When to Use Your Back Brake on a Motorcycle 

You miss one very important fact... Weight is dynamic: When you apply your rear brake, you set up your front suspension for the front brake to brake better. You lower the entire bike, making the weight transfer better. Applying a bit of rear brake a split second before you apply the front brake is the best technique. Lowers the brake distance, and is what is taught to motorcycle students atleast here in Denmark. (I'm a motorcycle instructor myself)

Just a point to add ; Many aggressively riding sport bike riders are in a way using quite a bit of rear brake however, it comes in the form of heavy engine braking forces.

FINALLY!! An outstanding explanation ! I'm a re-enty back into riding after a 20 year hiatus. The MSF course I took made it clear that the front brake was the most effective. But they really didn't tie together when/why to use the rear brake. At least not as good as you did! Thanks

don't forget to activate the rear brake while actively down-shifting and using engine breaking... otherwise people behind you may not understand you are scrubbing speed.

Spot on explanation. Again like your older video on riding in higher winds, this explains a lot on what I have experienced. Thank you!

In my riding course they taught me nothing I couldn't have learned on my own in a parking lot near by for free.

Thanks for this video. At last a very clear and non complicated video that is logical, makes sense and is easy to remember.👍

Completely clear and sensibly presented. Thank you. Subbed!

I occasionally use the rear brake to help hold a line in a corner, not to slow down. It helps keep the forks in a consistent position; but I only do this in rare situations, and never on downhill turns. Also, to make turns at very low speeds in a parking lot for example, keeping light pressure on the rear brake helps to keep the fork more compressed which helps the bike to turn sharper; using the clutch and rear brake to manage the torque of the engine at very low speeds enables you to make much more controlled maneuvers.

Superb ! Thank you. (sport rider 30 years experience)

Wow, that was so helpful in regards to comparing the different types of motorcycles and weight distribution between front and back! Thanks!

The best advice must surely be to go out and find out in an empty parking lot etc what works best for you on your bike

I use my rear brake on my C650 scooter and F800 Sport Tourer, preparing for the many quick sharp turn in the Southern California canyons, in combination with the fronts; much more balanced behavior of both bikes as I lean into those corners.

my bike is configured to have lesser brake force in the rear primarily to prevent lockup... it's just right that it will slow down the bike a bit but not lock it up even if it's fully engaged... i generally engage the rear first before engaging the front for more stopping power if needed... not sure this is right, but that's how i learned to ride my bike...

I dunno, i agree using the rear on some bikes isnt always great due too brake setup. But the idea locking the rear is bad rather than the front? I never understand this logic. I can think of numerous situations the front can have you in trouble not using it correctly, i can only think of one with the rear. When the rear locks most of the time it follows the front. Locking the front you go down. Yes some pros dont use the rear, but the vast majority do. What it really comes down to is which wheel you fear locking up, and locking the front makes no sense ever in a corner. Locking the rear usually just results in a wobble. The end of the video sums it up well. Once we leave the security of pavement grip our friend is the rear. The rear is always your friend, and its a more forgiving friend when you mess up a bit 🤷‍♂️

racers break with maximum front break force before the curve and when leaning to the curve, they left the front break. And you have a motor break als well which is very helpful.

On my Africa Twin, as soon as the front dives I let off the back brake. If not, I can feel the ABS kicking in on the rear. Unless I'm loaded down for a trip, then it doesn't. Now, that's not to say I don't turn the rear ABS off and have a little fun ;)

Amen to what he said about rear braking on dirt. There steep descents on dirt where you need to lock up your rear brake and drag the tire for speed control. Most modern adventure and dual sport bikes feature ABS. Front ABS is a godsend for dirt. But rear ABS can be terrifying on a steep descent. Your bike can actually gain speed even though you're stepping hard on the brake pedal. For my 2021 Huskvarna 701 Enduro I had to install a dongle that allows me to disable ABS on the rear while keeping it active on the front -- the perfect combination for dirt riding.

