General Cycling Discussion - .....who rides "motorcycle style"......

i recently switched my brakes on my road and mountain bike to "motorcycle style" (right lever for the front wheel)

anyone else like this better and why?

the most entertaining part is taking the bike into an LBS and watching your mechanic's eyes roll as he constantly squeezes the wrong lever while making adjustments to the bike :-) heehee

Just used to braking that way.

I have always had a C M1 license, though I haven't owned a motorcycle in many years.
And having grown up around "racers", I am always want of strong brakes.
Brake hard, then corner!
Heck, I could ride without a rear brake entirerly, with as little as I use it. :p

So my "strong" hand controls the strong brake, just like on a motorcycle.
And I have Matthauser brake pads on virtually ALL my bikes!
Best damn brake pads money can buy! (IMHO) :D

And then there's the way old Campy brakes are made (as well as others). The cable attachment is on the right side of the front brake caliper. Hence, the cleanest line from brake lever to caliper is to use the right lever for the front brakes.

Or maybe the reason my bicycles are set-up "motorcycle" style is so that if I do get back on a motorcycle, I won't be as likely to hurt myself grabbing the wrong lever. ;)

I thought about changing my bikes to motorcycle style, but my reactions seem to know the difference.

I have ridden mountain bikes with this setup and found I could tell which lever to increase or decrease pressure on without taking the time to reason out the difference. I was riding someone elses bike down the side of a mountain on a curvy fireroad when the rear wheel started to wash out. Instinctively, I knew to release the left lever for the rear wheel on this bike. Good thing, because I don't think I would have survived going over thhe edge.

I haven't seen any reason to do it--I haven't owned a motorcycle since the '60s--but you do see it occasionally, and I think Grant Petersen at Rivendell has written something about it recently. I know three riders who've done it (two ride motorcycles regularly), and it may be more common than we think, because it's not something you'd notice unless you were looking for it.

Somehow I'm astute enough to know which brake is what on either kind of bike ( I own multiples of each). I also change which foot I put down too. It's a solution looking for a problem IMHO.

Front brake on right side is the norm in England, from what I've experienced. At least they're consistent, eh?

Personally, I don't like it. I'm used to keeping front and rear together (shifters and brakes), and I'm left handed. I feel like I have more control over fine braking, which is more important in the front.

I ride a scooter, and prefer to keep them reversed, since the most important brake on a scooter will be your rear, and on a bike will be your front, so I still brake first on the same side.

I have a Dutch recumbent that came with the front brake on the right. Doesn't bother me a bit, despite having ridden with the reverse for over 140,000 miles. I keep thinking about switching it to match my other bikes, but haven't got around to it.

I lived in the UK until 1983, and had become so used to R-front, L-rear that when I first got on a bike over here, I wondered what the bloody hell was happening for the first few minutes; nobody had bothered to warn me about the brakes :eek:

- Wil

I ride a scooter, and prefer to keep them reversed, since the most important brake on a scooter will be your rear, and on a bike will be your front, so I still brake first on the same side.

Kris, you normaly have useful, insightful and valid information to add to a thread.

Where did you come up with that craptacular pearl of misinformation? Just askin'. :)

Kris, you normaly have useful, insightful and valid information to add to a thread.

Where did you come up with that craptacular pearl of misinformation? Just askin'. :)
+1! (in a friendly sort of way) :)

What makes it different for scooters?!?

Perhaps he relies on trail braking. Heavily.

omg, the dingos!!!

It sure lets you neaten up the cables. Works just fine, too. bk

Kris, you normaly have useful, insightful and valid information to add to a thread.

Where did you come up with that craptacular pearl of misinformation? Just askin'. :)

I've never driven a scooter, but I saw three scooters wash out their front wheels during a brake test for their driver's licenses when I had to do mine (I had/have a real motocycle). I would guess that their tiny tires do not have enough traction for their front brakes at the braking threshold(BTW they all failed the test due to crashing).

I have it setup normally. That way I can brake with front wheel while changing gears at the back. Very usefull.

I have it setup normally. That way I can brake with front wheel while changing gears at the back. Very usefull.
Ooh, that too I didn't think about that. The most commonly used things are front brake and rear shifter. It only makes sense that they're on separate sides. I brake and downshift together all the time.

surprised so many people do front-brake-right!
that's the only way I ride and last time I polled on BF I didn't get nearly as many supporters.
All kinds of discussion about how one is better than the other...

Bottom line, front-brake-right is the way its done most everywhere else in the world.
Why do the opposite of motorcyles...

Why do the opposite of motorcyles...
But it's not a motorcycle.

But it's not a motorcycle.
Your point being...?

Your point being...?
I understand the thread title, in as much as having the front brake on the right.

But to otherwise make a comparison with motorcycles is a bit odd. They both have two wheels, that's about it.

I've long kept my front brake in my right hand on all my bikes.
I've had to switch it back a couple of times after a new guy at the LBS "fixed" it for me.

I understand the thread title, in as much as having the front brake on the right.

But to otherwise make a comparison with motorcycles is a bit odd. They both have two wheels, that's about it.

I think motorCYCLES and biCYCLCES have more in common than just two wheels ... look they share the word CYCLE too!
:eek:

They share other such things as: handlebars! saddles! two tires! riding position! gears! vehicle dynamics! braking! Shall I continue...

I own and ride a motorcycle (Goldwing) all the time. Now that you mention it, it is odd that I hadn't noticed the difference between the MC and my bicycles. Even so I would never switch them out due to prior (and painful) experience.

