Be Careful with the Rear brakes!!
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
my suggestion, get on a mountain bike, go fast, slam on the rear brake lock the back tire up, and get used to what the bike does while the rear is locked..... when my back tire is bald its kinda fun to lock up the back end coming to a light or something to see peoples reactions. I know how the bike is gonna react when i lock the back end up... sounds like you guys need more practice... Thats what i was trying to do in NJ when a couple people stopped right in front of me, but the front washed out in the sand. I can lock the back end up on pavement and stop pretty quick and turn 90 degrees at the same time..... jmo...... take it for what its worth.... if your not comfortable doing it DONT, you have to know how the bike is going to react.
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RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
ORIGINAL: EMS_0525
my suggestion, get on a mountain bike, go fast, slam on the rear brake lock the back tire up, and get used to what the bike does while the rear is locked..... when my back tire is bald its kinda fun to lock up the back end coming to a light or something to see peoples reactions. I know how the bike is gonna react when i lock the back end up... sounds like you guys need more practice... Thats what i was trying to do in NJ when a couple people stopped right in front of me, but the front washed out in the sand. I can lock the back end up on pavement and stop pretty quick and turn 90 degrees at the same time..... jmo...... take it for what its worth.... if your not comfortable doing it DONT, you have to know how the bike is going to react.
my suggestion, get on a mountain bike, go fast, slam on the rear brake lock the back tire up, and get used to what the bike does while the rear is locked..... when my back tire is bald its kinda fun to lock up the back end coming to a light or something to see peoples reactions. I know how the bike is gonna react when i lock the back end up... sounds like you guys need more practice... Thats what i was trying to do in NJ when a couple people stopped right in front of me, but the front washed out in the sand. I can lock the back end up on pavement and stop pretty quick and turn 90 degrees at the same time..... jmo...... take it for what its worth.... if your not comfortable doing it DONT, you have to know how the bike is going to react.
That being said, it's quite a difference from purposely lockng up rear brakes near the end coming to a light and locking up the rear brakes going 50 mph in a panic stop.
The problem is, during a panic stop, the skid is pretty scary and worse, many novices let go of the brakes and they highside and crash instantaneously. Thisis not something one can practice. When one locks up the front brakes, there is total lossof control. However, the good news is that you have a split second window where you canrelease thefront brake and re-gain control. You do not have that window of opportunity with a locked rear brake.
Keith Code always said that rear brakescause more accidents than prevents in 99% ofriders. He pretty much advocates not using the rear at all in the street.This point isdebatable ifone if a highly skilled rider on a bike with excellent rear brakes. However with our KLX with the soft long travel front end, and ESPECIALLY if you haveagressive rear like the Trakmaster(which I have), the rearbrakes are absolutely useless in a panic stop.It's a lock up waiting to happen. I wouldonly use the front brakes in apanic stop on the KLX.
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RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
Well I have to disagree here with some of the suggestions and I guess that's why its called a forum and not a agreement gathering. First of all if your back tire is locking up ever on the streets, it means that you are in too low of a gear and adding any rear braking without pulling in the clutch us just asking for trouble. Remember that any compression only adds to the rear brake, and that's OK as long as you keep in mind where you are in the gears and apply rear brakes accordingly. I want everyone to try something next time your ridding around the neighborhood. practice some semi quick stops after pulling in the clutch and see how many of you skid the back tire, remember the front brake is not something to be afraid of, I use mine aggressively and have never had the front wash out and I ride hard around town. On the gravel I have tried to teach everyone that rides with me that even in gravel you can be aggressive with the front brake. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE THE FRONT BREAK! Next time you are out on the gravel roads, practice grabbing too much front brake for a second and then back it off and find the safe spot. I don't know if I am explaining it very well and I also realize everyone has what works for them too, so take this with a grain of salt, but I remember when I first got the bike and the rear brake was touchy and then I realized it was because I was in a gear that was accelerating the braking process. Now if I pull in the clutch I have a hard time even getting the back tire to skid, I mean I really have to push on the lever, and if I add 70% with the front then the chances of skidding are reduced to ...well practically zero. 