thank you sir

Great information 😊

How to ride an old school chopper with the following specifications: 1. No rear suspension, no seat springs, 2. No front brake, for that ‘clean custom look’. 3. Springer front end, just springs with no dampening, so that it behaves like you have a basketball front wheel, attached to a pogo stick front end. 4. Left foot operates the clutch. 5. Left hand does the shifting. 6. Right foot operates the rear brake and kickstarter, none of that sissy electric start. 7. The foot pegs/boards are far in front of where your seat is, so there is a lot of leverage on your leg if you have to prevent the bike from falling over when stopped. Also, it can be difficult to stand up when stopped, with the very low seat, due to the rigid frame and thin seat with minimal padding, and a raked and extended front fork. 8. For extra comfort for your passenger there is a sissy bar, and foot pegs so high they’re like gynecologist stirrups. Okay, here’s the scenario: You’re on the south side of San Francisco and you need to get to Fisherman’s Wharf on the north side of town, and due to road construction the only way is over the steepest streets with many stop signs, and lights. Here is the procedure, failure is an option, and a very likely one! 1. Your starting from the side of the road on level ground with no traffic. 2. The bike is started and in neutral. 3. Tilt the bike slightly to the right because you need to use your right leg to hold the bike up while using your left leg to apply the clutch pedal and left hand to shift into first gear. 4. Release the clutch pedal and apply the throttle to start down the road, while shifting with your left hand, so only your right hand is steering during shifts. 5. Now the real fun begins due to having to stop on an uphill. 6. To come to a stop you need to be in neutral, because your right foot has to stay on the brake pedal, so you don’t roll backwards, so you have to put your left foot down to hold the bike up. 7. Next is the tricky part, starting uphill from a stop. Remember you’re in neutral with your right foot on the brake, and you’re holding the bike up with your left leg. This has to happen very quickly and smoothly: 1. Try to level the bike, and then lift your left foot quickly off the ground and push in the clutch pedal, while simultaneously using your left hand to shift into gear, quickly but not too quick, release the clutch pedal quickly and smoothly, then release the rear brake as soon as the clutch starts engaging power and using the throttle to smoothly accelerate without stalling, or rolling backwards. While all of this is going on, remember you only have one hand steering and only one leg to hold the bike up, and you have to be in neutral to stop or you will stall, and you can’t put your right foot down while stopped, on the hill. 2. If you stall, you have to pull off horizontally to the slope so you don’t roll down the hill, because your kickstarter is on the right side, same as the foot brake, and you need to have clearance to kick through the entire stroke. 3. If there isn’t any available level ground you need to put the right side of the bike on the downhill side, so you’re able to kickstart. 4. This whole procedure is way more fun if you’re hauling your old lady! 5. For extra fun add some ape hanger handlebars that are as high as you can reach! 6. I almost forgot; you’re with a few friends riding similar bikes, so have fun on your trip to Sturgis. Oh, I forgot to mention, you have a very small, but cool looking gas tank, so your range is about 90 miles max per fill up. Plan on about an hour of so per gas stop so everyone can ride in a long side-by-side pack, which looks very cool, and adds a little extra fun to the long ride to Sturgis The moral of this story is: Get a real bike with modern logical controls and safety features.

If you have a current model bike with ABS, the application of rear brakes will never cause the rear to skid. Proper braking technique include using both front and rear brakes. However statements like bikes with significant weight on the rear should mainly use their rear brakes are totally wrong. No matter how your weight is distributed, the weight is transferred forward under braking and use of the front brake will always shorten braking distance. The only possible exception are choppers with extremely stretched out front forks and tiny tires. There the weight transfer is less, partly because the puny front tire can't generate much braking force. In that event the braking distance will be longer than on a standard bike. My bike has semi-linked front and rear brakes. Application of the front brake leaver puts some force on the rear brake, but applying the rear brake only affects the rear brakes . I have ABS so the rear brakes will never lock if I'm applying the front brakes very hard. The comment MotoGP bikes have a rear brake leaver on their left handlebar is something I've never heard of and I see as questionable. There's already a clutch leaver there, and I've never seen a MotoGP bike with two levers on the left... Why would they need a lever there when they already have a rear brake foot lever...???

My current Cafe' racer style bike has ABS on both front and rear. If I have to brake hard the rear brake is as good as useless because all wight will transfer to the front wheel, the rear wheel may even lift clear of the road surface but even if it does not the retardation I'll get from the rear brake is as close to zero as makes no difference. For non-emergency braking I might just as well just continue to use only the front brake since under those circumstances I'll have more than enough retardation from the front wheel alone. So, since I got a bike with ABS I just don't use the rear brake anymore, the rear brake is pointless for me. Back in the day I'd ride mid 20th century British bikes that did not have ABS and had the gear select and rear brake pedals reversed when compared to the bikes I ride these days, so another reason to exclusively use only the front brake (in panic situations these days if I had not trained myself to use only the front brake I would change gear while attempting to use the rear brake, which does not help the situation). Before ABS the worry for me was locking the front wheel under hard braking, now I worry a lot less about that.

