RE: Yamaha XVS1300 Custom: Review
Discussion
After a diet of sports bikes here I hired a Fat Soft Tail Bob Matt Glide something or other Harley in the States a few years ago.
Despite telling them I had a licence they ran through the controls... Told them I don't use the back brake and they said you'll need to with having a pillion. I didn't.
They actually mention not scrapping the foot rests in the paperwork too... Sorry...
I'd have something similar in my fantasy multi vehicle garage. But I don't get the loud pipe thing. The noise goes through me a bit.
Despite telling them I had a licence they ran through the controls... Told them I don't use the back brake and they said you'll need to with having a pillion. I didn't.
They actually mention not scrapping the foot rests in the paperwork too... Sorry...
I'd have something similar in my fantasy multi vehicle garage. But I don't get the loud pipe thing. The noise goes through me a bit.
Jayinjapan said:
Sorry, I'm not a biker so was wondering if anyone could explain in simpleton terms why you don't need/want to use the back brake on a sports bike? Genuine question, I'm interested in the reasoning behind it.
I've always used both brakes on my old R1, ZX12R and ZZR1400. It's there for a reason. It settles the bike and stops the bike pitching too much onto the front wheel. The reason many claim not to use it (they probably do in reality) is because it's fashionable to claim you don't use it.My back brake pads get changed more often than the front ones.
Silver993tt said:
've always used both brakes on my old R1, ZX12R and ZZR1400. It's there for a reason. It settles the bike and stops the bike pitching too much onto the front wheel. The reason many claim not to use it (they probably do in reality) is because it's fashionable to claim you don't use it.
My back brake pads get changed more often than the front ones.
Thanks for that. I ride road and mountain bikes and was thinking, downhill, front brake only = regular trips to casualty.... Would be interested to hear the other side too though, anyone?My back brake pads get changed more often than the front ones.
Jayinjapan said:
Thanks for that. I ride road and mountain bikes and was thinking, downhill, front brake only = regular trips to casualty.... Would be interested to hear the other side too though, anyone?
Agree. When riding in the Alps/mountain areas and taking hairpins downhill, you have to use the back brake in conjunction with the front brake in order to fully control the bike.InsolentMinx said:
This bothered me though:
"Cruiser riders will tell you to use both brakes, but I'm still stuck in front brake only sports bike mode I'm afraid..."
How on earth do you get by just using the front brake? I use the rear brake so much more than the front brake on my RR... i think you need to do some advanced rider training Sir.
I agree here - I use the rear brake a lot on my SV, particularly in low-speed situations where I can balance the bike easier. Using the rear brake together with the front brake helps keeps things settled. "Cruiser riders will tell you to use both brakes, but I'm still stuck in front brake only sports bike mode I'm afraid..."
How on earth do you get by just using the front brake? I use the rear brake so much more than the front brake on my RR... i think you need to do some advanced rider training Sir.
Edited by InsolentMinx on Tuesday 22 April 15:01
I don't get the whole thing about using the front brake only
thatdude said:
I don't get the whole thing about using the front brake only
Some people read stories about Moto GP racers using the front brake only, so of course because they have the same standard of bike control they find it useful on their daily commute or showing off how clueless they are on a sunny Sunday dressed up in their race replica leathers 
Silver993tt said:
thatdude said:
I don't get the whole thing about using the front brake only
Some people read stories about Moto GP racers using the front brake only, so of course because they have the same standard of bike control they find it useful on their daily commute or showing off how clueless they are on a sunny Sunday dressed up in their race replica leathers Silver993tt said:
've always used both brakes on my old R1, ZX12R and ZZR1400. It's there for a reason. It settles the bike and stops the bike pitching too much onto the front wheel. The reason many claim not to use it (they probably do in reality) is because it's fashionable to claim you don't use it.
My back brake pads get changed more often than the front ones.
Even using both front and back brakes, why would you replace back more than front??My back brake pads get changed more often than the front ones.
Fleegle said:
Even using both front and back brakes, why would you replace back more than front??
