Remember that at the end of the day the Basic RiderCourse is just a Basic Rider Course. It's only teaching basic skills and concepts and is not the end all of rider development or training. That said, can you use your front brake in slow tight turns? Absolutely, you just have to accept a higher probability of dropping the bike. It's something you can do, that I do do, but needs a finer motorskill than we expect from beginner riders. In regards to quick stops or any stop for that matter you should practice and always use both brakes. If you practice it regularly (say the end or beginning of every rider with no one behind you) you'll develop a muscle memory or perceptual motor skills that will help prevent you from hamfisting it and becoming a road smear.
When is it appropriate to use both brakes? For now, whenever you need them. Beginning riders should always be in the habit of using both brakes. The only caveat that I've seen a few coaches throw out is not when you're going 5 mph or less since it's more likely that you'll overapply the front and fall over. Most of the time you won't need a brake in a turn but I see this alot in heavy traffic situations (GO DC METRO AREA- WOOT!) so I don't mind throwing that out there.
Other thoughts- can you release a locked rear brake? Yep. It's a skill taught in advanced classes. You need to make sure your rear wheel is in alignment with the front or like HYPERR said, you're airborne and in for some hurt.
I can't speak for other states but in Va, 1 in every 11 new riders (just adding an M endorsement) goes through a BRC. If they are getting instruction elsewhere, we cannot account for it and it's amazing what people will tell you about riding (i.e. don't use the front brake because it's dangerous). Keith does excessively point out that the rear brake causes more accidents than it prevents and like you said it's not the brake itself but improper application. That's why Keith invented his outrigger bike to teach the proper application of both brakes. It's a core component of the CSS school and their AMOS (advanced motorcycle operator school) program for Military Riders.HYPERR wrote:A lot of experts including Keith Code says that the rear brake causes more accidents than it prevents. Rear wheel lockup and the lack of knowledge on what to do afterwards causes a ton of accidents; both lowsides and highsides.
Further, a lot of racers modify their rear brake either with stopping shims, or different cylinders to make them so they are much more difficult to lock. It reduces their effectiveness, but still gives them more stopping power than using the front alone. A great idea if adrenaline makes your actions unpredictable.
Yep. One look at any modern cruiser or sportbike will show big rotors and more pistons up front than the rear (or in the case of some cruisers a DRUM brake in rear). You'll find the same thing on most motor vehicles. As the motorcycle decelerates, the weight transfers onto the front wheel. As that weight shifts forward you get more and more traction, hence why application of the front brake should be smooth and progressive. As that happens, weight leaves the rear and results in reduced traction on the rear wheel. On modern sportbikes, the metric is probably closer to shan-os 90/10 than the MSF's 70/30 front/rear ratio. However, the brake application doesn't change.HYPERR wrote:Actually on most bikes by design, the front brakes are much stronger.
Can you go over the handlebars? Depends on the bike and how you apply the brakes. Slamming on the brakes on a sportbike isn't going to allow enough weight transfer to occur for there to be enough traction to let the bike endo. Instead the front wheel typically locks and the bike will lowside. Most cruisers will just lowside since they can't create enough traction for a good stoppie
HYPERR- My V-Strom has the same issue with the rear brake. It's much too powerful at regular street speeds.
Anyway- there's a lot to learn about motorcycling out there. Check through that BRC book, it's chock full of great info. Then pick up Proficient motorcycling, twist of the wrist 2, total control, the pace (just google this one), and sportbike techniques. All questions are answered in there (and more given obviously)
To time this just right is no small feat as the your rear end is wagging like the tail of a happy puppy. 
) and the first instructor actually commended me and said that I displayed full mastery of my brakes. I did the same thing in front of the second insturctor and he got real pissed and started screaming and yelling. He said that I locked up the front(I didn't ) and that I was lucky I didn't crash. 
