Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Have a question about technique?
Post Reply
sarrant
Member
Posts: 463
Joined: 02:47 pm Aug 10 2012
Country: USA
Location: Sac, Ca

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by sarrant »

I am missing a lot with this. I barely use my rear brake -- pretty much it only gets applied in panic situations or very controlled slow going.

I know mentally that I am missing a bunch of slowing power that could be gained via later braking into corners and similar, but the muscle-memory, or even a technique that helps me to physically understand the need of when to brake in the back just hasn't taken on.

Are there any exercises/techniques that anybody has found success with?
User avatar
SS109
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 5770
Joined: 05:11 am Aug 23 2009
Country: USA
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA
Contact:

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by SS109 »

Remove your front brake lever and go for a ride. :mrgreen:
Youtube Channel: WildAzzRacing
AZ State Parks & Trails OHV Ambassador - Trail Riders of Southern AZ
Current KDX: '98 KDX220
Old KDX: '90 KDX200 -White/Blue
'11 GasGas EC250R
the machinist
Supporting Member
Posts: 191
Joined: 11:26 pm Oct 04 2011
Country:
Location: Ridgefield, WA

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by the machinist »

That's funny, I uselly tell people the opposite. It's awesome you have mastered the front binder, it is much harder to get used to than the back. But SS109 is right, pop the lever off & be careful!
-Matt
suzuki 166
Member
Posts: 25
Joined: 06:27 am May 01 2012
Country:

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by suzuki 166 »

i drag the back brake over realy rough ground it tends to stop the back kicking up and down try it you will be suprised how much faster you can go
sarrant
Member
Posts: 463
Joined: 02:47 pm Aug 10 2012
Country: USA
Location: Sac, Ca

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by sarrant »

You know I think this may be one of those odd things that just doesn't get discussed much.

I just know I am not using the rear properly. I steer with the rear of the bike completely via the throttle, but I just don't manage it in any way except plowing it on when I am hooking up and pointing in the right direction.

If it makes things any clearer, I am a B/Intermediate rider at pretty much all levels. I also race AHRMA (vintage) motocross, where brakes on bikes really are quite a few steps below our KDXs and I frequently find myself looking for more grab on entries (but still don't instinctively look at the back, except for exits). I attended a couple of Donnie Hansen's schools which really helped me quite a bit in honing throttle control skills, But for some reason, rear braking wasn't taught (an quite frankly) still eludes me.

I think I will follow SS109s advice and see what I learn. Maybe having no front brake will do me right. I know one of the best learning experiences I've had in woods riding was when I went away for a riding weekend, and blew up my old bike, prompting me to borrow a buddys early 70's TL125 for the entire weekend. I stood over that thing hundreds of miles over the course of a few days, didn't sit once all weekend, and became a smarter rider than years had (mis)taught me prior.
User avatar
Julien D
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 5858
Joined: 07:53 pm Nov 07 2008
Country: USA
Contact:

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by Julien D »

Disabling the front brake is a good idea. You need to learn rear brake control, and that will force you to do it. Just be careful!
Image
User avatar
fuzzy
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 3437
Joined: 01:29 pm Jun 18 2003
Country:
Location: Fredneck, MD

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by fuzzy »

A trick I learned street riding no less.....when putt-putting and wanting to make sharp slow turns, riding the rear brake while riding the clutch makes the bike amazingly stable.
'91 KDX 200 Project $300 KDX
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
User avatar
rbates9
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 3164
Joined: 06:07 pm Apr 27 2010
Country:
Location: UPSTATE New York

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by rbates9 »

KDX's have a rear brake? :hmm: I'll have to look into this... Mine just has a rear wheel lock for going down steep hills. :lol:
User avatar
Julien D
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 5858
Joined: 07:53 pm Nov 07 2008
Country: USA
Contact:

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by Julien D »

lol, rbates. That's about how mine is with that trials tire. You just have to learn to drag the rear wheel to your advantage!
Image
sarrant
Member
Posts: 463
Joined: 02:47 pm Aug 10 2012
Country: USA
Location: Sac, Ca

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by sarrant »

rbates9 wrote:KDX's have a rear brake? :hmm: I'll have to look into this... Mine just has a rear wheel lock for going down steep hills. :lol:
That's what all my bikes ever have had! My favorite is when you're in a loose traction situation on a steep downhiill and the front and rear wheel decide they're in a race to reach the bottom first. Somehow the rear always decides it's bound and determined win!
User avatar
rbates9
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 3164
Joined: 06:07 pm Apr 27 2010
Country:
Location: UPSTATE New York

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by rbates9 »

Julien D wrote:lol, rbates. That's about how mine is with that trials tire. You just have to learn to drag the rear wheel to your advantage!

