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deej
03-Apr-2005, 19:44
whilst out training cbt's this morning i started thinking about the rear brake

i teach new riders to use 80-20 front to rear brake and 50/50 in the wet,i understand the reasons behing it for training especially on slow speed riding and figure of 8's. yet when i ride on the roads myself i never use the back brake at all, even at the silly speeds i ride at

so i was wondering how regularly do you guys use the rear brake and why, what benefits does it have on the road and does your rear brake feel as useless as the one on my 748 ?? :puzzled::eureka:

NBs996
04-Apr-2005, 01:18
I don't use it at all, don't understand why it's there!

Tried a bit of back brace at cadwell last weekend but still didn't know what it was for so went back to the old routine of front only... but with the engine braking from a twin it must be pretty much like a rear brake effect anyway(?)

So, deej, can you explain these reasons you teach to the cbt riders?

psychlist
04-Apr-2005, 11:39
Only any good to "balance" the 'pull' of some revs when kerb crawling :devil: Very handy for doing quick u-turns when spotted by the fuzz ;)
My rear brake is next to useless when travelling above 10 mph too :alien:

Walenut
04-Apr-2005, 12:00
It’s nice to know the back brakes there when you’re on a slippery surface, when a handful of front brake will have you on your arse.

Mr_S
04-Apr-2005, 12:01
Use mine a lot in slow turns so I can keep a bit of gas on and to keep things settled. In fact, I probably use it in most turns, I just don't think about it.

Lot's of use in traffic / town riding, negotiating carparks

Traffic lights, hill starts,

And in the wet too.

and it'll lock the rear on demand under 30mph. (Completely standard setup except for braided hose)

bossingit
04-Apr-2005, 12:01
my back brake is crap so i dont bother!!!

Rattler
04-Apr-2005, 12:06
Its used over the Mountain at Cadwell !!!

A quick stab ensures you're not hitting the clubhouse bar too early!!!!

Other than that its just there for show!!

Tim

ath748
04-Apr-2005, 12:21
Mine is so bad I don't bother. I haven't touched it in months, I don't miss it either.

Jools
04-Apr-2005, 12:36
It's for hill starts isn't it? Don't use it for anything else. :)

ath748
04-Apr-2005, 12:49
It would be nice if it did! Holding the bike on the biting point can't be too good for it!!

Monty
04-Apr-2005, 13:42
Back brake, back brake?-do Ducati's come equipped with a back brake?-I thought the lever was just there for show..............:lol:

John

Delooney
04-Apr-2005, 19:17
Always use me rear brake in unison with more to the front.
Force of habit I suppose but my back brake does actually work ???

Off to squirt some WD40 on to it...

Delooney.

GsxrAge
04-Apr-2005, 19:54
I use the rear brake quite alot helps to settle the brake mid corner or if I need to scrub of a little more speed as I am tipping it in :cool:


By the way my rear brake failed on saturday morning :o I was going down hill and the bike was working hard, pulled in the cluch and the bike came to a fairley quick halt.
Turns out the rear master cyclender sezied up :sniff:


Never mind £35 quid later new one fitted :cool:

crm250
04-Apr-2005, 20:52
I use mine quite alot too, in town its much easier to work with than diving the front, and when i need to slow from low speeds, at higher speeds i still tend to use both, and esp in the wet.
i guess growing up on a 350LC which had a **** poor front brake and good rear moulded me to use it.

I was out on the RC30 yesterday, and the rear is **** poor on that, yet the fronts have a hell of a bite with clean calipers and new HH pads. it took some getting used to having to rely on the fronts only.

I guess i prefer a smoother ride and am keeping the weight from my wrists when using the rear, but also i use it for keeping balance at v low speed

ziggi
04-Apr-2005, 22:17
i don't use my bike in town or stop on hills :D

[Edited on 4-4-2005 by ziggi]

Mr_S
04-Apr-2005, 22:33
Here's a thought.

I've been wondering if some don't actually use the back brake, or just don't think about using it and so assume they don't. One of those psychological things where the mind ignores it as it's an automatic action.

I guess the question would be answered if everyone who doesn't use it, removed their rear brake pedal at TA4....

Purely in the interest of science :)

Laptime with then without?

Volunteers???

