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reading the forums there seems to be a large number of riders that don't use their rear brake, either don't know how or choose not to.

when i did my riding course it was one of the main things that was stressed to us second to counter steering.

just wondering how many of you use your rear brake religously?

 

I use it a lot when downshifting for a stop or emerg. 

I use it in combination with the front brake most every time I come to a stop. 

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Terrorists my dimpled ass! These people make terrorists look like the Sisters of Charity! These guys are Cannonballers!

I use only my front brakes when I am slowing down for a car turning ahead of me, but use my rear and front together whenever coming to a stop. Plus if I'm going real fast, I tend to use both.

I use it a bit...especially when I'm sitting at a light on a slight slope :D

I use it a lot when riding and want to smoothly brake, like coming to a stop at a light.  I use the front to slow quickly, back to slow gracefully.

Had to go look at my bike to see if I had one   

The only time I use my back brake ever is when I'm stopped at some sort of incline and need to steady myself before I go (yes I'm short and can't flat foot) other than that..........never touch it.

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I guess I'm the minority here....

 

Once I'm past ~30 mph, I do NOT use the rear brake.  Also, the quicker I need to stop (e.g. setting up for turn at the track or panic brake on the street), the less likely I am to use the rear brake.  I only use the rear brake for coming to a full stop.  I never use the rear brake for the purpose of scrubbing off speed.

FWIW, here's my thoughts on this issue....

When you brake, there is a weight transfer from the rear to the front.  At this point, the rear is very light.  This gets amplified when you brake very hard such as setting up for a turn at the track or panic brake on the street (Gee, does that sound familiar ).  When the rear is this light, it doesn't take very much for the rear to lose traction.  Just a little rear brake is enough to cause that loss.  Once the rear loses traction, your rear brake is contributing 0% of your braking.  Even worse, if the rear loses traction and then suddenly gets it  --->>>>  highside (this is why the MSF class teaches to come to a full stop once you lock up the rear).

Now for street speeds (assuming you ride sanely in the street), using the rear brake is okay as long as you practice using it so that you don't lock up the rear.  But for any aggressive riding, the rear brake is not used to scrub speed.  All the racers and track riders that I know that use the rear brake use it to do subtle geometry changes when setting up for a turn, never for scrubbing speed.

just my 2 abe lincolns

 

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badfish '05 600RR Purple/Black

You are not alone, abad.  Front brake only here, except for in town riding at 35 mph or slower.  Even at those slow speeds, panic stops are front brake only.  Like you said, under hard breaking, the rear of the bike gets so light that the rear brake is pretty much useless and just locks the wheel.

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'05 CBR600F4i
PCIII USB
-1 Front +2 Rear/Speedohealer
Various screens according to my mood
Hindle Hi Mount slip on oval supersport core
K & N air filter
Matris M3 Damper
Vortex Rearsets
BRG Racing 1/5 turn throttle
Pit-Eck undertail and hugger

fronts only my guess 95% of the time.  Use the rear brake when i am already stopped at a light so my brake light stays on or on an incline.  Not up to the expert skills needed to use the rear brake to do silly cool stuff at the track.

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Mawfaki #6
Nesba #819

I'm not Asian... I'm rice-enhanced

abadfish:

I guess I'm the minority here....

 

Once I'm past ~30 mph, I do NOT use the rear brake.  Also, the quicker I need to stop (e.g. setting up for turn at the track or panic brake on the street), the less likely I am to use the rear brake.  I only use the rear brake for coming to a full stop.  I never use the rear brake for the purpose of scrubbing off speed.

FWIW, here's my thoughts on this issue....

When you brake, there is a weight transfer from the rear to the front.  At this point, the rear is very light.  This gets amplified when you brake very hard such as setting up for a turn at the track or panic brake on the street (Gee, does that sound familiar ).  When the rear is this light, it doesn't take very much for the rear to lose traction.  Just a little rear brake is enough to cause that loss.  Once the rear loses traction, your rear brake is contributing 0% of your braking.  Even worse, if the rear loses traction and then suddenly gets it  --->>>>  highside (this is why the MSF class teaches to come to a full stop once you lock up the rear).

Now for street speeds (assuming you ride sanely in the street), using the rear brake is okay as long as you practice using it so that you don't lock up the rear.  But for any aggressive riding, the rear brake is not used to scrub speed.  All the racers and track riders that I know that use the rear brake use it to do subtle geometry changes when setting up for a turn, never for scrubbing speed.

just my 2 abe lincolns

 

i have ot disagree on couple of thing first of all it is known that breaking with the rear and the front

will make a shorter distance , and even if the rear tire is is locked as long that it is on the ground it does create traction there for help reducing speed

yes i agree the front break is the primary one but there is no reason why not to use the rear one as well (this for a streight line)

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cbr fs 02
race tech springs, arrow slip on,rear hugger
menual cct ,k&n,under tail

SBTG:

i have ot disagree on couple of thing first of all it is known that breaking with the rear and the front

go back and reread my post, I never said that wasn't the case.

will make a shorter distance , and even if the rear tire is is locked as long that it is on the ground it does create traction there for help reducing speed

again, go back and reread my post, I didn't say that wasn't the case either.  What I said was a loss of traction.

