Practicing Use of Back Brake

[GETMETOCA]

I rarely use my back brake because I seem to be most comfortable with the front, and I want to curb this habit. Every time I try to "find" my rear brake I give up and use the front because I'm usually in a situation where I gotta slow down and don't have time for the foot game.

I seem to be trying out steeper downhills, a little faster with every ride. I've already experienced the old "front brake lock-up" on a downhill, so I guess that's reason enough to get it right.

On occassion when I was just riding on a straightaway I would play around with the back, but it just seemed like the amount of pressure I was putting on it was way too much with barely any braking results. Could there be something wrong with my brake setup? I don't think I should have to stomp on it to get some brake. Shouldn't it be a light, controlled pressure?

Also, if I want to practice using the back brakes, should I go with straight dirt pathways and just play around til I'm comfortable or just go for some downhill trial and error?

Thank You

 

[clutchcover]

I use my back more than the front. All I ever ride is super steep downhills, so using the front is only slight pressure when the back is trying to lock or slide. Your back may be locking up and just not giving much of a stopping feel. Look back sometime and watch it. It is rear and front disc on the xr250 right? The hydrolic fluid may have been boiled, or need bled. Look to see if is discolored. Bleed it and see if any air comes out. While you are at it, the front probably could use a good bleed too.
I would just try to catch myself using the front whenever possible and try to mix the rear in till it becomes second nature. Those accidental stoppies/downhill sommersaults really put a damper on things don't they.

 

[KTA]

i would suggest finding a long smooth downhill, put the bike in neutral and just ride the brakes all the way down focusing on your rear use. . . . . the brake should have a smooth easy feel, so try bleeding and topping off your hydrolic fluid and make sure the pads are in good shape. . . using both brakes should be second nature and there are many situations where the back is preferable to the front, so practice and i'm sure you'll start using it out of habit.

 

[Chili]

Well according to Gary Semincs book 70% of your braking power comes from the front brake so that may explain why you feel you are working it alot harder with less results than the front brake. When I try to really push my speed and brake late I basically lock up the back brake and then just keep putting more and more pressure on the front until I complete my braking. That is just my method and it is most likely full of fundamental errors but it works ok for me so I'll stick with it. KTA's advice of practicing on a downhill seems like sound advice to me, Good Luck!

 

[Ol'89r]

Originally posted by GETMETOCA
I rarely use my back brake because I seem to be most comfortable with the front, and I want to curb this habit.

Thank You

GETMETOCA.

That's not a bad habit. Like others have said here, your front brake does MOST of your stopping. In regard to the rear brake, also like others have said, make sure the system has no air in it and also adjust your brake pedal so you don't have to lift your foot or move it very far to get on the pedal.

Practice stopping on flat ground using mostly the front brake and use very little rear brake. Only enough to stabilize the bike. Try not to skid the rear wheel. Use each brake, one at a time to see the difference in the stopping power of each one.

Also, KTA's suggestion of coasting down a long smooth downhill while applying each brake is a good one. Try this with a dead engine so you can concentrate on what your wheels are doing.

One more little tip. Only use one or two fingers on your front brake lever. This way if you grab too much front brake and start to go down, you can release the front brake lever and still be holding on to the grip with most of your fingers. If you use all of your fingers on the brake lever and you start to go down, you will have the tendancy to grip tighter therefore applying even more front brake.

Your front brake is your friend.

Good luck. ;)

Ol'89r

 

[GETMETOCA]

Everyone, thanks a lot! I'm thinking about taking the bike out this weekend and just focusing on technique. I've been riding in new areas four rides in a row and all my concentration has been on just getting from point A to point B without knowing what was around the next turn.

Thanks for all the tips! I'll let you know how it goes. Natalie

 

[Jaybird]

Nat,
Good luck, and keep practicing!
I too use my front most of the time. My bike has a tendency to lock up with the slightest touch of the rear. I will use the back when I feel that I've delved a little deep into the turn and the front needs help before I'm berm meat. There are instances when a back lock is good, say like sliding the rear around.
I know everyone has differnt styles, but I honestly don't see how folks who use the rear all the time ride very comfortably. They must be going slower than me, and THAT is hard to do! :)

Again, good luck!

 

[yzracer49]

I come from years of street riding and roadracing so the ft brake is my best friend. I rarlly use the rear. Last week I took a school and we did braking drills. The teacher first showed us how far it took to stop w/rear only. He then cut it in half with the ft only. Then cut it in half again using both brakes. The key is, and I have a hard time with it, is realizing how much traction you have with the ft wheel and how hard you can actully brake with the ft brake. I think the only time wher the rear is needed over the ft would be on power slidding around a berm.

 

[dell30rb]

Using both brakes will help you stop faster. I am one of the lucky ones(meaning this came natrually, as I see many friends struggle with it), I am able to use each brake to its fullest potential without locking them, and can make smooth transition from standing to sitting with the rear brake (it took awhile to learn that one).

Proper braking is just as important as twisting the throttle. It can make you a much faster rider too.

 

[GMX]

Try practicing just putting around in a feild or somthing with shoes on, scince you can move your feet around more. Then maybe try rubber boots as they flex less then soes and then next your dirtbike boots. Just a suggestion

 

[Boozer]

Originally posted by Ol'89r
use very little rear brake, only enough to stabilize the bike.

at first it may seem that the rear brake is only there to slow the rear wheel down, but there is another function. when you apply the rear brake at high speed, you create what is known as chain torque reaction. this force makes the rear suspension 'squat' downwards, and in turn makes the bike more stable under heavy braking. it also lifts some weight off the front wheel, so you can also apply even more pressure to the front brake leaver.

when i first started riding motorbikes, i had a really hard time using the rear brake, so i know how you feel GETMETOCA. i think my biggest problem was trying to feel the leaver while wearing heavy dirt bike boots. GMX made a good suggestion about trying different footwear while practicing in a field, and i would try that if i was you, but don't get too comfortable with them or you might find it hard to use boots again.
thinking back, the only thing that really helped me was working hard at the problem and spending alot of time doing basic drills. slowing down only using your back brake sounds like a great one to me, and you can try to find how much pressure you can apply before the wheel locks up. take the wheel to lock up, then release some pressure until it is free again, and so on. do this a few times, and then do something else like cornering or figure 8's for a few minutes, then go back to the braking drills. keep it mixed up so you don't get bored, or your mind will start to wonder and you won't get the full benifit out of the drill.