Should You Use That Front Brake Lever?

[gmsi]

Should You Use That Front Brake Lever?
April 5, 2009 by: MCg

SPEAKING WITH NEWBIES ABOUT STOPPING MOTORCYCLES

I was at one of the local motorcycle dealers this week. As I was walking around the large showroom, I happened to pass by a sales person while he was pointing out the motorcycle controls to a potential customer, “…and this is the front brake lever…”

But before he could say anymore, the potential customer jumped in, “Oh, but you shouldn’t use that, right? Wouldn’t you flip over?”

I didn’t catch everything the salesperson said, as I was shortly out of hearing range, but I did catch just enough to understand that he was trying to politely advise the newbie that the front brake was an important part of a bike’s stopping system.

Who knows where the newbie got his idea, but over the years I’ve listened to a number of other inexperienced riders remark about how they are timid about the use of their front brake lever.
FRONT BRAKES DESERVE SOME RESPECT – BUT THEY “MUST” BE CONFIDENTLY USED TO MAXIMIZE BRAKING FORCE

The front brake does deserve some respect, since it accounts for the majority of braking force. However, I am still amazed that riders will risk their lives out on public roads without having full confidence in how to use ALL of the bike’s braking potential.

That potential customer on the showroom floor was wise to have blurted out his understanding (or lack thereof) of the front brake, so that he could have that bad idea corrected before he even owned a bike. Imagine if he didn’t mention it? What if that guy bought the bike in question and rode for quite a while harboring the notion that a front brake is a taboo control?

At some point that bad idea would get him hurt.

(Here in California, it’s illegal to ride a motorbike without a motorcycle license, but it is not illegal for a dealer to sell a motorcycle to an untrained and unlicensed rider. This results in various brand-new motorcycle accidents with first-time riders, right on dealer parking lots. And I’ve been there when it has happened! But that’s a different story altogether….)

Anyway, if you know of a new rider, or any rider who is not a trained motorcyclist, you would be doing them a favor to find out what their understanding is regarding the use of their front brake. If they have any notion that they should use it as little as possible, you ought to invite their appreciation to the reality that front brakes account for about 70% of their bike’s braking power, and that they should use their front brake ALL the time, in conjunction with their rear brake, so that they are fully familiar with using both, and can bring their bike to a very quick stop any time the circumstances demand.

Riding is where all the fun is. Efficient stopping is an important part of where survival is.

How much do YOU use your front brake?

[d'virus]

i may be a bit harsh, pero kung someone has that understanding of the front brake levers,
he/she shouldnt be riding on public roads...

[Nitron]

Think of this.... 80kph on a paved but damp road, somebody pulled over right in front of you, if you'll only use your rear brakes, you'll just slide like crazy...

The front brakes constitutes 70-85% of the total braking power...

That's why majority of underbone bikes have disk brakes up front and only drum brakes on the rear.... and it was there for a reason.....

Be Prolife, use your front brakes....

[artbike]

use front brakes all the time...

[xrmlifted]

i do use my front brake for emergency reasons and when it is needed too (like sudden brake, full stop, etc,etc..) i always use my rear brake. some says if you'll use rear brakes you'll just slide slide and slide. of course it depends to the braking skill of the rider. rear brakes deserves some respect too, dont just press it , feel it like pressing your front brake lever. imho

[wakywakyme]

if you spend lots of times resing resing on the streets..

do us all a favor, go in an empty parking lot, subdivision road or whatever..

twist that throttle all the way, then try to stop in the shortest distance possible, don't stop practicing until it feels natural. learning how to stop takes a helluva lot more skill than going fast.








hopefully, you will do a stoppie and go all the way, bump your head and die and rid us of your existence ( pretty harsh )

[NoCalRida]

Here in California, it’s illegal to ride a motorbike without a motorcycle license, but it is not illegal for a dealer to sell a motorcycle to an untrained and unlicensed rider. This results in various brand-new motorcycle accidents with first-time riders, right on dealer parking lots. And I’ve been there when it has happened! But that’s a different story altogether….

Dont get me wrong.. but i like buying parts from those guys cheap and close to new condition. I only use my rear brakes to make the rear wheel to spin slower than the front to make the bike turn faster but not for BRAKING to a stop... but thats just me, every rider have their own style. hope that makes sense.

[filmore]

a.e.i.o.u tagalog na lang.


kaya ba yong mga iba na naka front disc break or f/r disc break eh naglalagay ng mga ABS. para iwas brake locking para hindi mag slide.

sabay ginagamit ang front and rear break, kahit nong nagaaral pa ako mag motor.

