back wheel is snaking so back dos prity nuch f'all to slow you down

[deviant]

You're already using counter-steering, else your bike wouldn't be going around corners!!!

what he said.

[gubbs]

Front brake mostly in the dry,
rear brake alot in the wet and always rear braking at slow speed, junctions / roundabouts etc, and both together when going in a little to hot for a bend

Rob

^ What he said.

Essentially the rear brake is cheaper to renew than the front. I use it a lot.
Going down hills, junctions, emergency stops etc. I also use the rear brake in a corner and the front going in to a corner.

My rear brake gets a lot of use, I brake rear > front in most scenarios.