Am I being daft now???

:burn:

dave w
04-Apr-2005, 22:44
Only use it when i'm backing it in to the apex :lol::lol:

deej
04-Apr-2005, 22:50
we taech it so that people use the back brake for slow speed riding ( as mentioned ) and cornering, i ride my 748 with my toes on the edge of the peg when cornering so nowhere near the rear peg if i needed it, plus its crap at stopping the bike on its own, it does definetly help in towns, car parks and u-turns are a peice of cake when using the rear brake

some very interesting answers above, think i'll try and use it a bit more when out riding a bit faster even if it means adjusting my stlye ( ha ha ha ).

Mr_S
05-Apr-2005, 01:03
Why change if you're happy with the way you ride now.

Better things to focus on than the back brake I'd say

Like....

Holding the throttle open whilst braking hard......

ericthered40
05-Apr-2005, 02:32
If you can get used to using your back brake to just take off a little speed in left handers it can keep you on your own side of the road when you do get in a bit hot, it works really well. It’s a better way of loosing speed and keeping on the line. It stops you getting the feeling you need to lift the bike to let you use enough front brake. Most folks seem to have more confidence on rights because of the amount of practice they get on the road and the track. It must be the safety of the hedge and not the on coming traffic. Eekk
I don’t know the theory of it, but you seem to be able to use more front brake and not make the bike lift when you are using the back.
I am not saying its a get out of jail free card,more a helping hand in the face of a situation that is deterating rapidly.

Nice to get all your braking done before the apex if you can though a. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

deej
05-Apr-2005, 22:51
i think eric is on the right track although i personally prefer left handers which would benefit form me using the back brake as i do run lefts far quicker than rights

thinking of doing my first trackday this year so which track has more lefts than rights ????????

ericthered40
05-Apr-2005, 22:55
clockwise in this country so most have more rights than lefts :lol::lol::lol:

andys 900ss
05-Apr-2005, 23:06
I didnt used to use mine much, but at Donington I tried it at the end of Starkeys Straight & it definitely improves braking from the warp-speed your doing there. You may also need it under the Dunlop bridge to keep the front wheel down, especially on my track jap 1000.

Andy

TP
05-Apr-2005, 23:11
Originally posted by Mr_S
Here's a thought.

I've been wondering if some don't actually use the back brake, or just don't think about using it and so assume they don't. One of those psychological things where the mind ignores it as it's an automatic action.

I guess the question would be answered if everyone who doesn't use it, removed their rear brake pedal at TA4....

Purely in the interest of science :)

Laptime with then without?

Volunteers???

Am I being daft now???

:burn:

I volunteer, I don't use it on the track at all.

I only use it for slow u-turns to balance the bike and smooth out the throttle and when I'm at traffic lights or a hill start etc.

deej
05-Apr-2005, 23:13
hey up tony

looking good in the avatar :D:D

TP
05-Apr-2005, 23:17
Originally posted by deej
hey up tony

looking good in the avatar :D:D

Thanks Deej, Almeria is a nice track. Makes the TP recommendations list :D

bradders
06-Apr-2005, 00:06
I use it all the time, mainly mid-corner to tighten if off line or running too hot, but having tiny legs, I sit at any stop with it full on!

Oh, and mine works perfect - dont know whats wrong with yeows lot then;)

weeian
06-Apr-2005, 00:23
i use mine when filtering at slow speeds while blipping the throttle to make my presence felt in heavy traffic, but always have 1 finger covering the front if its needed.

/ian

deej
07-Apr-2005, 19:45
tony

its a bit drastic taking the monster to almeria just for a bit of pre desmo due practice aint it ?????????

so its a mixed response form people on the back brake then

TP
07-Apr-2005, 20:39
Originally posted by deej
tony

its a bit drastic taking the monster to almeria just for a bit of pre desmo due practice aint it ?????????

:lol:

I guess so, but doing level 3 and 4 with the CSS on a camp really makes sense. Even though it is very expensive I reckon it's worthwhile. I made good progress on the bike and the track is fantastic. Fifteen corners, some very technical sections, two corners where you tip in on a blind entry and a 1km straight. Not to mention great weather in early April.

As for the brakes, rear brakes are for traffic lights, hill starts and abusing.