"Fortunately he heard my screaching rear tire"."I had time to do was hit the rear brake ... and nothing happened! I really thought my rear brakes were gone, dead, not working"...lol.What were you expecting?It's supposed to be used in conjunction with the front.I'd have to say...it was working fine.It locked up the wheel,right?Panic.Slammed on the rear.I mean,yeah,I get it.I've done that a time or two.But without that front brake...the rear isn't gonna 'do all the perfect braking' that seems to be 'expected' with these complaints of 'rear brake is useless'.
I ran up (speeding)on a semi one time.He was rollin about 10mph.I was well above that.I didn't realize just how quick I was approaching.Two lane,curve.I feared going around cause it was a blind curve.I hit that rear brake hard.She started to fishtail(locked).I released gently and applied front brake agressively,along with a now'lighter touch' on the rear.She barely stopped in time.Had I relied on my rear only...I'd have ate it big time.The rear DOES work and help in lots of situations.But it's designed to work with the front application as well...not just on it's own.I don't rely on rear braking.But it works just fine in combination.
Lots of people say..'stay off the rear,especially in corners'.I've been trail braking from day one.I've never had a rear cause cornering problems.It's very predictable.Just gotta recognize how much you're applying.Just like anything else,you learn how to use it.That's all it is.Nothing to be afraid of.Course,if you never use it,when you need to,it could end up...like what happened with my lovely new 2012 ZX 14R.Panicked approaching a corner.Slammed on the rear,with predictable results.It worked fine.I was just expecting it to do something it wasn't intended to do.Stop everything by itself.The rear brake is your friend.Not your 'killer in waiting'.
I just don't understand...'not powerful'.If it's going to full lockup with a 586 pound missile,how can that not be 'powerful'.I'd say it's plenty powerful.The application is what's not right,not the brake itself.
The idea with it is...keep the chassis in balance.At speed anyway.It's not supposed to be the 'primary' braking force.
Owner's Manual...'how to ride the motorcycle'.I couldn't find anything remotely related to...'fer God's sake roundeyes,stay off the rear brake...it's useless.We just put it on there so the rear wheel area would look cool'.
* Last updated by: Grn14 on 4/3/2018 @ 12:06 AM *