Back riding for a month now. Neighbor has mentioned that I should try braking with the front brake only, giving me better overall controll.

I found this to be true, rarely do I use the rear brake now unless it is for a hard stop. The front forks don't "nose dive" really hard like I thought they would. Is this related to the "damping" of the front fork assembly? Can this be adjusted?

The one time that I did have to hit both brakes hard the rear wheel kicked out slightly to the left.

Opinions?

Experience?

Advice?

 

Practice using both brakes. In tight, slow turning (parking lots) don't use any front brake unless your front wheel is straight.

 

Exactly, traveling straight line and upright, use both, even though 60% stopping power comes from front. Use rear only when you are leaning or turning(as lightly as possible).


SM

 

If the front brake is doing 60% of the braking ?

I personaly don't like the thought of coming up 40% short on a stop . You never know when a normal stoping is going to change to a emergecy manuver !
I try to use both in all staight line stops. You can always take your foot off the rear brake once the bike has slowed down.

 

I was taught to use both brakes when stopping or slowing so that is what I do.

 

yeah, use both, but don't mash down on the rear too hard.... it can get a bit too grippy.

 

I use both all the time. Seems like a waste of a good brake pads not to use the rear brake. Using the rear break will make the front one last longer and I find when something with moving parts goes unused it usually goes bad. Moving parts get gummed up and may even rust. Then when you do have to use the rear break it may not work properly. Use it or loose it.

 

Sorry, but that is one of the most questionable suggestions that I have ever heard..

True, the majority of the braking comes from the front brake, but your bike has two brakes for a reason.

I use the rear brake all the time, especially when you are not moving in a straight line. In fact, I normally hit the rear brake first, and then use the front to start pulling down the speed.

I also have the rear brakes hooked up on my cars and trucks.

 

Does your neighbor not like you, or something?[]

Just kidding I use both brakes for all stops; I want dual braking to be reflexive in case I have to pull an emergency stop.

 

+1 on using both. This is what they teach in the MSF courses, and it is what I do each time I break.