they say that the front brake is like 70% and the back is 30 (or maybe 60/40) but anyways, which one would you normally use to slow down? i would guess the back one would be slowing down and the front would be for full stops? i dont own a bike yet, but of course, im curious and doing research.oh yea, if you slam on the back brake (the one near the footrest) your wheel wouldnt stop right? just slow down?
I use my front almost always, sometimes I don't hit the rear for weeks. The rear wheel CAN skid(stop) while the bike rolls at any speed , very scary. Try to do all of your braking before the turn, racers brake a lot but they're professionals.
This Site Might Help You. RE: Motorcycles, which brake to use? they say that the front brake is like 70% and the back is 30 (or maybe 60/40) but anyways, which one would you normally use to slow down? i would guess the back one would be slowing down and the front would be for full stops? i dont own a bike yet, but of course, im curious and doing...
When it comes to braking power, old front engined, rear wheel drive drum brake cars were usually approximately 75% front, 25% rear. Front engined, front wheel drive cars are more like 80-20 (that's why you don't want to swap proportioning valves between the two. Most bikes with front discs are more like 90-10. When was the last time you saw someone do a stoppie with an old drum braked bike? Scooter made some good points, but telling you to apply both brakes evenly is wrong (sorry scooter). How much brake you use at either end depends upon the particular braking situation. Often times, in low speed braking like in town I use the front brake only. On a gravel road I may use the rear brake only and never touch the front. Compared to a moderate stop, in hard braking I use more front that rear and the harder the stop, the more front/less rear. People who use too little front and too much rear brake go through rear brake pads sooner than front pads. If you're braking correctly, you will normally wear out the fronts sooner than the rear, even with double discs. People who don't use enough front brake also take much farther to stop than they should, increasing their chances or rear ending someone or running off the road. One suggestion, don't use much brake when cornering hard. You're already using much of the available traction the tires have and you don't want to add even more load. Also, find a clean deserted parking lot and practice braking, especially the front. Going slowly, grab a handful of front brake and make the front tire bark or even lock up. Going slowly, you'll be able to catch yourself and not dump the bike. Keep increasing your speed and learn to make the front tire howl but not lock up. Then worry about using the rear brake in conjunction with the front.
That 70% is the braking force done by the front tire, not by the brake. You always, always, always, apply both front and rear brakes evenly. Never, ever, use more front brake than rear. You don't even need, a front brake at all. Many old and custom bikes, don't have one. That being said, two tires stop faster than one. In dry, conditions. Use both brakes evenly, using the front brake only, when you stop. If there is sand, gravel, water, ice, snow, oil, or anything else. Use only a very light touch, on the front brake. If you lock up the front tire, you will go down. If you lock up the rear tire, you can just ease up. No big deal. If you slam on the rear brake, it will lock up the rear tire. If you do this in a turn, the bike will slide out from under you. If you release the rear brake during a slide, you can high side. Very painful. You brake before and entering a turn. Once again evenly, front and back. You brake before the turn, to pre-load the front tire. Once you've slowed down, so you can make the turn, Let off the brakes, cost till you can gas and go. Hitting the gas to soon, will unload the front tire. Causing the front tire, to drift. Making you go wide, into oncoming traffic, or off the road. Take a motorcycle safety coarse, ride safe.
Braking power is roughly proportional to how much weight is on each tire. The harder you brake, the more stopping power is available at the front, and the less at the rear. This is because of the weight transfer which occurs as you brake. Front braking must be done progressively: moderate braking loads the front tire, which allows more braking, which further loads the front tire, which allows more...etc. So very gentle braking will be roughly 50-50. The most extreme example of braking would be racers who lift the rear tire off the ground. In such a case, braking would be 100% front, 0% rear. The harder one brakes, the less traction there is at the rear. Should the rear skid during a panic stop, it is best to hold the rear brake on. To release it may provoke a high-side. Should the front skid, it is vital to release that brake immediately, or a crash is inevitable. I hope that you are not trying to learn how to ride via the Internet. Take an approved course.