I use the back brake in heavy traffic/filtering, also downhill into a hairpin as the last braking option after using both for the initial scrub off of speed. Most of my kms are in the Alpine areas. However, even on normal roads/autobahns I always use both brakes together as limits front-end dive providing more control over the bike.thatdude said:
InsolentMinx said:
This bothered me though:
"Cruiser riders will tell you to use both brakes, but I'm still stuck in front brake only sports bike mode I'm afraid..."
How on earth do you get by just using the front brake? I use the rear brake so much more than the front brake on my RR... i think you need to do some advanced rider training Sir.
I agree here - I use the rear brake a lot on my SV, particularly in low-speed situations where I can balance the bike easier. Using the rear brake together with the front brake helps keeps things settled. "Cruiser riders will tell you to use both brakes, but I'm still stuck in front brake only sports bike mode I'm afraid..."
How on earth do you get by just using the front brake? I use the rear brake so much more than the front brake on my RR... i think you need to do some advanced rider training Sir.
Edited by InsolentMinx on Tuesday 22 April 15:01
I don't get the whole thing about using the front brake only
However, on track I see it this way - very fast entry speed followed by late braking means the wieght of the bike is very much over the front - using the rear brake could eaily cause a lock up in this instance.
That's my 2pence, but as I have never done track riding it's just a thought
Jayinjapan said:
but why would a Moto GP driver only use the front brake, what's to be gained from it?
in MotoGP the rear tyre is barely touching the ground and has no weight on it in the braking areas so the back would just lock up - in Marc Marquez's case it's often several inches off the tarmac! they were more likely to use it when getting back on the power as a type of traction control but the latest electronics make that unnecessary...Jayinjapan said:
Again, thanks for the replies, please allow me one more question. I can understand why people would want to copy the pros, for example I'm still trying and failing to copy Senna's footwork round Suzuka whenever I get the chance, but why would a Moto GP driver only use the front brake, what's to be gained from it?
Sportsbikes are so weight biased to the front that under hard braking there is so little weight on the back its hardly worth trying to brake with it as it'll just lockup. peterg1955 said:
in MotoGP the rear tyre is barely touching the ground and has no weight on it in the braking areas so the back would just lock up - in Marc Marquez's case it's often several inches off the tarmac! they were more likely to use it when getting back on the power as a type of traction control but the latest electronics make that unnecessary...
Hooli said:
Sportsbikes are so weight biased to the front that under hard braking there is so little weight on the back its hardly worth trying to brake with it as it'll just lockup.
Thanks for that guys. I was genuinely interested to know, not only this but about riding bikes in general and the more I learn the more I want to have a go (I keep seeing what I think is a KTM Duke when I go to work and every time I think, ooh, that looks like a lot of fun!) Hooli said:
Sportsbikes are so weight biased to the front that under hard braking there is so little weight on the back its hardly worth trying to brake with it as it'll just lockup.
Very true, on a track the rear brake is all but useless. However in day to day riding on roads you are rarely braking close to the limit and the back brake can be useful.JayinJapan. If you are interested in two wheels and like the Duke, have a look at the 125 Duke or the 390 Duke. They are absolutely brilliant little bikes that are wonderful introductions to two wheels. Light, cheap and really frugal they also look great and have real spirit. PH2 has reviewed both. There is also the forthcoming RC125 and RC390, which PH2 has also had a sneak preview of, keep an eye on the sight.
Jon Urry said:
JayinJapan. If you are interested in two wheels and like the Duke, have a look at the 125 Duke or the 390 Duke. They are absolutely brilliant little bikes that are wonderful introductions to two wheels. Light, cheap and really frugal they also look great and have real spirit. PH2 has reviewed both. There is also the forthcoming RC125 and RC390, which PH2 has also had a sneak preview of, keep an eye on the sight.
Thanks for the tips, will do a bit of research. Over here I only need to do a riding test, no paperwork needed, to get a 400cc license. Thinking of doing it during my summer hols. I figured up to a 400 would be more than powerful enough here because most people are only doing 50 to 60 mph max (even on the highways) and I would use it mainly for getting to work (big jams at lights etc...) and playing up in the mountains on a weekend. Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff