Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Fireguy]

I am breaking myself from using the rear brake so much, especially on curvy roads. I know when using the rear brake it causes the bike to "stand up". My question is will over using the front brake cause more stress on the front end? Could this lead to a wobble problem with the front?

[JCZ]

It can cause warped rotors.  Front and rear should be applied the same.  Says that in the ABS video, anyway.

I remember in the 70s, I had a couple of bikes that didn't even have a front brake......just didn't look cool with a Harmon front end.   It was a hard habit to break......to start using the front brake.

[dejavo]

Using the rear brake in corners will not stand the bike up. Trail braking in a moderate amount will tighten your line. Front brake will stand you up in a tight turn. Best method decelerate if necessary prior to curve and accelerate thru. If you look at the exit instead of thr entry it won't seem as if you are going as fast and you may well eliminate the feeling of a need to brake.

[2k]

I use my front 80% of the time, prob not the best, but works for me

[2harleys]

The next time you see a H.D. motor officer from your local police department, ask him how he was trained to use the brakes

[smkblwr]

My 03 Road King Classic with 42000miles on it still has the Factory installed rear brake pads on it, if that tells you how ofter I use them. I never have had a problem with the frontend on the road king. I would just drag the rear brake everyonce and awhile to clean the rust off of the rotor. Now that I moved up to an ultra I have learned to use the rear brake.   I have also started using them on the road king since getting the ultra.

[Midnight Rider]

If I'm just "riding around", I use the front brake only and use the rear just to supplement.  But, if I'm riding curvey roads, that scenario changes...I will only use the front before I enter the curve, and if I need to apply any brake while in the turn, I use a trailing rear brake method...applied gingerly.  But, I rarely need to do braking in a turn...I try and do all the slowing well before I even lean the bike over, have already downshifted, and enter the curve with partial throttle so the bike is as stable as it can be, then accelerate immediately after the apex and out.

But, I'm old school.  I keep two fingers on the front brake lever 80% of the time (I've been told they don't teach that anymore in the riding courses), if I even THINK I might need to brake, and the position of my hwy peg is such that I can put the toe of my boot on the right peg arm and it is on the same plane as the rear brake pad, so all I have to do is pivot my foot and I'm on the rear brake.  That's when I'm riding "agressively" and there's a good chance I'll need the rear brake, or I'm approaching a potentially dangerous situation where some cage might do something stupid.

[mark]

The old saying ball team saying: "you'll play the way you practice" comes to mind here.  If you brake the same every time (using front & back), then in a stressful situation you'll brake the way you are supposed to.  I had gotten into the habit of being a lazy braker (should have known better...I train people for a living) and only using the front brake when coming to a stop,etc.  One day I had one of those "oh, crap" moments on my bike and I reacted with my "lazy" braking.  Everything ended up OK, but I had cheated myself out of 30% of my stopping power by only grabbing the front brake. 

I make it a habit to use both.  Jm2c

[grc]

If the rear brake wasn't necessary, the cheap bastards in Milwaukee would have eliminated it a long time ago. 


Jerry 

[Heatwave]

Do our Harley's have a rear brake?

[Big Dog]

I use my front brake 80% of the time unless I'm braking hard then rear is applied, like when a no-mind cage cuts me off then out of habit left hand leaves bar and middle finger automatically flips up.

[ice6900]

If the rear brake wasn't necessary, the cheap bastards in Milwaukee would have eliminated it a long time ago. 


Jerry 

Like it       

[dayne66]

With all this talk about brakes....I had a look at mine...the rear MS was empty!...only a thousand k's or so since the 80k service.....so much for relying on the dealer to look out for my best interests!  In hindsight...it seems as if the backs have been getting weaker and weaker.

[murphy]

I very rarely use the rear, but it does have its purpose like in emergency stops in a straight line.

If yours doesn't feel right take it back and have them look at it, there shouldn't be so much of a difference when you get it back.

[Chains]

Always use the front around town and if in the twisities use both, very seldom use just the rear.