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RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
ORIGINAL: deej
Well I have to disagree here with some of the suggestions and I guess that's why its called a forum and not a agreement gathering. First of all if your back tire is locking up ever on the streets, it means that you are in too low of a gear and adding any rear braking without pulling in the clutch us just asking for trouble. Remember that any compression only adds to the rear brake, and that's OK as long as you keep in mind where you are in the gears and apply rear brakes accordingly. I want everyone to try something next time your ridding around the neighborhood. practice some semi quick stops after pulling in the clutch and see how many of you skid the back tire, remember the front brake is not something to be afraid of, I use mine aggressively and have never had the front wash out and I ride hard around town. On the gravel I have tried to teach everyone that rides with me that even in gravel you can be aggressive with the front brake. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE THE FRONT BREAK! Next time you are out on the gravel roads, practice grabbing too much front brake for a second and then back it off and find the safe spot. I don't know if I am explaining it very well and I also realize everyone has what works for them too, so take this with a grain of salt, but I remember when I first got the bike and the rear brake was touchy and then I realized it was because I was in a gear that was accelerating the braking process. Now if I pull in the clutch I have a hard time even getting the back tire to skid, I mean I really have to push on the lever, and if I add 70% with the front then the chances of skidding are reduced to ...well practically zero.
Well I have to disagree here with some of the suggestions and I guess that's why its called a forum and not a agreement gathering. First of all if your back tire is locking up ever on the streets, it means that you are in too low of a gear and adding any rear braking without pulling in the clutch us just asking for trouble. Remember that any compression only adds to the rear brake, and that's OK as long as you keep in mind where you are in the gears and apply rear brakes accordingly. I want everyone to try something next time your ridding around the neighborhood. practice some semi quick stops after pulling in the clutch and see how many of you skid the back tire, remember the front brake is not something to be afraid of, I use mine aggressively and have never had the front wash out and I ride hard around town. On the gravel I have tried to teach everyone that rides with me that even in gravel you can be aggressive with the front brake. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE THE FRONT BREAK! Next time you are out on the gravel roads, practice grabbing too much front brake for a second and then back it off and find the safe spot. I don't know if I am explaining it very well and I also realize everyone has what works for them too, so take this with a grain of salt, but I remember when I first got the bike and the rear brake was touchy and then I realized it was because I was in a gear that was accelerating the braking process. Now if I pull in the clutch I have a hard time even getting the back tire to skid, I mean I really have to push on the lever, and if I add 70% with the front then the chances of skidding are reduced to ...well practically zero.
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RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
ORIGINAL: FM_Thumper
Keith Code always said that rear brakescause more accidents than prevents in 99% ofriders. He pretty much advocates not using the rear at all in the street.This point isdebatable ifone if a highly skilled rider on a bike with excellent rear brakes. However with our KLX with the soft long travel front end, and ESPECIALLY if you haveagressive rear like the Trakmaster(which I have), the rearbrakes are absolutely useless in a panic stop.It's a lock up waiting to happen. I wouldonly use the front brakes in apanic stop on the KLX.
Keith Code always said that rear brakescause more accidents than prevents in 99% ofriders. He pretty much advocates not using the rear at all in the street.This point isdebatable ifone if a highly skilled rider on a bike with excellent rear brakes. However with our KLX with the soft long travel front end, and ESPECIALLY if you haveagressive rear like the Trakmaster(which I have), the rearbrakes are absolutely useless in a panic stop.It's a lock up waiting to happen. I wouldonly use the front brakes in apanic stop on the KLX.
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Joined: Apr 2006
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RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
ORIGINAL: deej
Well I have to disagree here with some of the suggestions and I guess that's why its called a forum and not a agreement gathering. First of all if your back tire is locking up ever on the streets, it means that you are in too low of a gear and adding any rear braking without pulling in the clutch us just asking for trouble. Remember that any compression only adds to the rear brake, and that's OK as long as you keep in mind where you are in the gears and apply rear brakes accordingly. I want everyone to try something next time your ridding around the neighborhood. practice some semi quick stops after pulling in the clutch and see how many of you skid the back tire, remember the front brake is not something to be afraid of, I use mine aggressively and have never had the front wash out and I ride hard around town. On the gravel I have tried to teach everyone that rides with me that even in gravel you can be aggressive with the front brake. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE THE FRONT BREAK! Next time you are out on the gravel roads, practice grabbing too much front brake for a second and then back it off and find the safe spot. I don't know if I am explaining it very well and I also realize everyone has what works for them too, so take this with a grain of salt, but I remember when I first got the bike and the rear brake was touchy and then I realized it was because I was in a gear that was accelerating the braking process. Now if I pull in the clutch I have a hard time even getting the back tire to skid, I mean I really have to push on the lever, and if I add 70% with the front then the chances of skidding are reduced to ...well practically zero.
