How is your rear brake?

[WardenRoss]

How anemic is your rear brake? I have a new 06 Sprint. Noticed the rear brake is somewhat weak.

Dealer says...they are all like this. On my other bikes with rear disk, I can lock the wheel up easily, but with the Sprint, I could stand on the petal, it would never lock the wheel.

AND I DON'T HAVE ABS....SHEEEEEESHHHH!

[jthursby]

Originally Posted by WardenRoss

How anemic is your rear brake? I have a new 06 Sprint. Noticed the rear brake is somewhat weak.

Dealer says...they are all like this. On my other bikes with rear disk, I can lock the wheel up easily, but with the Sprint, I could stand on the petal, it would never lock the wheel.

Hmmm, mine won't lock either.

Oh sugar, I have ABS!

Jim T.

[PaloAlto]

If things are right, it ought to be very easy to lock up the rear (assuming no ABS).

[Simmo]

I have an 06. The rear brake I reckon is about right. For me it takes a very deliberate action to make it lock up. I must use it a fair bit though as the rear pads lasted less then 10000km. Have another ride and check it out and check your own action a bit more. If you really can't lock it up at all there must be a fault, as in sticking master cylinder or caliper. Usually though when they stick they tend to stick in the 'on' position and hence drag the brake.
Cheers. Simmo

[bobw3592]

Don't know if it is "right" it would be easy to lock up. Too touchy is not safe IMHO, but in answer to the original question, mine is more like you describe yours Warden. I have "adjusted" to the Sprints brakes and they are consistent which works OK for me. The rear is just enough when I find my self pulling onto a soft shoulder or wet roads etc. I have a non-abs 06 and live/ride in Western N.C. so my roads are very much like your GA twisties. I tend to ride aggressively and even with the Sprint's and my limitations in mind, I can have way more fun on this bike than is legal at any time/place during a ride. That being said, on unfamiliar roads I always am more reserved on blind curves, hills, etc. I can go faster if there is a next time is my philosophy.

Cheers
Bob

[TripleTreat]

The rear brake on the 03 has always felt very wooden with very little feedback. Same on the demo I rode before I bought mine. Same on the 05/06 models I've ridden. But the front brake is so good that I rarely use the rear anyway.

[SamaR]

yeap, weak performance on my bike as well, but surprise - rear pads worn out to less then 1 mm left in 6000 miles!

[NinjaRAT]

Originally Posted by SamaR

yeap, weak performance on my bike as well, but surprise - rear pads worn out to less then 1 mm left in 6000 miles!

Me thinks you're using your rear brake TOO much (presuming your fronts are hardly worn).

According to conventional wisdom, braking power is about 70/30 percent, front and rear, respectively. There's a lot of physics that goes into this equation, but with our Sprints, it's easy to do the math as such:

The fronts have two rotors with 2 (or is it four) calipers, each. The rear has one rotor with 1 caliper. In my opinion and experience, the rear is used to slow you, not stop you.

Sorry if I sound preachy, but I've had a few Newcastles, and am feeling a bit soap-boxish.

[SamaR]

Originally Posted by NinjaRAT

Me thinks you're using your rear brake TOO much (presuming your fronts are hardly worn).

According to conventional wisdom, braking power is about 70/30 percent, front and rear, respectively. There's a lot of physics that goes into this equation, but with our Sprints, it's easy to do the math as such:

The fronts have two rotors with 2 (or is it four) calipers, each. The rear has one rotor with 1 caliper. In my opinion and experience, the rear is used to slow you, not stop you.

Sorry if I sound preachy, but I've had a few Newcastles, and am feeling a bit soap-boxish.

I don't think so, I am well aware of braking ratio and techniques. I locked up my rear couple times early in my riding career on other bikes and I am cautious with rear brakes since than, but I do use them every time I brake - always front and rear to practice good habits for emergency stops and to minimize front dive at corner entrances, also do some trailbraking with rear.

I use rear early in braking before the weight shifts to front and than apply them again at the very end to prevent excessive front dive.

I do have EBC pads all around now and still rear brake is not strong to lock up unintentionally, but if you stomp on it, it will, shich is not a bad way. and yes I just checked fluid - its not low

[NinjaRAT]

You use the same technique that I use...rear than front. I always seem to go through a set of fronts long before I have to swap out the rear.

I certainly wasn't meaning to pick on you, but rather curious why anyone would be worried about NOT locking up the rear. If anything I'd be more concerned about doing so, than not.

But than again, maybe it's just me?