Originally Posted by aeser

i'm generally a pretty damn safe rider even with a brake but you really can't argue to me that it's not safer to ride with a brake. doesn't mean you have to use the brake, but you also have the option of using it. and there are MANY times i've had to use it where if i id not have it i would have gone into a car/other bike/whatever, i don't get myself into situations that i might need to slam on my brake, i ride as though i'm riding brakeless and only use the e-brake if i find myself suddenly in an "OMFG WTF!" situation, which i would have ended up in whether i had a hand brake or not, and yea hand brakes don't mean you will get out of every situation scott free, but they've saved my ass several times. and it goes without saying that paying as much attention as possible will save you as much as you can be saved, but that is not a failsafe way to never have an accident, or else riders would never have accidents, sh1t happens and you can pretty much expect it to happen, and it happens to anyone, and i maintain you're safer with a brake than without one.