Who uses the rear brake pedal?

[Speedy1959]

In view of the fact that the Front/Rear brakes are linked i would be interested to know who uses the rear brake pedal....
I mean for actual braking and not for holding the bike whilst stationary on a hill.
One reason i am asking this is because i always have done, but none of my previous bikes had linked brakes......
On my BM I have locked the rear up several times (anti lock kicked in) usually when going down hill. So I was wondering if it's overkill to use the rear pedal when the front brake lever is already supplying stopping force to the rear wheel.

your thoughts please ??

 

[Davel]

Yep I still use my rear pedal too for the final halt which helps prevent diving.

 

[JJH]

What bike are you talking about? Just because the brakes are linked does not mean that the brakes are applied in the same proportion. Sometimes you need the back brake only or mostly so the back gets used. Say when u turning? JJH

 

[AberdeenAngus]

I prefer to use the back brake in a corner if I've gone in too fast, or an unfamiliar corner tightens up on me once I'm into it.
May well be unnecessary now we have linked brakes but that's the way I was taught and it works for me.
On road - I think that's the only time I use it alone.

 

[brut33]

On tight hairpins, hill starts and on some slow maneuvering situations.

 

[Caesi]

U turns/sharp 90 degree turns
Slow moving traffic/filtering
Approaching traffic lights

 

[Speedy1959]

Thanks for your replies so far.
My bike is a 2009 GS.
As for diving......Mine doesn't dive under braking. I thought that was the point of the "anti dive" front end on BM'S ?

 

[unibar]

Constantly in traffic and anything slow speed


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[Guigsy]

I use the rear brake most of the time. Combined with engine braking, it's all I need in most situations. If I'm on the front brake, I can't blip to smoothly down-shift. Front brake is for when I need to haul-up at a junction or to stop for lights. I don't use it for corner approach unless things aren't going to plan.

 

[Schtum]

May well be unnecessary now we have linked brakes but that's the way I was taught and it works for me.

I've found on a Telelever suspended bike, it's possible to brake right up to the apex, if necessary, using the front brake. Obviously, this applies a measure of rear brake as well. However, since the brakes are only linked front to rear and using the rear alone doesn't apply the front brakes, it does make sense to use the rear alone to tighten the line in a corner if necessary. I've even found it possible to hang the rear wheel out of bit and tighten the line even more when doing this on road that had been salted and had then dried out to leave a fine powder coating on the surface.

 

[tanneman]

Thanks for your replies so far.
My bike is a 2009 GS.
As for diving......Mine doesn't dive under braking. I thought that was the point of the "anti dive" front end on BM'S ?

You have obviously not used the brakes to its full potential It does dive, just squeeze the brake lever harder.

In all seriousness. The rear brake get used a lot. 30mph zones and coming to a stop to stabilise the bike. Corner entry when you are going in too fast or think you are going in too fast (refer to the police riders handbook next time you think you are a top notch TT rider ), filtering, slow speed turns etc etc. The new LC applies the rear brake in small brake lever applications but only the front brake when you grab a handful. Honestly I can't tell because I use the rear together with the front when braking. That way I can control the attitude of the bike. That said the front brakes are really good on the LC, didn't get the light flashing yet but I could on the Hexhead.

 

[JJH]

Thanks for your replies so far.
My bike is a 2009 GS.
As for diving......Mine doesn't dive under braking. I thought that was the point of the "anti dive" front end on BM'S ?

It's still possible to compress the front suspension while braking. Although not as prounced as on conventional forks weight transfer still happens. It depends on the weight carried the height of that weight and of course how hard you are breaking. I mostly notice it when I breaking hard cou can see the top of the sliders using up most of the travel. Of course it's nothing like conventional forks. I would find out exactly what is happening when you press the back break only on your bike because there are differences in systems. To be honist on my w/c gsa I'm not sure what proportion of braking effort front/back does what. I'm happy with the way it stops. With ABS PRO there should be enough electronic shit going to out brake my efforts to define the optional balence front to back. JJH

 

[stanley]

For saving overly enthusiastic wheelies

 

[Engineer]

In view of the fact that the Front/Rear brakes are linked i would be interested to know who uses the rear brake pedal....
I mean for actual braking and not for holding the bike whilst stationary on a hill.
One reason i am asking this is because i always have done, but none of my previous bikes had linked brakes......
On my BM I have locked the rear up several times (anti lock kicked in) usually when going down hill. So I was wondering if it's overkill to use the rear pedal when the front brake lever is already supplying stopping force to the rear wheel.

your thoughts please ??

In 'normal' riding with linked brakes (front to rear only) there is little point in using the rear brake - just very slow manoeuvres e.g. u-turns.

 

[Beemerman59]

As already mentioned - low speed u-turns and for settling the rear down if going a bit "hot" into a corner.

 

[robb]

All the time

 

[sproggy]

I use mine a lot riding in traffic and for a bit of a 'steady' in to some corners. Bit shocked actually how ineffective the rear brake is on the '07 I've just picked up - certainly no chance of locking the rear. Methinks some attention is needed - it has probably never been used before by previous owners!

 

[Bungy]

Rear brake is a handy tool linked or not to balance/settle the bike and for slow speed control. I use mine quite a bit but see that as normal.

 

[Bungy]

I use mine a lot riding in traffic and for a bit of a 'steady' in to some corners. Bit shocked actually how ineffective the rear brake is on the '07 I've just picked up - certainly no chance of locking the rear. Methinks some attention is needed - it has probably never been used before by previous owners!

Worth checking to see if you have even wear on the pads as the caliper slider might be seized.

 

[DJ GSA]

Only if I am going down hill I drag the rear brake.

I mainly use front brake (obv) amd engine braking if I need a bit more.

If I need to pull up sharp back brakes comes in last.

I've never (thus far, touch wood) has the ABS kick in at any time and can a sure I have had some hairy moment rounding corners on country lanes to find all manner of animals and farm equipment in the road, both stationary and coming at me.

(Coincidentally. When I had my old F650GS. I never used the back brake at all, so much so when I did come to use it, it had dried up and seized. Even though I had fully and regular servicing.)