Rear brakes are not a hot topic in motorcycling today, nor are they necessarily one of the most sought after motorcycle tips. In fact, they’re pretty boring as the front bars on modern bikes provide so much stopping force, often with just a finger on the lever, but they’re still important.
Follow Motorcycle Safety Fund, the front brake provides about 70% of the motorcycle’s maximum stopping force, leaving about 30% for the rear single brake. But many factors affect this ratio, such as speed, tire grip, road surface, slope of the road, and type of motorcycle. Cruisers and touring cars with long wheelbases benefit more from rear brakes than short wheelbase motorcycles like sports cars.
Braking at the front can lighten the rear so much that it can be difficult to take advantage of any of the available braking ratios at the rear. It was a lesson I hadn’t learned when my ’83 Suzuki GS750ES, which had some serious stoppages, was new.
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When used correctly, the rear brake improves control and stopping distance, and helps negotiate a quick and safe turn.
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Settled
My enlightenment then came to my Kawasaki KLR650 ’87, a respectable dual sport bike notable for its large fuel tank and weak single disc stopper at both ends. Having to use both binders to make a short stop is an (incomplete) crash process when using the rear brake. It was only later that I realized that doing so also reduced the KLR’s ability to dive and jerk off the long-travel front suspension, keeping the bike closer to flat during the stop.
The sound of “Ah ha!” moment is a breakthrough in both stopping and overall control. Riding my Honda VFR750F at CLASS, Reg Pridmore’s race-based safety course, only reinforced that lesson. I’m not the fastest or smoothest student to drive, but doing the braking exercise – which requires using both brakes – 19 years on KLRs has stopped me like a pro.
To prove the value of the rear brake to yourself, practice an emergency stop (with full braking force but without locking both wheels or using ABS) with only the front brake, then with both. When both brakes are applied, the bike will squat, leaning less forward. The longer your front suspension travels, the bigger difference it makes. (On Telelever-equipped BMWs and other motorcycles with a suspension that minimizes nose-down, the change in chassis height will be less noticeable.) Same technique but with A lighter touch on both brakes will help you stop more safely on loose or slippery surfaces.
Rotate it around
We’ve all missed a turn, forcing us to turn around to get back on track. Performing a move without putting your feet down – or worse, having to stop, step back and do another jab – is a skill we should all master. I’ve learned better technique doing test bike photo sessions for Rider, which requires multiple turns of the bike, often on narrow roads, to get the right shot.
It is important to gently apply the brake after turning. Double benefit: shorten your bike’s turning radius and reduce any unintended throttle effects.
Practice in a parking lot, gradually reducing the amount of parking space needed to turn around. Just remember it’s a light tap on the rear stopper; too much and you risk falling. Raise your eyes and see where you want to go, and keep the clutch in the friction zone for subtle force control. Also, keeping your foot on the pegs and placing the weight of the peg outside will yield the best results.
Normally, using the rear brake at slow speeds will help you make a more stable, faster and safer turn.
driveway moment
You are driving out of the driveway, the front wheel is buckled when a car appears from behind the parked cars. While still on the parking lot, you apply the front brake, which will immediately bring the bike into the direction of the turn. Quick thinking and strong legs can keep it upright.
Next time, try using the brake after you reach the driveway parking lot. If you must stop, use only the rear brake, which will not cause the bike to tilt to one side because the rear wheel has no effect on drivability or balance. The safest way to prove this to yourself is to ride a bike, where mistakes have lighter consequences. Switch to motorcycles when you’re confident with this technique.
By using these tips, the rear brake can become your new best friend.
