Brakes feel wooden

[Speedy1959]

Whenever I first get a bike the rear brake is usually crap..
BUT
Because I ALWAYS use my rear brake it gets better and better as my ownership progresses..
Why is this?
Because the majority of bikers I speak to NEVER use the rear brake!

On Sophie the rear brake is easily good enough to lock up..

On her recent MOT the tester said "At last.. A Bike with a rear brake"!
That sort of proves my point.

[Hooli]

I use up rear pads quicker than fronts, I guess I use mine too. I don't understand people who don't use rear brakes, on bikes like ours they help you stop a lot quicker and make the bike more stable under braking.

Mind you that's partly a habit I got learning to ride on Stroppy as she's only got a brakelight switch on the rear.

[seth]

As we mostly ride with our bikes with luggage on I find it's a great help using the rear as @Hooli says .
Also when unloaded it helps keep the bike much more stable too.

[Irish in Oz]

I use plenty of back brake, riding the Oxley for instance I would fade the rear out before getting to Gingers Creek, thought it was a 14 thing then the same happened on the FJR on the same road.

[Andre]

I use plenty of back brake, riding the Oxley for instance I would fade the rear out before getting to Gingers Creek, thought it was a 14 thing then the same happened on the FJR on the same road.

Organic pads on the rear? Sintered are more resistant to fading.

[Irish in Oz]

Andre, Goldfren s33 on rear of 14 which I think are sintered not sure what was on FJR but it's rear brake was better.

[gsxbarmy]

I use plenty of back brake, riding the Oxley for instance I would fade the rear out before getting to Gingers Creek, thought it was a 14 thing then the same happened on the FJR on the same road.

Organic pads on the rear? Sintered are more resistant to fading.

I do agree with you Andre, it all depends on personal style I think as to how much "aggression" you want from the rear brake. Personally I preferred it that whilst I had a firm rear brake, it wouldn't lock up - which is what I found HH to do - fitted GG and found it more progressive and less likely to lock.

[Kiwifruit]

l have EBC HH pads in the front and GG in the rear. No complaints about the brakes.
Recently went on a riding course, as part of that we did some braking tests. From between 50 and 60 k's we did 3 front only, 3 with both and 3 rear only. The result was that the difference using front and rear brakes together was hardly noticable from using the front only. Using rear brake only was a very much longer stopping distance.
We also practiced locking and releasing the rear brake.
That said l use rear pads a lot quicker than fronts. l do use the rear brake as a steady but what l do a lot is ride the rear brake around roundabouts or tight corners as l find it keeps the head of the bike in tighter.
l remember being told on an earlier course that in 80% of serious motorcycle accidents the rear tyre was flat spotted, the suggestion being that more front brake could have been used to either slow the bike or perhaps even avoid the accident.
Just my two cents worth.

[Andre]

Compared to the hands the feet are gross motor morons. No wonder they find so many flat spotted rear tires in serious MC accidents. Lots of practice with the rear brake, organic pads, and last but not least ABS helps.

[Irish in Oz]

No flat spots or serious accidents from my end. Maybe I'm practicing to much. As for ABS suppose I'll will have to get a newer version of FJR. 

[grog]

Why not use rear brake? Have seen posts where they say just a decoration. Stupid IMO. Didnt like rear from factory, fitted EBC pads, in the bin after 300ks. Fitted Metal Gear rotor and pads, cant remember if sintered or organic. Perfect. Will not lock up, use around town, setting for corners, roundabouts, all slow braking. Just something i like to work. 

[KiwiCol]

I use the rear quite a bit too. As you blokes have said, sharp corners & roundabouts, helps with settling for the turn I reckon. If you're using front to slow, it changes how the bike goes into it & when you release it changes again. I'll trailbrake with the rear into sweepers if the momentum is high & even trailbrake using both on occasion, no dramas, makes a nice smooth fast corner out of something ordinary - imo.

[Mick_J]

I also use the rear brake a lot, in fact according to my BMW sat nav I use the rear brake more than the front.  Sat nav has a "your ride" function that shows speed, time, distance number of gear changes and use of the brakes, don't ask why it just does.