While in Korea (the first time) I purchased a bicycle from the local economy. I just wanted some cheap transportation to and from work. In Korea (or at least the area we were in) the brakes are opposite than what we use here. I noticed this fact but thought it made very little difference. I was totally wrong. The first time I had to hit the brakes hard I turned into a spear! Right over the handlebars! Got some cuts and bruises for that little exercise. The next day I flip/flopped them.

I just never thought of the difference between Motorcycle and bicycle. I guess it has something to do with having a foot lever for the rear brake.

In Korea (or at least the area we were in) the brakes are opposite than what we use here. I noticed this fact but thought it made very little difference. I was totally wrong. The first time I had to hit the brakes hard I turned into a spear! Right over the handlebars! Got some cuts and bruises for that little exercise. The next day I flip/flopped them.
what happened when you bought the bike and the brakes were flipped around and then you tried to stop using them? how did you turn into a sharp pointy object? magic? how is the front brake different that the back brake?

+1! (in a friendly sort of way) :)

What makes it different for scooters?!?You can throw yourself over the handlebars when more velocity and more powerful breaking is involved, and bike tires don't hydroplane, but motorcycle and scooter tires do. The people at the store have said this, other riders have said it, and I've read it on a few websites. I usually just squeeze both levers at once, bicycle or scooter, but according to Sheldon the front is more important on a bike, and according to my sources, (which could be wrong,) the rear brake on a scooter is the one you want to do first. Just clearing that up, no negativity implied towards anyone.

what happened when you bought the bike and the brakes were flipped around and then you tried to stop using them? how did you turn into a sharp pointy object? magic? how is the front brake different that the back brake?
Stand next to your bike, squeeze the back brake and push the bike forward; the bike will move and the rear tire will skid. Now do the same thing with the front brake and tire; the bike will tilt up on its nose. If you lock the front brake and push the bike backwards, then the front tire will skid. Lock the rear brake and push the bike backwards, the bike will tail stand. The forward traveling tire has the most stopping power by far.

what happened when you bought the bike and the brakes were flipped around and then you tried to stop using them? how did you turn into a sharp pointy object? magic? how is the front brake different that the back brake?

Well, being accustomed to the right brake lever appointed as the rear brake, my reaction to a moderate and sudden braking situation sent me over the handlebars because I stupidly forgot which lever controlled which brake. First applying the rear brake and a split second the front was my reactive intention. I didn't accomplish the complete sequence due to my front wheel locking up before I had the rear brake applied. Hence the comment "turning into a spear", I was literally airborne as a spear might fly when thrown. Not magic at all...just momentum and the force of gravity. Although some might call gravity "magic". The front brake is no different than the rear except it is in the front and is (what) 80% of a cyclists stopping power? Except if a rider gets the timing wrong, which is what happened to me.

I did this on my wife bike, but for purely practical reasons... she is disabled in her hands, with only two fingers on her left hand. It is easier for her to shift the front mech with her right hand, this shift requires a bit more effort than just flipping up a cog on the rear mech. It is a grip shifter modified with a lever on the left then she can just flick backwards or forwards. The brakes are left as normal.

This is when I can ger her to ride the bike that is!

I think motorCYCLES and biCYCLCES have more in common than just two wheels ... look they share the word CYCLE too!
:eek:

They share other such things as: handlebars! saddles! two tires! riding position! gears! vehicle dynamics! braking! Shall I continue...
Yes, please do. How about that clutch, and the rear brake on the right foot, and the gear shifting being the left foot, that massive difference in weight and speed resulting in different handling and riding style, oh and that pesky little internal combustion engine... :rolleyes:

You can throw yourself over the handlebars when more velocity and more powerful breaking is involved, and bike tires don't hydroplane, but motorcycle and scooter tires do. The people at the store have said this, other riders have said it, and I've read it on a few websites. I usually just squeeze both levers at once, bicycle or scooter, but according to Sheldon the front is more important on a bike, and according to my sources, (which could be wrong,) the rear brake on a scooter is the one you want to do first. Just clearing that up, no negativity implied towards anyone.
Kris, I'm sorry I didn't mean that ugly.

I've ridden motorcycle for years and I agree conceptually with your first sentence, the same can be said about a bicycle with good brakes at speed.

The key with front braking on any two wheeled vehicle, bike, scooter, or moto is proper use and modulation of the brake in relation to speed & conditions. ie, You don't wand to grab a fist full of front brake at 40 mph while turning on a wet or gravel road... a vailid statement for any of the three.

Take your scooter to an empty parking lot and play with the front brake to control deceleration going straight. The key is to brake first, then turn, using the rear brake sparingly to change your line while heeled over.

The Dingos Are Gaining! Go Dingos!!

Yes, please do. How about that clutch, and the rear brake on the right foot, and the gear shifting being the left foot, that massive difference in weight and speed resulting in different handling and riding style, oh and that pesky little internal combustion engine... :rolleyes:

Ive ridden MC's since '75 and can find absolutely no correlation whatsoever to
riding a bicycle other than they both have two wheels and the front brake being
most important one, braking only in a straight line, before the corner. Obviously,
that is very general. also, I crashed a motorcycle twice on the road and 100000000
times on the dirt....The few bicycle crashes Ive suffered hurt worse than the MC crashes
although the injuries from the MC's lingered longer. Go figure :eek:

I do it for bike polo only.

Yes, please do. How about that clutch, and the rear brake on the right foot, and the gear shifting being the left foot, that massive difference in weight and speed resulting in different handling and riding style, oh and that pesky little internal combustion engine... :rolleyes:

yaaawn....