There are two components: equipment and rider(skill)

There are two questions:
1. Is front hand brakeless vs. not more or less safe?
2. Can one stop faster with brakeless vs. with front hand brakes?

The answer to both questions involve both the equipment and skill components.

The answer to question #1 depends mostly on the rider skill, not just braking skill, but overall traffic/street riding skill. Arguing about which is safer then becomes an arguement/boasting of who is more skilled.

For question #2, for discussion lets assume that the rider of each is highly skilled in each braking technique for the given setup. Given this, my understanding due to the physics is that the bike with a front hand brake will stop faster. (of course assuming all other variable like rider weight, bike, tires, street surface are the same


What stops faster (assuming highly skilled rider) in straight line on good clean pavement?
A. Freewheel with front and back hand brake
B. Freewheel with only front brake
C. Freewheel with only rear hand brake
D. Fixed with no hand brakes
E. Fixed with front hand brake

I suggest (from fastest to slowest): E=A, B, D=C. With '=' meaning approxiately the same, with edge given to first.

Al