Anyone use thumb brakes for the rear?

[cornercamping]

Experiance with them?  I was thinking of trying it out and getting used to using the rear brake a little here and there to scrub off some speed .  Input?

[MudDawg]

Try a dirtbike first.  Otherwise you just might be viewing your front numberplate upside down as you pass it.

If you do try....lower the lever a bit so it's harder to lock it up.  Also try just dabbing it...instead of holding it on.  Less chance of an unrecoverable rear lock-up.

JMHO.

[B-MAC]

Ditto what MudDawg said. I bought a thumb brake for my RC many moons ago and hated it. Get used to using your foot before moving to the thumb setup, besides....what else is your right foot doing?

[cornercamping]

....what else is your right foot doing?

It's usually in my mouth when I pull back into the pits after a race.  My smack talking techniques are starting to deminish.  I gotta win a couple races so I can get my smack talk technique back.  ;D

[duc995@aol.com]

I use a www.GPtechllc.com thumb brake and love it.  I am WAY too busy moving around the Aprilia RS 250 to be using the foot brake and besides...the foot control has WAY too much leverage.  The rear brake thumb mastercylinder is intentionly made so that you can NOT lock up the rear wheel under any conditions!  I only would use the foot control to stop the bike on a off-track /wet-grass excusrsion...

You apply the thumb brake as you brake into a corner, eventually letting off trailing the front before the apex so you don't loose the front!  However, you stay on the rear with the thumb to keep the front end from popping up after you released the right hand from the brake...you get the idea.

[cornercamping]

My problem is that I grew up on big twins.  I taught myself to go into a corner hot as hell, and let the twins engine braking scrub off the speed, and once I hit the apex, get on the throttle again.  Now that I'm running an I-4, I have to unteach myself to use the engine braking I'm use to that won't be there on the I-4.  I can already see a highside coming  :(  So, I figure I can teach myself to use something like a thumb brake faster than playing with my feet while I'm getting ready for impact.  If I can teach myself to use the thumb brake in the same way I'm used to using engine braking, I'll be all set  8)

[duc995@aol.com]

Go for it!

By the way...you have WAY more control without the engine braking issues...that is why all the MotoGP bikes have slippercluthes and/or electronics to controll the engine braking.  I never went so fast until I got on a two-stroke...ie No engine braking!  

Good luck!

[james-redsv]

Dude, you are a novice and are wanting a thumb brake???? You cant be serious! Are all the other guys that are obviously beating you using thumb brakes???? I dont think so, and you, with a new thumb brake wont beat them any easier!! Why dont you first learn to ride with what you have. Once you are braking so hard with the front the rear starts getting light, a rear brake is useless. All the cool sliding you see the pros do before entering a turn is done with the clutch, not the rear brake. The best way to scrub off some speed is to use the front brakes. If you use the rear you are asking for trouble.

[duc995@aol.com]

Hey...some dipshits drive with both feet...atleast he is experimenting. ;)