rear brakes
 

does anyone ever use them in any situation?

Are you serious? No offense
Whenever you come to a stop you should always use both brakes.
Mid-corner if you are going too fast...a little rear brake can help you out.
There are many cases where you should use your rear brake.
You just need to be careful when using them.

im just wondering, i use them a little, but i havent found a whole lot of situations where i need them.

ride harder and faster and you'll find yourself using them more often :p

I use both brakes all the time when stopping. I use either or when just slowing down a bit like in traffic.

Have you ever taken the MSF course Death?

While front is 90% of your braking force, the rear is quite useful in many situations. The main thing is to not lock up the rear while in any kind of turn, that'd be bad.

when traction is questionable aka riding on sand, gravel, oil etc. etc. use the rear brake... other than that i mainly use the front.

if you need a lot of brake most likely you have a fist full of front brake ... which will lighten the rear end & make locking it up more likely.

imo - people have no idea how hard they can brake ( front ). many have never even heard a tire howl ( the point just before losing traction ).

many many years ago i took the rider course and had this same discussion.
( background : i was in the class for reasons other than getting my endorsement :lol: )

it ended with a demonstration by which the instructor used only the front brake then both brakes. obviously using both brake he had a shorter distance. i got on the bike and stopped shorter with just the front brake & said i guess it's just how hard your willing to pull the lever.


but...
advanced riding skills: there are times when using the rear brake has an advantage over using the front brake and sometimes even in place of the throttle. i don't think thats is what is being asked so i won't complicate any answers.

tim

Yes. There's no question that 3 discs being squeezed will stop you faster than two, even if the rear is smaller. I like to make use of all the stopping power.

that statement is very misleading... imo MAXIMUM braking would require you to RELEASE the rear brake.

tim

whats the MSF course of death? thanks for all the opinions guys. im pretty new to riding on the road, but ive been riding dirt bikes my entire life, so im getting used to what brakes work best when. mainly the best times to instinctualy use the rear brakes.

The MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course is a weekend long course you can take that will help with your riding skills. You'll learn proper techniques and become a better rider, and get a discount on your insurance. I think a few members here are certified instructors for the course.

basic techniques for new riders.

tim

I use both. Different situations call for different techniques. Practice using both brakes, together and separately. Get comfortable using them. Over time you too will discover how and when to use them properly. Feel it for yourself. Some riders use two fingers on the front lever, while others use one. Some even use four. Use what ever keeps you in control. Adjust your levers to fit your fingers and foot. Hard braking in a straight line upright, softer braking when leaned over.

rear brake:
tightens lines in corner, allows you to "suck down"

used to evaluate road surface. If you notice a change in surface, you can add rear brake until lockup to determine the amount of grip

if you run onto gravel, bias your braking towards the rear to avoid washout

etc etc

There are many uses,get a book on riding techniques, even if it is aimed at track/sport reading, they will address the uses of the rear brake