Trials tire = good. Rear brake = good. Trials tire + rear brake = NO good.
newbbewb
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 579
Joined: 12:20 am Jan 22 2012
Country:
Location: sw washington state

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by newbbewb »

for me, the rear brake is active rear steering on the slow stuff. press, lean.
93 kdx200-Highly modified
89 kx125/kdx200E engine
Buelldustin@gmail.com
dfeckel
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 644
Joined: 07:46 am Nov 09 2009
Country:

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by dfeckel »

I use the back brake a lot in tight situations to to avoid closing the throttle completely. What I mean by this is say you're in a tight section where you will need quick bursts of power for very short straights and lots of tight turns. I drag the brake through the tight turns so I can keep the power on and not have to close the throttle completely. I keep the throttle cracked open, and use the back brake to help modulate how much power actually goes to the ground. This also helps to prevent stalls by keeping the revs up. Plus, having the foot on the pedal makes it easy to do a quick direction change or help to get set into a corner by briefly locking the back wheel.

I've had a couple rides where I lost the back brake (one a missing rotor after losing three its mounting bolts and then removing the rotor, and another where I tore the back line), and I could hardly believe how much I had to slow down. A back brake is just so vital in the conditions I ride (tight S. Jersey sand).
David Eckel
User avatar
zomby woof
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 295
Joined: 11:42 am Oct 22 2009
Country:
Location: SW Ontario

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by zomby woof »

on the motocross track, I use a A LOT of front brake with some rear. In the woods, I use them about equally. I find the rear is useful to help pull the bike down and through a really tight, or emergency turn.
Ontario, Canada
User avatar
gsa102
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 453
Joined: 12:33 pm Aug 16 2011
Country:
Location: PA

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by gsa102 »

It is difficult to "master" the rear brake because it is tough to control the pressure with a stiff boot on and all the other movement that is usually going on at the same time. I have always wanted to try a left hand rear brake setup from rekluse on my autoclutch equipped WR.
This is my rifle, this is my gun, the YZ to go fast, the KDX is for fun!

96 KDX 200, 09 YZ 250
User avatar
Slick_Nick
Supporting Member
Posts: 1675
Joined: 10:06 pm Oct 22 2009
Country: Canada
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Contact:

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by Slick_Nick »

I use the sh!t out of my back brake. I go through rear pads about twice as fast as fronts.
'00 KDX 220R
User avatar
kawagumby
Gold Member
Gold Member
Posts: 927
Joined: 10:09 am Nov 30 2006
Country:
Location: California

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by kawagumby »

Slick_Nick wrote:I use the sh!t out of my back brake. I go through rear pads about twice as fast as fronts.
Me too, I use the back brake for stopping, turning, controlling hop throught the rough... I bet I go through more than twice the front -

I don't know how you can ride without using both brakes.
1994 KDX200, Beta 200rr, yz125, yz250, kx100 modded for adult, gasgas contact 250.
factoryX
Member
Posts: 352
Joined: 01:33 pm Jan 22 2011
Country:

Re: Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by factoryX »

I use it on dead stops or panic turns when I have to drift the turn, saved my ass more than a few times haha. So its like 90% front 10% rear.
Image
User avatar
diymirage
Supporting Member II
Supporting Member II
Posts: 2909
Joined: 05:00 pm Sep 19 2011
Country:
Location: michigan

Let's talk about good use of the rear brake...

Post by diymirage »

it also comes in handy when popping a wheelie with too much gusto ;)
newbbewb wrote:DIYmirage has it right.


-1996 KDX 200 woods weapon (converted to 99 green body)
-1996 KDX 200 plated street toy (barney edition)
-2003 Yamaha TTR125-L (wifeys bike)
-1997 KDX 220 project bike
Post Reply