If you follow the Ride Like A Pro technic,you will be using the rear brake a lot.

 

Changed mine @ 30K, still had a little left.

 

Just my opinion but not sure why you would say the above--especial an instructor. I believe you should alway be using both since unless you have ABS if you ever need to stop in a real panic mode you need all the practice and instinct so it just comes natural that both go on and at correct pressure. Both take practice. Not sure why, guess its just strength but my bike actually takes less pressure for the rear to stop but I know the power is in the front. I have a friend who says he does not use the rear since its hard to work on the caliper back there. He's been down twice (does drive like a mad man) Both time's however was braking and trying to avoid cagers.

 

Had this discussion MANY times in class. It is usually from the older more experienced riders that are being forced through by the state or military...The bottom line is that 80% of your braking power is in the front brakes. If you need to stop quickly, you would certainly use both brakes. Why would you use 80% of your power in an emergency? We teach riders to use both brakes because that is the proper way to stop your bike but, I personally only use the rear in quick stops or trail braking. Any other time, 80% of my stopping force is PLENTY.

 

Got 23K out of OEM Brakes front and rear... Could have got a little more but figured it was time with a 5K Mile trip coming up ..

 

What is trail braking? I know I quite often use mainly the rear in a hard sweeping exit ramp and it steers better through it. Is this what you are talking about? I have never taking a class. Probably should have but I had my first bike in the 60's way before helmets and even bike permits. Did not mean to steal J bird Robin's post

 

That is kinda it. You are decreasing braking force as you increase lean angle. You have to be careful though because you are already using up a good chunk of your available traction in cornering forces. When you add braking forces, it is easy to get the rear end loose. In a corner, this usually means a high side...

 

I've got an 09 Ultra.
I got about 9,000 on my rear brakes.
The fronts so for are fine after 10,750.
I've been told I'm a little heavy on the rear and light on the front.

 

lots of factors on pad wear. city riding stop and go traffic, ride like pro technique can reduce rear brake and front wear. if you ride mainly no traffic area i could see high mileage on pads.

 

I changed mine at 30,000, and easily could have gotten another 50 or 60 miles out of them! Granted, brakes last me a long time...I have a long daily commute with very few potential stops. The new pads are thinner than I expected, but I had no beef with the OEM pads, so I went with them again.