Don't simply ignore the rear brake

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Don't simply ignore the rear brake.

From the January, 2010 issue of Sport Rider

By Andrew Trevitt

Photography by Kevin Wing

Perhaps the control that is most often misused on a motorcycle, the rear brake can be utilized in a variety of situations to surprisingly good effect. Ask any group how much they use the rear binder, and you'll get the whole spectrum of answers; from old-school riders that use only the rear brake, to some that won't touch it no matter what. Proper use for everyday riding lies somewhere in between those two extremes. But for a control that has very little effect on actually stopping the motorcycle, the rear brake can be used in subtle (and maybe surprising) ways to your advantage.

While making a U-turn, slipping the clutch and keeping the revs a bit high will keep your bike stable. Modulate your speed more by using the rear brake than by either the throttle or clutch.

To master these subtleties it's first important that you are intimately familiar with your rear brake and how strong-or weak-it is, and how much its power is affected by weight transfer. First be sure that everything is in working order and correctly adjusted. The brake pedal should be a few millimeters clear of your foot when you are sitting in a comfortable position on the bike, so that your foot is not in danger of resting on it but it is easy to reach. In a clean, dry open space such as a deserted parking lot, practice coming to a stop using only the rear brake-lightly at first, then with more effort. If the brake locks at any time, keep it locked until you're at a complete stop. Releasing the brake when you are in a skid and the wheels are out of line will put you on the ground faster than you can say "oops". Experiment with both the clutch pulled in and the clutch released, and notice how the dynamics change: With the clutch out and the engine pulling the rear wheel along, you should have a lot more control over the brake and it will be much less prone to locking. Note too how the rear end of your bike squats when you apply the rear brake. The geometry of the swingarm serves to pull the back of the bike down under braking-something you can use to your advantage.

Now add the front brake to the equation. You'll notice that the more front brake you use, the less effective-and harder to control-the rear brake is. It will lock up easier as weight transfer unloads the rear wheel. Some racers avoid using the rear binder on the track; they use so much front brake that the rear wheel is in the air, rendering the rear brake ineffective. In a basic stopping situation on the street, you want to use mostly the front brake with some rear. Using the rear brake, even slightly, will help to lower the center of gravity, adding stability to the situation and letting you brake harder in a panic stop. If the situation allows, touching the rear brake a half-second before the front will settle things more. Experiment to find what works best and is comfortable for you to execute with confidence.

In a sweeping turn, the rear brake can modulate corner speed to a much finer degree than using the front brake or closing and opening the throttle.

Now for the subtleties. Say you find yourself in a sweeping turn with a bit too much speed, or the corner tightens up slightly. Chopping the throttle and using the front brake will load up the front end, possibly overpowering tire traction and causing a crash. But in this situation, holding the throttle steady and applying a small amount of rear brake can scrub off just enough speed and actually help to tighten your line. The rear brake is much better at modulating your speed than the throttle and/or front brake; with the clutch out and the throttle steady, you'll find that you've got a surprising amount of control with the pedal alone. This is especially effective on a downhill turn, where keeping even slight maintenance throttle will have the bike accelerating. The rear brake will easily keep this in check while letting you stay on the throttle to avoid overloading the front tire.

In a sweeping turn, the rear brake can modulate corner speed to a much finer degree than using the front brake or closing and opening the throttle.

Now for the subtleties. Say you find yourself in a sweeping turn with a bit too much speed, or the corner tightens up slightly. Chopping the throttle and using the front brake will load up the front end, possibly overpowering tire traction and causing a crash. But in this situation, holding the throttle steady and applying a small amount of rear brake can scrub off just enough speed and actually help to tighten your line. The rear brake is much better at modulating your speed than the throttle and/or front brake; with the clutch out and the throttle steady, you'll find that you've got a surprising amount of control with the pedal alone. This is especially effective on a downhill turn, where keeping even slight maintenance throttle will have the bike accelerating. The rear brake will easily keep this in check while letting you stay on the throttle to avoid overloading the front tire.

As an added bonus, the above technique can minimize the effects of an abrupt throttle response or excessive engine braking. If you're not modulating your speed with the throttle, you won't have to worry as much about either characteristic, letting you concentrate more on corner speed or what's coming up around the turn. One thing to mind in all this: rolling on an excessive amount of throttle but keeping the brake on will quickly wear the pads out, and give you a surprise when you do let the brake off and your bike leaps forward.

In general, the less traction that is available the more rear brake you can-and should-use. On a slippery surface the front brake will lock well before much weight can transfer to the front tire; ergo, there is plenty of weight left on the rear tire for traction and you should use that to your advantage. Again, use care as the rear wheel-just like the front-will lock earlier on wet pavement than on dry, and overall you'll still have less braking power available.

Finally, downhill corner entries pose a bit of a conundrum. Here there is more than usual weight transfer to the front wheel under braking, leaving the rear brake less useful. However, this situation is exactly where you want the extra stability it can offer. Adding even a small amount of rear brake can make a beneficial difference to how the bike reacts downhill, to the point that at times it may be worth sacrificing some front brake so that you can use more rear. Experiment here with different combinations to find what works best for you and your bike.

Most importantly, don't simply ignore the rear brake-whether because you think it takes too much concentration or you're worried about it locking. It may take some practice to fully utilize it properly, but that practice will come in handy some day. All that said, try not to rely on it excessively. It's more a tool to finely adjust your speed and help settle the chassis than just a stopping device.

For more riding tips, visit www.sportrider.com/motorcycle_riding/techniques/index.html