Braking

[What?]

Good thing you did, Wkid. I don't use brakes at all if I don't have to. Bloody things slow you down...

[Hoon]

On the track I only ever use the front brake. When hard braking for the hairpins etc I will clutch out all the gears on the way down too purely to make sure I'm in the right gear as opposed to improving my braking (engine braking on a 2-stroke?!?! yeah right!!).

Also 2 fingers only. I find the the number of fingers people use is directly related to how hard it is to pull the lever. I use to use 3-4 fingers when braking for the hairpin but since I rekitted my calipers and got a new easier moving brake lever I only ever need 2 fingers now.

On the street I use the front and rear during normal day to day braking as using front brake alone makes the front bob/dive too much for my liking and comfort levels (esp with a pillion) but emergency braking def front only.

[onearmedbandit]

I use my index and middle finger for average and slightly heavier braking, along with the back. However if I'm really on the pace I'll use all four. Depends on the situation.

[Indiana_Jones]

"I use index & big finger for front and use the rear"
I do that, stupid really (also it's kinda McQueen Styles )

I'm trying to get out of the habbit, trying to use all fingers

-Indy

[MrMelon]

I pretty much just use my front brake unless I'm riding really slowly, and need a bit more stability, or I'm coming up to an intersection.

I use all 4 fingers on the front brake, but my front brake needs a fair bit of force to brake hard.

[Indiana_Jones]

Why do we like bikes?
I don't know but they're cool

-Indy

[Dave]

The rear brake doesn't help when the back wheels off the ground-however i do now use it out of turns to stop the high sides.

[FROSTY:Me]

I must say I use every combination of brakes listed in that poll.
It;s a matter of what is apporpriate at the time.
For example coming to a stop at some lights Ill use engine braking. My reasoning being if something is gonna happen suddenly and I need to get away Im always in the right gear.
-keeping in mind I ride a shafty on the road-I drag a bit of back brake into corners whilst accellerating -It tightens the bike up and stops the wallows.
In a racing situation -like at the hairpin at pukie Ill prebrake the front and apply a little rear brake -then put the front brakes on heavily at my braking point
wet slippery roads ill use both brakes but more gingerly than on dry roads.
More and more on the road I'm finding I'm braking earlier than I used to on blind corners or road surfaces I'm not sure of.
On gravel I prefer a lot more rear brake than front -Im thinking I'd rather have the back step out on me than the front--

[Marmoot]

Can't use my middle finger.....too busy waving it around.....

[toads]

[QUOTE=Hitcher]In theory the anal sphincter is the only muscle in your body that can distinguish between solid, liquid and gas. Of course you all needed to know that...
[/QUOTE


Well my kids sphincters sometimes get confused LOL, too much info I guess,

[toads]

I always use the rear when going down hills coming up to corners etc, the front brake scares me, I use it when I have to, but in conjunction with the rear and always chopping down thru the gears at the same time, I like changing gears, feels safer, I hate the feeling the bike is not firmly connected to the road. I never use the front brake in gravel!!

[Wenier]

it really depends on how im riding if im cruising most my brakin is engine braking and then a little rear and sometimes no front. But if im riding hard i need all brakes and engine braking to drop enough speed to actually go through the corner.

[Big Dog]

I emergencies, I use all fingers, all toes and shincter too.
Lou

And when slowing in a hurry I sit as upright as poss to act as a sail brake and push downon the back.

[wkid_one]

Sheesh - this thread came back from the dead

[Skyryder]

I simply do not like braking when the bike is on an angle. If I have too brake on a sharp bend I use the 'linked' brakes. Usualy, and this depends on the speed and the tightness of the turn, I change down then adjust with the front brake only when the bike is still vertical and before I have entered the curve. I am set up for the corner before I have entered it. I prefer to power out of the corner hard if necessary. Skyryder