[IronWolf]

As an MSF graduate.... we use both brakes for maximum full stoppage of the bike.

If you use too much of the front brake, your weight moves to the front... which may cause the rear wheel to lock when you apply brake on the rear.

It has nothing to do whether its drum brake or disc brake. The difference is just maintainance, cooling effect and cost of manufacturing. If drum brakes will affect the safety of the rider... then why did engineers put it there in the first place?

Whether drum or disc brake... braking power will not change.... it will always be 30% on rear... 70% on front.

[xrmlifted]

Originally Posted by filmore

a.e.i.o.u tagalog na lang.


kaya ba yong mga iba na naka front disc break or f/r disc break eh naglalagay ng mga ABS. para iwas brake locking para hindi mag slide.

sabay ginagamit ang front and rear break, kahit nong nagaaral pa ako mag motor.

yap, yung totoong ABS ah, dami kasi lumalabas ngayun, ABS daw.. hehe

[butete]

baket pa kasi may break sa harap kung hindi naman pala gagamitin..

tanggalin na lang .

[Kaizen]

Time to change pads.

[jay_zer0]

I say use both brakes..

[relentless200]

i use front brake. i only use rear brake when its stopped to prevent the bike from rolling so that i can release the handlebar to relax my hands...even in my scoot i adjusted the rear brake too loose...ang pagkakaintinde ko kasi sa rear ay rare kaya bihira lang gamitin..hehehe

[sthyl69ers]

70% front
30% rear
the best!

[culapol]

Use both brakes simultaneously for shorter stopping distance and develop a safe habit.

[xrmlifted]

sana gawin na lang nila sa mga mc.. yung parang sa HONDA BEAT..

yung isang brake lever eh para sa likod (ata) then yung isa, BOTH BRAKES!.. pag piniga mo yung isang brake lever, both front and rear brakes ang gagana.. astigg!

[FiNiX-CHi3]

i use 70% rear, and 30% front..

it makes me control the bike better, but for high speed riding i use 60% front 40% rear..

it really depends on the riders preference and how they handle the bike,

[chippoy]

Originally Posted by xrmlifted

sana gawin na lang nila sa mga mc.. yung parang sa HONDA BEAT..

yung isang brake lever eh para sa likod (ata) then yung isa, BOTH BRAKES!.. pag piniga mo yung isang brake lever, both front and rear brakes ang gagana.. astigg!

Yes chief meron, yung Honda "Blackbird" CBR1100XX has a CBS(Combined Brake System), front brake lever activates both front and rear brakes with a 70/30 distribution, however, foot brake pedal is still available solely for rear brake activation only because it is a proven method to maneuver in & out of traffic. I guess it is already obvious why front disc brakes are bigger than the rear for most streetbikes, I cannot say the same for dirtbikes, et.al.. In my experience, I try to forget about my rear brakes as long as I am on a paved road and forget my front brakes once I hit the gravel or loose dirt, the rear brakes on some instances can be used to correct the angle of the bike in relevance to its direction, and the use of both in hard braking instances. This technique has served me well in the past and I am comfortable with it. But of course maybe, other techniques will suit others.

[Full_Throttle.]

gagamitin po talaga ang front brake kasi po kung nasa sobrang tarik na paahon at paahon ang direksron nyo at biglang namatayan kayo ng engine at alang electric start ang inyong motor papaano nyo ito mapapaandar kung di kayo gagamit ng front brake.... pero mas maganda po kung titigil kayo ng biglaan eh use the front and rear break at the same time..

[d'virus]

Originally Posted by xrmlifted

sana gawin na lang nila sa mga mc.. yung parang sa HONDA BEAT..

yung isang brake lever eh para sa likod (ata) then yung isa, BOTH BRAKES!.. pag piniga mo yung isang brake lever, both front and rear brakes ang gagana.. astigg!

i've read somwhere na MC manufacturer's toyed with that idea (combined braking system) a long time ago...
it just somehow didnt caught on well with the majority of the 2-wheel community as sometimes "you need to apply a wide range of braking combination.. "
hanapin ko nga yang issue na yan..

a lot of trikes use this technology though...

[RedBiker7]

well for high speeds i use the front and for low speeds the rear, but by force of habit i use the 2 simultaneously or as how i see fit

[motorex]

alam ko ok yung combined front and rear braking sa scoot lang! at pang city ride lang!! kasi sa circuit racing eh madalas gamitin yung harapan na brake lang!!! imho lang!!!