Front Brake vs Rear Brake dilemma

[MidnightRider]

Apologies if this subject title is a little mislabeled, but it's the best I could think of. I'll try to explain well.. but thanks in advance for the help & perspectives.

I have a relatively newbie question I am hoping to get some experienced perspective on from you guys. First off, let me say I have been riding about 1 year and have taken a MSF class in that time. I have an '06 Monster 620 which I love -- it's a blast! I probably have 2500 miles under my belt, total. I am also a very studious learner of motorcycling and am always reading on better techniques and practices, etc.

The gist of my problem/concern lies between the following conundrum: During slow speed sharp turns, you should NOT use your front brake (at least newbies shouldn't). Secondly, you should always keep your front brake covered while going through intersections and risky traffic situations. (both these sound like contradictions to me!!)

Some Further Explanation:
Safety is a huge concern of mine, and as such, I was re-reading some of the chapters in the MSF book on motorcycle safety. One theme mentioned quite often is to keep your front brake covered in the event of a panic stop. This makes total sense, and I always want to be ready. Problem: While out riding today, I was observing some of my habits, and I noticed that I don't do this very well. In fact, i *instinctively* use the rear brake before having to consciously apply the front brake.

I think this is related to the fact that I have always been taught to NEVER use the front brake while going through slow speed sharp turns. Always use the rear brake in these situations. Have your rear brake covered in these situations. Because of this, i never even cover the front brake when doing slow turns. I'll use it *before* the turn to make sure my speed is right, but never prepared to do so instinctively during the turn. I'd use my rear brake.

Most of my riding is city driving, and involves turning at a lot of intersections. As such, i do a lot of covering my rear brake (and even using my rear brake slightly for smooth turning). And importantly, I WON'T cover my front brake in these scenarios. This is a natural habit for me now.

My concern is that I feel this is causing me to not instinctively cover the front brake and use it when I need to. Since many (most?) of my day-to-day situations requirement to use rear brakes and not front brakes, those seem to be the ones I instinctively used. How can I still ensure that I am covering my front breaks -- and am quick and ready and prepared to use front brakes when the need arrises.

Sorry if that sounds kinda vague, but I hope some of you get it. Any advice is appreciated. I would LOVE to only use rear brakes on slow sharp turns, yet have my habits and instincts be fully ready once the time comes to use the front ones in panic braking situations.

Hope this made sense, guys. All ears for your replies. Thanks!

[Zombie_Hunter]

This is a common issue for road riding. Ignoring what happens on a track, which has almost nothing in common with road, what follows are some pointers that I have found useful and that I coach my wife on and that are generally reinforced in survival rider training.

1) Set the bike and brakes up "before" you need them, by soft application of brakes before an intersection for instance, you do two things, pump up the brake lines, particularly if you are touring (pace style) and might not used your brakes for a while. This also stabilizes the bike.

2) Use both brakes, nearly always, but always when coming to a stop, emergencies etc. While 80% of stopping comes form the front, use the other 20%, it also helps balance the bike by bringing the rear down a little and moving some of the weight rearward.

3) I always cover the rear in corners, particularly slow ones which allows you to keep power on, while stopping too much speed increase, gently does it though.

4) When stopped, at lights or an intersection always put your left foot down, keeping the rear brake covered and applied with your right. So in gear, brake covered ready to get out of someone's way if they are coming up behind you too fast etc.

5) Bottom line is smooth braking, can still be hard braking, mostly while the bike is upright, a little balancing with the rear during slower turns such as U-turns and round abouts and even some fast turns, TC is starting to negate this need.

6) Covering the brake is also very useful if you have a beast like my S4RS, as the front comes up you have the rear covered if things get too silly or if it happens unexpectedly. Though if you are riding in condition one as we all should be, then you should not be surprised by things under your control such as wheelies.

I tell my wife that you are either under brakes or under power, the art is the transition to and from.

Sounds like you are ready for the next level of training.

Cheers, Tony

[GizmoDuc]

I don't have a lot of experience, about 5,000 mile, but I just finished the Experienced Rider Course and Sport Bike Course this week. They teach you how to brake in a curve in the Sport Bike Course where as in the Basic Course they teach you only to brake in straight line, even if that means straightening out while in a curve.

Using your front brake while in a curve with pull you into the curve and using your rear brake will stand the bike up. They called it trail braking in the course, which makes sense for using the rear brake, but it didn't make sense to me for using the front.

Anyway, this technique worked in the course and you aren't going more than 25mph in the curves. It's the same size course as the Basic Riders Course. They still say you should adjust your speed before entering the curve, but teach you this technique in case you need it. They were great courses and I would strongly recommend them if you have the time and money.

[Jehuva]

IMO, and from what i was instructed, I never cover the front brake while riding over 10 mph. It can foster a bad habit of going to the brake when unnecessary.

I always cover clutch and it is the first thing I hit in case of emergency.

I use the rear brake tons in all situations for slight speed adjustments or a little smoothing.

Cheers

[dk1six]

I find myself constantly covering both front levers. About the only time I don't is usually when I'm on a long stretch like the highway and I've caught myself doing it again as I recheck myself. In city driving though it's become second nature, impressed upon me by the MSF and it's stuck. This is my third year riding after a twenty five year family plan. I hadn't been using the rear brake hardly at all and had been relying pretty much solely on the front brake but more so lately I'm trying to get in the habit of using the rear. There's definitely more stability in certain situations using a combination of both brakes.

It's perfectly acceptable to use your front brakes in a turn as long as you're not leaned over to some max angle or nearly so and as long as you don't grab an instant handful. Experience will tell you how far over will allow you to front brake to what extent but the experience comes over time. I know the MSF tells you not to use the front brake in a turn and straighten the bike up first but you can with good results through practice.

In slow speed tight turns you might want to try feathering the clutch so you're keeping it in the friction zone while using the rear brake for stability at the same time. This combination can make for good stability under slow speed tight turns. I find myself using the front brake all the time in turns and in general and I'm comfortable with it knowing what my traction limitations might be in the given circumstance. If you're not leaned way over and if you're not hot the front brake can stop or slow you down nicely...as long as you don't grab it all all at once.

Parking lot practice can be very helpful for improving technique and helps you focus on things you can't on the street while you have to watch everything else. I like doing it and it makes you feel like you're being constructive about learning...that's gotta be good!!

I've been riding a Ninja 500 for the last three years because it seemed like a good re-entry point. This past Saturday I bought an 07 S4R and as it sat in the dealer showroom amongst four Brutales I swear it was the best looking bike there, it really was.