Well I have to disagree here with some of the suggestions and I guess that's why its called a forum and not a agreement gathering. First of all if your back tire is locking up ever on the streets, it means that you are in too low of a gear and adding any rear braking without pulling in the clutch us just asking for trouble. Remember that any compression only adds to the rear brake, and that's OK as long as you keep in mind where you are in the gears and apply rear brakes accordingly. I want everyone to try something next time your ridding around the neighborhood. practice some semi quick stops after pulling in the clutch and see how many of you skid the back tire, remember the front brake is not something to be afraid of, I use mine aggressively and have never had the front wash out and I ride hard around town. On the gravel I have tried to teach everyone that rides with me that even in gravel you can be aggressive with the front brake. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO USE THE FRONT BREAK! Next time you are out on the gravel roads, practice grabbing too much front brake for a second and then back it off and find the safe spot. I don't know if I am explaining it very well and I also realize everyone has what works for them too, so take this with a grain of salt, but I remember when I first got the bike and the rear brake was touchy and then I realized it was because I was in a gear that was accelerating the braking process. Now if I pull in the clutch I have a hard time even getting the back tire to skid, I mean I really have to push on the lever, and if I add 70% with the front then the chances of skidding are reduced to ...well practically zero.
What I am talking about is in a panic stop when one must stomp on the brakes to come to a stop NOW. This is a whole different situation and in 99% of the time with 99% of the riders, and especially with the KLX, the rear brake will probably lock up. IMO, in a panic stop in our KLX, the rear is virtually useless because the front compesses so much. I will wholeheartedly agree with Keith Code when it comes to our KLX. I will not use the rear brakes in a panic stop situation.
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From: Misawa Japan
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RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
It all depends on the type of tire and how confident you feel with it. If you are running the Trackmaster I would say don't even consider using your rear on pavement. I personally have never had a problem with using the rear brake on any bike, but most of my tires have been purely for street use. The bottom line is the rear brake should be used sparingly(while on pavement)and only as a suppliment to the front binders in panic stops. If you tend to get a lead foot in panic situations, it's probably best to stay away from it. HOWEVER, the MSF requires that you demonstate the use of both brakes in a panic stop, so at least know it that well.
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From: Lincoln Nebraska
RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
For me its front brake first and hard on pavement with rear brake first and hard in low traction situations. Learning how to control rear end slide when the back brake is locked up is critical. It can't be something that you think about but do instinctively. Practice in the dirt to get a feel for it. If you wash the front end out, look for a soft place to land and prepare by wearing all of the protective gear that you can stand. If you are going to bite it (and you will most likely know about it with time to react) steer away from traffic get on the brakes hard and don't lock up the front tire. I've only locked up both brakesone time but I already had the back in a controlled slide and was able to pull it out in time to miss the d-bag that pulled out in front of me. I also pooped my pants and must admit was totally unprepared for that.
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RE: Do not use the REAR BRAKE!!
ORIGINAL: tremor38
It all depends on the type of tire and how confident you feel with it. If you are running the Trackmaster I would say don't even consider using your rear on pavement. I personally have never had a problem with using the rear brake on any bike, but most of my tires have been purley for street use. The bottom line is the rear brake should be used sparingly and only as a suppliment to the front binders in panic stops. I you tend to get a lead foot in panic situations, it's probably best to stay away from it. HOWEVER, the MSF requires that you demonstate the use of both brakes in a panic stop, so at least know it that well.
It all depends on the type of tire and how confident you feel with it. If you are running the Trackmaster I would say don't even consider using your rear on pavement. I personally have never had a problem with using the rear brake on any bike, but most of my tires have been purley for street use. The bottom line is the rear brake should be used sparingly and only as a suppliment to the front binders in panic stops. I you tend to get a lead foot in panic situations, it's probably best to stay away from it. HOWEVER, the MSF requires that you demonstate the use of both brakes in a panic stop, so at least know it that well.
I took the MSF ERC and the panic stop drill is from very slow speeds. Once again, completely different from a true panic stop in the street.
BTW since you live in Japan, you probably know this butwhen I bought my Trakmaster, I assumed that Kenda was a Japanese company because of the very Japanese sounding name. I was pretty surprised to find out that it is a Taiwanese company. Did they do that on purpose? If so, it's prety funny how times change. Like Mr. Ishibashi named his company many years ago Bridgestone to make it sound not so Japanese.