Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Why isn't the back brake connected to the brake light on my bike? Only the front brake activates the brake light.

I almost only use the back brake because I find using the front brake uncomfortable.

First off, practice braking with both brakes as the majority of your braking power comes from the front brake.

There should be a switch attached to the rear brake linkage somewhere, and it may be out of adjustment, broken or need a spring to connect it to the linkage. Go looking and I'm sure you'll find it. Theoretically, an easy fix and I'm sure if I'm mistaken or there's another possibility, Wrider or his fellow compadres will chime in...

dr_bar wrote:First off, practice braking with both brakes as the majority of your braking power comes from the front brake.

There should be a switch attached to the rear brake linkage somewhere, and it may be out of adjustment, broken or need a spring to connect it to the linkage. Go looking and I'm sure you'll find it. Theoretically, an easy fix and I'm sure if I'm mistaken or there's another possibility, Wrider or his fellow compadres will chime in...

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Usually there's a spring attached to the rear brake lever that pulls on a switch mounted behind your footpeg, and that can come off or break.

And definitely practice with your front brake. My sister was using her rear almost exclusively, and when I finally broke her of the habit she was shocked at how much more braking power she had.

Thanks, I checked and saw that the spring was only connected to the brake cable and not to the back brake. So I just connected it and adjusted it and now its working fine.

Keep using the back brake to much, make reservations at the hospital there is a reason the front brake radios is more than triple the size of the rear

BRUMBEAR wrote: there is a reason the front brake radius is more than triple the size of the rear

Yup, when you brake, the weight of the motorcycle transfers to the front wheel, giving it a whole lot more grip.

Wrider wrote:

BRUMBEAR wrote: there is a reason the front brake radius is more than triple the size of the rear

Yup, when you brake, the weight of the motorcycle transfers to the front wheel, giving it a whole lot more grip.

And of course, the same weight transfer means less weight on the rear wheel, and a corresponding decrease in grip. A loss of enough traction makes it more likely that the rear wheel will lock, which basically means the doo doo will soon fly into the oscillating wind-making device.

BRUMBEAR wrote:Keep using the back brake to much, make reservations at the hospital

Which primary control can you use too much without needing the hospital?

Throttle Baby if don't work you were going to the hospital anyway when in doubt GAS IT OUT!!!!!! Just kiddin I wanted to make as strong a point as possible that rear brake as a primary is BAD MEDICINE

Interesting that you picked a track saying convincing someone to stay on the throttle and off the brakes.

Of course, no one has ever used too much throttle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKsOGFh3Efk

The rear brake remains an important control on a motorcycle. Gives more stopping power for street riding, and you need it to be competitive for track riding. When a rider realizes that they can't use it appropriately, it's time for the rear brake to become their focus in learning.