However, take a step back and look at the bigger picture.  Even though a locked rear will have some (not much) traction, think about the instability it causes with the bike as a whole.  Your suspension at this point is bouncing all over the place and very unstable.  Now put the bike at track speeds (braking from 150 to 60 within a VERY short distance) and this is amplified even more.  That's an even bigger liability than a locked rear.

yes i agree the front break is the primary one but there is no reason why not to use the rear one as well (this for a streight line)

I have yet to meet any racer or advanced track rider who uses the rear to scrub speed.  As I said for the street, its okay to to use the rear.  But not for aggressive riding.  I still don't think its appropriate for panic situations.  IMHO, I think alot of people would not go down if they didn't use the rear in panic situations because of the instability with the suspension that it causes.

 

Anyway, as I said it was just my 2 abe lincolns.  You don't have to agree with it (though I don't think we are completely disagreeing with each other, just slightly different perspectives).

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badfish '05 600RR Purple/Black

i have talked to successful track riders that claim to use the rear for very very slight mid-corner speed adjustments... but u gotta take that w/ a grain of salt since they are MUCH better riders than most everyone.  the rear brake, when used properly, is less upsetting to the chassis and suspension mid corner than using the front.. but i dont suggest trying this...

as for me, i use the rear when im under 25mph, in parking lots, or when riding 2-up.  the passengers weight obviously makes the rear brake more effective.

after saying that, there were 2 skids marks from my recent accident.  the rear one was about 8ft long and the front was about 4ft long... so ya, i was on those brakes hard, but the application of both obviously didnt stop me b4 hitting the lil SUV.

 

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Naked 93' F2...... RIP -- 04/12/07
04' 600RR Black - currently stuck between track and street usage
- Brembo Master, Sato's, & Ohlins out back

You should use the rear brake often it  has many function and most importantly is helping you stop.  I use the rear brake all the time, stopping distance is shorter in all stiuations and it help to set up for a turn. By appling the rear brake first you tansfer the some of the weight of the bike to the front then you use the front break to scub off alot of you speed.  Putting weigh on the front tire helps the bike turn in.  Those who disagree should go and try it before you break out your physic books.  Also if you use it for mid corner speed scrubbing just squeeze the rear brake peddle and keep the throtle in the same position and envoke more lean angle, you will tighten up that corner.  It has saved me from crossing the centre line a couple of times.  Never jamm the rear brake pettle down hard in the middle of a turn it will turn out bad. 

abadfish:

I guess I'm the minority here....

 

Once I'm past ~30 mph, I do NOT use the rear brake.  Also, the quicker I need to stop (e.g. setting up for turn at the track or panic brake on the street), the less likely I am to use the rear brake.  I only use the rear brake for coming to a full stop.  I never use the rear brake for the purpose of scrubbing off speed.

FWIW, here's my thoughts on this issue....

When you brake, there is a weight transfer from the rear to the front.  At this point, the rear is very light.  This gets amplified when you brake very hard such as setting up for a turn at the track or panic brake on the street (Gee, does that sound familiar ).  When the rear is this light, it doesn't take very much for the rear to lose traction.  Just a little rear brake is enough to cause that loss.  Once the rear loses traction, your rear brake is contributing 0% of your braking.  Even worse, if the rear loses traction and then suddenly gets it  --->>>>  highside (this is why the MSF class teaches to come to a full stop once you lock up the rear).

Now for street speeds (assuming you ride sanely in the street), using the rear brake is okay as long as you practice using it so that you don't lock up the rear.  But for any aggressive riding, the rear brake is not used to scrub speed.  All the racers and track riders that I know that use the rear brake use it to do subtle geometry changes when setting up for a turn, never for scrubbing speed.

just my 2 abe lincolns

 

I'm going to have to disagree (but with no disrespect). By using your rear brake before the turn in paragraph 2 you would transfer the weight back to the rear wheel and stabilize the rear end so your not light in the corn, other wise at the first sign of throttle the ass end could brake lose in the turn and catch again when the acceleration makes the bike squat, then your talking highside. Or is that the subtle geometry changes your talking about?

I find big bore bikes need more rear brake technique then the smaller bikes. Since switching to a 750 I very rarely have to use my rear brake to set myself up for a turn.

My Abe's are in the pot

Question for the people who do not use your rear brakes......Would you disconnect your rear brakes in your car?  Probally not..  Use your rear brakes and use then often!  If you don't feel you need to use the rear brake go to a riding school and learn how.