is it bettr to use the front or rearbreaks on a motorcycle?

Answer 1

When you apply your brakes, weight is transferred from back to front. Your front wheel brake provides about 75% of the available stopping power on a motorcycle. That's why many motorcycles are built with dual disc brakes on the front and only a drum or single disc on the rear wheel. With most of the stopping power on the front, one must be careful when applying the brakes, as it is possible to lock up the front wheel, causing a skid and losing control of the motorcycle.

It is best to coordinate the application of both brakes when coming to a stop.

Answer 2

I always set the rear first then the front and that's after the throttle is closed. Actually, I engage the rear first although one might say both are applied REALLY close together. Co-ordination and all that.
This has worked for me no matter the road, angle, weather, etc.
All those parts shift momentum and weight. This way gets it all tightened up.
If ur real good...u can pull the clutch in first or let engine braking do it first. Notice that engine braking is almost the same as applying the rear brake first. Nothing like physics to let u know which one should be first in the natural order of things. Except for cruisers. Applying the front brake heavily may lift the rear tire thus putting 100% of braking on the front. Sportbikes play with that. Modify ur technique for show or actually stopping where u want. Hopefully at the stop line.

Answer 3

On any motorcycle, you'll only get 100% braking power if you know how to use both brakes. But how you use them depends on two things: the kind of motorcycle you're riding and what kind of surface you're riding on.

All of these generalizations apply to braking in a straight line on a level surface. Braking on steep hills or while turning require different techniques.

If you're on a modern sportbike, a "standard" (like a Ducati Monster, Suzuki SV650 or Kawasaki Z1000)... basically anything but a cruiser or touring bike... and you're on clean, dry pavement, the front brake is your friend. Use it properly (never "grab" the front brake, because it will lock up) and it's all the braking you need in most of the circumstances you'll encounter. I like to add a little engine braking (i.e., downshifting and rolling off the throttle) to slow the rear wheel, but sometimes a touch of rear brake helps slow you down faster and in a more controlled fashion than simply letting the engine control the rear braking.

If you're on a cruiser or tourer, you want to use both brakes, with a bias toward the rear. These are long, heavy bikes, and cruisers tend to have skinny front wheels and lower centers of gravity. In both types of bikes, their weight can easily overpower the front wheel's traction, so the rear brake is your friend.

Also, most older motorcycles don't have the braking power of modern disc brakes, so if you're riding a bike with one or two drum brakes, you want to use both brakes.

If you're riding a dirt bike, or any bike on a dirty, slippery surface, the rear brake is your friend and the front brake should be used with caution.

One thing is certain: if you lock up the rear wheel and the back end starts to move sideways, DO NOT RELEASE THE REAR BRAKE until your wheels are aligned again or you come to a complete stop. If you do, the rear tire will suddenly get traction again and you'll experience a "highside". The bike will try throw you off like a bucking bronco (and will probably succeed).

Here are a few books you might want to check out:

"Street Strategies: A Survival Guide for Motorcyclists" by David Hough (Actually, all of Hough's motorcycling books are good for survival skills).

"Sport Riding Techniques: How To Develop Real World Skills for Speed, Safety, and Confidence on the Street and Track" by Nick Ienatsch.

"A Twist of the Wrist, Vol. II" by Keith Code.

Braking is THE most important skill you can learn on a motorcycle, so practice panic stops often -- before you need to do one -- and constantly improve your braking skills. There are also classes, like the MSF Experienced Rider Course and private classes where you ride on a race track, where you can learn the finer points of braking (and everything else) from highly skilled riders.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Always use both brakes but if you want to stop really really fast, squeeze the front brake pretty hard and not too hard on the rear brake so as not to lock up the back tire. Oh and it sounds like you haven't taken a motorcycle training course. You need to do that to get your motorcycle liscence so you can be legal. I would highly reccomend doing so before you ride...

Answer 5

It is best to use both evenly at the same time. If you do this it enables you to more easily maintain control. The front brakes provide about 70% of the stopping power on most motorcycles but if you rely on them solely you are putting unnecessary wear on them and not using all your stopping power. If you use the back brakes only you are more likely to lock up the rear wheel and cause your motorcycle to skid. So unless you just like living dangerously it is best to keep your motorcycle upright and straight and apply both brakes as evenly as possible. You will stop in half the distance of using just one brake. You can also check this link out http://www.ehow.com/how_5251_brake-properly-motorcycle.html

Answer 6

Each brake has different uses. If you have to stop short, you would want to use both brakes, so you don't end up locking one up and dumping the bike. For most purposes, I use the front brake, just because it's right there on the handlebar. In fact, my uncles Honda VTX1800 automatically directs the brakeing pressure 70% rear, 30% front, or something like that, no matter which handle , or foot lever, you use. It just depends on the kind of stop you need to do.

Answer 7

You want to use them both. The front brake provides 70%-80% of your total stopping power. That leaves 20%-30% to the rear brakes. The best advice I can give is to practice until you get the feel for it.

Answer 8

you should use both in most situations. the fronts provide most of the stopping power, but be cautious in lower traction situations (ie:rain). in racing on pavement at maximum braking the rear brake is useless as weight transfer is so severe that the rear will lock easily. if you are a beginner you should get over any fear you may have about the front brake as it is what gets you stopped. on dirt bikes its a different story as the rear brake helps you steer and control the bike.

Answer 9

Use the front brake. 85% of your stopping power is there. If you lock the rear wheel you'll probably go down ( and not in a good way). The rear brake is mainly used to settle the rear end.

Answer 10

Use the back brake all the time but when coming to a complete stop use both brakes at the same time.