Both brakes always. If the rear is not sufficient means you are riding fast. The front must complement the rear when you need an extra stopping power

Good stuff! Nice video. 👏

look guys its all fun and games until reality kicks in. THEORY IS ONE THING PRACTICE IS ANOTHER. i always use my rear brakes on my hyabusa and my gsxr 600 and 750rr and r1 more than my front brakes. I use the front brakes only when i am certian i dont need to slam the brakes to stop for an emergency. if im cruising ill use the front with the back but if i need to stop suddenly its clutch and rear brake always so to hell with these videos. do what you know is safe for your riding style. one thing i know is ive slammed my rear brakes once on my 600 to avoid slamming in the back of a truck that randomly stopped in traffic. rear skid but i had full control of my bike. if i slammed the front it would have been over. lets be real. you cant control your bike in an emergency with the front brakes being slammed. your going to fly over so dont be stupid. USE THE BACK BRAKES AS MUCH AS YOU NEED TO UNTIL YOU LEARN TO PROPERLY USE THE FRONT BRAKES BECAUSE THESE GUYS WILL GET YOU KILLED RIDING. RIDE SAFE GUYS.

Unless you have linked brakes.

My experience is just opposite.i am using a naked Street bike for long time,on road i use 25 to 35 percentage rear brake before adding front brake,so my rear tire is loaded and less dive of front forcks,that is easy way to control the bike.

just do whatever works for you as a rider and makes u feel most comfy

That pipe on your Indian looks nice!

Meh, cruisers sure, if your front end is always diving when applying the front brakes, hows about trying to practice using the lever with a measured application not grabbing a hand full. Lots of practice and the front brake can be gently applied in corners, leaned over..............

Heavily loaded bike so use mainly rear brake? This is so wrong. As soon as the brake is applied the weight is still moving and this will take all that weight off the rear wheel. There is a good reason why heavier vehicles, like cars, have a very high bias towards the front. Telling people to use the rear brake because they have not mastered the skill of properly braking does more harm than good as they will never learn. Some might be lucky and survive, others not so lucky.

Great video, the information is clear, concise, and is spot on. you just earned Sub 569..... haha 69 I find it fascinating how different riders all have different techniques that all basically achieve the same goal. You said you never use your back brake in the mountains, and I kind of use mine heavily,(especially on my cruiser.) Not necessarily as a true "brake." Just to scrub off a little bit of speed. I trail brake a lot in the mountains, and I will often set up with some light back brake.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-21_I-WdBr2A.html no front breake used when leaning the whole ride long (1h10min video)

Keep it short. No time to watch lengthy videos. If you care about your channel, of course

Even tho I'm just an r3 boii I use the rear for controlling the bike not for breaking

On track it is also helpfull to use the rear brake. On initional braking it helps to use the rear brake when there is some weight on it. It helps to shift the weight to the front, so your front wheel is already a little weighted. So your initional hit on the front can be harder, because it is already a little weighted.

The new IMU ABS systems spparently mix the F/B brakes for you. At some point a motorcycle will have only one brake input like a car.

As you say one size doesn’t fit all and it all depends. I think this includes the separating rear v front brake on road riding the two can very frequently be used in conjunction to help balance the bike just look at the evolution of linked brakes where a percentage of braking force is automatically sent to rear brake when applying the front brake. On some bikes this can be as much as 25%…

taller bikes shift weight forward more too! I would say tall adv and dual sports might actually do this more than sports bikes.

You forgot to mention intersections where there is oil spots on the concrete or sand and small gravel on the road.

Cool video 😝👍 Cheers from Bundaberg Australia 🇭🇲🍹🕺

It is a myth that single-rotor front brakes deliver less braking power.

Supurb explanation. Thank you

Never use my rearbrake, never needed also

For bikes under 400cc the rear brakes helps a lot especially at slow speeds. Im riding a street triple RS, I feel like the Rear brake doesnt exist on my bike even at slow speeds!!! same with my old Z900. Do you guys feel the same way??? You put it on paddock, works perfectly, but once you start riding, you have to double check if the rear even works everytime! haha

As a new rider - thank you for the video!

Well done. This is probably the first video that deals correctly with brake use on sporty bikes - certainly in my opinion. That comment about Sylvain Guintoli not using the rear brake for an entire year is truly revealing. I concur absolutely. Here's my reasoning. When I am practicing emergency stops, I NEVER use the rear brake. Why? If I become accustomed to using the rear brake in an emergency stop, this is what I am going to do in a real emergency. If that happens in a corner, (as you said in the video) applying the rear brake is a bad idea. The potential loss of perhaps 10% of braking force is a fantastic trade if it means that I have 0% risk of locking the rear in a corner.

I just went down yesterday on a softail. The asphalt was nasty jagged stuff like exposed aggregate. I think the front brake is what got me. I was just trying to turn down the street. I wasn't going fast but down I went . The bike kinda threw me I think. I instantly got up and picked up the bike to get it out of the road. I'm not questioning what happened here.