| Author | Message | ||
     Mr_incognito |
Just wondering if anyone had done some research on switching out the rear brake or if anyone knows of a company that has something out right now?? The rear brake is my only complaint on the 1125 and id like to switch it out for something that grabs a little better and doesnt feel like mashed potatoes when you try to use it LOL. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Why wouldn't the Brembo conversion that is used on the XB not work? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Hot Tip of the Day (or night in this case)--DOn't use the rear brake. | ||
| Clbofaz |
I'm with Fres, they made the rear brake a POS for a reason, guys were going into corners hot while using the rear break too much and end up with a low side.I'm not accomplished by any means but my rear brake on all my bikes were like new whereas the front had been replaced several times and I've managed to survive while riding aggressively. If you insist on getting more grip with the rear Ive been told that you can mess with the settings to eek a little more out of it, but its beyond me how to do so. | ||
| Bobup |
I had contacted Trojan last year about this....the XB is not the same and at the time there was nothing yet available...maybe now there might be | ||
| Jdugger |
btw: when a motorcycle is being stopped optimilly, no rear brake, no matter what quality, will do any good. The rear tire isn't touching the pavement when a motorcyle is being stopped in the minimum distance possible. | ||
| Ccryder |
Like Jim says, it not touching the ground under medium to hard braking. Bedded in correctly, the rear brake will lock the rear wheel. What else do you need? The rear s/b be used for trail breaking and to set up the chassis for cornering. Learn how to use it before it gets you into trouble. Time2Ride Neil S. | ||
| Donutclub |
There's only one reason to use the rear brake. Use it when/if you get off the pavement into gravel, dirt, or a surface that is loose. Otherwise, stick to the front! | ||
| Bearly |
Do other peoples rear brakes feel like mush? Mine certainly does not. Mine is firm and has enough power to slide the rear tire if desired. Of course it won't stop the bike, after all it's a rear brake and on a motorcycle. I do use mine way too much. I tend to "take a break" (pun) when coming to a leisurely stop resting my right hand off the bar and using the rear brake. But just in that case. I have an 08 ser # 142 | ||
| Duggram |
Fresnobuell, Donutclub, Jdugger, I won't say you are wrong for a beginner/amateur. But for the really fast guys, some always use the rear brake. Last fall when Chris Peris set the track record at my home track, Arroyo Seco, he was almost flat track sideways coming off the long straight into the fast sweeper by using the rear brake. At Las Vegas this year I asked Josh Bryan if he was using his brakes, because it sure looked like he was. He said he did and that Alan Schmidt (with the Latus team at the time) did not. So should you use the rear brake? Of course not. But as soon as you're as good as Josh Bryan or Chris Peris, yes you should. | ||
| Duggram |
BTW if I had used my rear brake last weekend instead of my front I would not have gone on my head and broken a collar bone and ribs. But I'm so automatic with the front that at slow speed leaned over it tucked the front wheel when I panic stopped. I think if I had used the rear I would have had a nice little ass out slide under control. | ||
| Mr_incognito |
I understand the whole concept of not using your rear brake. I mainly use my front, but tend to use both on occassion. My rear brake might as well not even be there, its garbage. My tech I go to has bled it, ive got the best fluid I can get my hands on and its still sucks. | ||
| Gearhead571 |
Rear brake is there for a reason. Its not meant to do most of the braking. The rear brakes on most vehicles does less than 20% of the braking. But every little bit helps. | ||
| Hellgate |
The rear brake is a POS, there is no feel to it and it is pretty much useless. I disagree that they made it a POS for a reason as other mfgs have useful rear brakes on sportbikes. I think it's a POS because it is a POS not because it was planned that way. For street riding the rear brake is an important tool. For two up riding it help "flatten" the bike and help prevent helmet knock, and of course when on loose or low traction situations. Being that this is a street bike I'm surprised it isn't better. | ||
| Pariah |
Your rear brake is doing something, but it may not feel like it. The shortest stopping distances are achieved when both brakes are engaged optimally, just before tires slip (not when the rear tire lifts). The difference between using the rear brake and not using it may not seem like much--- maybe 10ft to 15ft going to a dead stop from 60mph. Of course, more stopping force comes from the front, and you should be working it harder. You can apply more rear brake initially, and as weight shifts to the front, lighten your application of the rear brake. | ||
| Bobup |
+100 Pariah | ||
| Court |
