[sl954]

On the track or the street?

I did my first track day last tuesday (road america) I was trying not to use it for fear of applying too much.

P.S. RA is awesome, and just a little fast.

 

[Proto]

Not unless I take to the grass which I have been known to do on occasion.

Other than that it's front only for me. Back wheel is almost off the ground in any case. The pros/experts might use a little bit of back brake to 'trim' the bikes in a turn I believe. Settle the bike down , maybe lose a little speed without standing the bike up so much.

Man to answer this is Abtech or DCE Motorsport.

 

[phozed]

I never use my rear brake. I'm sure most of the real-deal fast guys do but for me it's a risk/reward thing. Also, when I learn how to use the front properly then maybe I'll consider it...

 

[HondaGalToo]

Nope, I rarely use mine. Never on the track. Rarely on the street. I practice with it so I'll apply it appropriately when needed, for emergency stops, or if I'm in gravel. The brake lever on the rearsets is set very low, so it would be hard for me to really slam it on and lock it up.

 

[Motopilot]

What HondagalToo said. I have not used my rear brake on the track. On the street I occassionally will use it, but almost exclusively for emergency stops.

 

[davef]

Rarely on the street and never during my single track day

Note to self: find a friend with a trailer...

 

[Heavy-Dee]

If you are really good the back brake is used to slid the back end into the turn. Other than that the back wheel is (if you are a pro) just on the verg of coming off the ground so it wouldn't do much anyway.

HD

 

[DCEMotorsports]

I've never used the rear brake on the track (too much going on for me to try&#33 but I practice using the rear brake on the street.

It settles the bike down, makes it squat some.

 

[Red Rider]

Ditto here. Never on the track and only in very rare situations did I use it on the street. The rear rotor on my bike looks damn near new still. I'm sure that with the right skills, the rear can be applied on the track, and on the street it may help under certain circumstances in an emergency stop.

 

[Mattress]

I use it only on the first couple laps on the track to help warm up the rear tire, that's about the only time I ever use it

 

[tigerblade]

Never touch it but I'd like to work it in once I get a little more experience.

 

[sl954]

Thanks for all the info, I only used it a couple times on the track. I use it all the time on the street, but I'm thinking of getting away from it.

Steve

 

[bigkid]

Not on the track, maybe on the grass during off-track excursions. On the street only to hold my bike at lights while I rest my arms. If I do use it on the track it is to drift the rear to straighten out my line. I generally use power though to straighten out lines.

 

[Crash]

Yes I use it, on occasion when I come into the corners too hot, and I'll brake while leaned over.  It's the only way I know how to brake while leaned and not risk losing the front.  I am much more comfortable with the rear sliding around than I am with the front.

 

[sl954]

Thanks Crash, I never thought of it like that but it makes sense.

Steve

 

[Gearhead]

I use mine every time I pull into the local bike nite at Sonic. That way I come to sliding in sideways to a stop and look cool in front of everybody.

 

[02FBlade]

I use both on really hard/late braking slowing down from a big straight, then trail brake with the front only.

 

[luvtolean]

Twice in utter desperation I used the rear to get the rear end to slide around and 'square off' a corner(like I was on my dirtbike) while I was in trouble.  

I've tried using it to trailbrake and just don't like it.

Nicky Hayden is a huge rear braker.

RA is a blast! It was hard getting used to being on the gas so much. The only track I've ridden and think is close is Laguna.

 

[Trackho]

Never
I think learning to trail-brake the front as deep as possible would surpass any potential gains by using the rear

Having said that, my XX uses the rear brake all by itself--hunk of shite

 

[Heavy-Dee]

luvtolean : Nicky Hayden is a huge rear braker.

I have heard he used to melt rotors! Do you know of anywhere I could read about his philosophy as to why he uses so much rear brake? Do you know?

HD