>>>The rear brake is a POS Absent something improper about your particular Buell all that statement tells me is that you haven't yet taken your last riding lesson. It's really a matter of simple physics. The rear tire of a Buell, with the world's shortest wheelbase, is barely (many times not at all) in contact with the ground. Mr. Peck. . . my 8th grade science teacher . . . brought the entire concept home to me at the age of 12 when he placed that toy car at the top of a 10' wood plank. The first run down he locked the front wheels and let'er slide. The next time he locked the rear. If you don't, intuitively, know and understand the difference . . . I'd suggest Motorcycle Dynamics by V. Cossalter and some quality time with one of the Pridmores. The rear brake of the Buell is an elegant a proper design. The more you know . . . . the better it gets. Court | ||
| Gregtonn |
Steven, First make sure you have a nice firm pedal. Then you could try going to a more aggressive rear pad such as the EBC HH series. G | ||
| Mr_incognito |
I just replaced my pads not long ago and the EBCs were still on backorder. Id like to get a set but theyve been backordered for over a year now. | ||
| Hellgate |
Court, I agree the design is very elegant but it simply lacks feel and feedback through the pedal. My old TZs were just as short but provided better feedback. MIne is set up correctly, its just numb, the brake that is... | ||
| Fresnobuell |
I believe the rear brake helps like 5% in aggressive braking, simply because the rear is so light during maximum braking. Me personally, i like to take the concentration of modulating the rear brake and spend it on other things. It removes some complexity out of the riding equation and allows me to focus on other things that make me safer and faster. | ||
| Naiguy |
It blows my mind that people don't think using the rear brake is a good thing. Once you start and understand the advantages to using the rear brake and its many uses. it like being reborn as a rider. I wonder If the guys that don't use the rear brake also don't clutch your shifts. Moto gp and world super bike are on speed tomarrow. watch and see if the rear brake is used and if the clutch is only used at the start!  | ||
| Mr_incognito |
I hear ya Naiguy. Ive got in too many stupid arguments with people telling me that its dumb to use your rear brake on a sportbike. I disagree though. Ive found that its a lot easier to correct yourself coming hot into a corner if you use your rear brake as a supplement to your front. If you keep all your braking in the front it tends to make your steering a bit "heavier" and when you come in real hot, and stand it up and try to lean it back over that can make a differnece. Im not doubting that the rear brake on the 1125 isnt a good design, I just feel that its not adequate for the bike. It may have to do with weight, im not sure. It just doesnt seems to be lacking braking power in the rear. | ||
| 1_mike |
While some do and some don't use the rear brake. And...while it took me a while to learn to use the rear in setting up a little trail braking for a corner... It's a very good thing..whether on the street on on the twisties, that the rear brake is NOT grabby, takes a hard push for it to do much..! I like it as is...but that's just me. Any more...skidding does no good in trying to stop. Mike | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I use the rear brake all the time. I always use it at stop lights so that I don't clamp a hot brake pad to a hot brake rotor in the front. I always use it off road so that I don't tuck the front on a loose surface. I use it in normal braking (not panic braking) in order to decrease the stopping distance. For aggressive riding, I use it all the time to scrub off the first bit of speed coming into a corner. It allows me to scrub off that speed without altering the attitude of the suspension. I use it all the time in aggressive riding to trail brake through a turn. It allows me to scrub off just a little speed while not upsetting the suspension. I do NOT agree that never using the rear brake is best. I do NOT agree that using the rear brake exclusively is a good thing. I do agree that using the rear brake nearly all the time in the right circumstances is the best thing. Given the right uses, the rear brake is just perfect for what it does and how it's designed. If you need it to be stronger, you are probably using it incorrectly. Just my $.02. Otherwise, you will get this: | ||
| Bigdaddy |
FtB has done a great job of explaining rear-brake usage -- good stuff. I only use it to scrub off some speed and at stops. It is most useful for me when I have a passenger, more weight on the rear, and when we are really spun up in the twisties. | ||
| Ducdood9 |
*1 Fat, there is a benefit of a well functioning well executed rear brake in conjunction with the front. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Hmmm, Keith Code says forget the rear brake...guess you guys know more about going fast them him. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Nope. I just know there are other riders besides Keith Code. He runs TRACK schools, right? There are others: http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/howto/122_0610_20_pro_motorcycle_roadracing_tips/index.html http://www.riding-motorcycles.com/buying-motorcycle-parts-and-accessories/understanding-motorcycle-brake-parts/ http://books.google.com/books?id=gg1LM967OhMC&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=motorcycle+track+riding+rear+brake&source=bl&ots=rHau5UUnj1&sig=0yTzKm76Tw4G2UPY3q6QYvjVX08&hl=en&ei=qZo9Sv__CuWetweQnNwM&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5 (Message edited by ft_bstrd on June 20, 2009) | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Code's not the only one that dismisses the rear brake. Yes, he runs TRACK schools. Most of principles learned at the track can be carried over to the street. |
