Tapping the Rear Brake

**crfjedi393** · #1 01-04-2007, 10:17 AM

I found this on Youtube. It's a pretty simple thing to learn and it can REALLY get you out of trouble! As an amateur, I think it is bad to make a habit of it but it's something that is good to be comfortable with.

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ChrisBach14 · #2 01-04-2007, 11:01 AM

it can definately help.... but only when its needed to correct yourself in the air. I cant tell you how many times I see even the top A riders at the local tracks "abusing" the rear brake in the air.. yes it works, yes it helps bring the front end down...but it also slows you down! Watch supercross this weekend... count how many pro's you see using the rear brake over the triples/finish line.. when the rear wheel stops, it also stops some of the foward momentum, slowing you down. Only a milisecond, but they add up, especially when you do it over every jump.

Good thing to be comfortable with using, but not to be over-used.

chrisbachonline.com

Silver_Fox · #3 01-04-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisBach14

yes it helps bring the front end down...but it also slows you down! Watch supercross this weekend... count how many pro's you see using the rear brake over the triples/finish line.. when the rear wheel stops, it also stops some of the foward momentum, slowing you down. Only a milisecond, but they add up, especially when you do it over every jump.

I would MUCH rather stay in control by tapping the rear brake and lose that milisecond and be on the gas when I land than lose multiple seconds caused by a poor landing with the front end up.

Once you get comfortable with tapping the rear it becomes second nature.

VET393 · #4 01-04-2007, 12:23 PM

First time I ever did that on my 450, I stalled the bike, because I didnt pull clutch in. Caused me to endo pretty good.

kwmotocrosspunk · #5 01-04-2007, 12:24 PM

tapping the rear brake works great! it really can bring the front end down fast, but becareful to not hold it for too long, a quick tap is all it takes

and remember to PULL IN THE CLUTCH! it hurts when you land and your bike stops and you dont

but you leanr not to do that pretty quick

mnewmanfla · #6 01-04-2007, 01:39 PM

Man I sure do miss the sound of top level riders tearing it up on two strokes. That was pretty sweet!

***MotoMan*** · #7 01-04-2007, 01:55 PM

I normally try and use the rear brake only in case of emergency, you can make subtle adjustments to your bikes charector in the air without using the panic rev or rear brake methods. However, when the time comes to use the rear brake, I'm sure not afraid of doing so. lol

ChrisBach14 · #8 01-04-2007, 02:39 PM

yea, most of your in-flight characteristics are direct results of how you leave the take-off. too far back, youll find yourself shootin for the moon, too far foward and you might wanna think about jumping off haha.

***Woody_393*** · #9 01-06-2007, 08:22 PM

Wow, GREAT tip. This is something I've wanted to implement, but haven't done so at this point. I usually try and just get it right, but I know I'll need this at some point.

ekholms-mx-farm · #10 01-06-2007, 09:43 PM

I find that praticing on small tables 10-20ft was a good way to learn.Because it is a comfortable jump for me. I can't say I use it very much any more but while learning I tryed to do it off everything. Personaly though I now come of jumps bringing the bike up to me. This seems to lighten my couch up, making it easyer to adjust the aditude of it.

Second just my opinion but, I'm not sure if they(racers) actually loose speed taping brake. The bike no longer has forward drive as soon as you leave the jump. If you slow down hitting the brake that would mean you gain speed hitting the gas

it just don't seem to ad up. And when I was learning how to do it I never noticed landing in a shorter distance, wich would be a good indication of loosing speed.JMO

2000kx250 · #11 01-06-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekholms-mx-farm

Second just my opinion but, I'm not sure if they(racers) actually loose speed taping brake. The bike no longer has forward drive as soon as you leave the jump. If you slow down hitting the brake that would mean you gain speed hitting the gas

it just don't seem to ad up. And when I was learning how to do it I never noticed landing in a shorter distance, wich would be a good indication of loosing speed.JMO

Good logic, good point, makes sense to me. As soon as the tires loose traction, the only thing that can slow you down is friction from the air.

stfaulk89 · #12 01-08-2007, 04:30 PM

good thing that said something about the clutch

ChrisBach14 · #13 01-08-2007, 06:48 PM

im not saying hitting the break will stop you in the air... but it does further slow your momentum down even more.. go to your local track, hit your brake and drop the front end over every single jump... check your times, then go and do it all again, but instead of using the break, use your body weight... lean all the way foward to keep the front end down, and hold it WFO about 1/2 thru the jump, and land that way.... check your times... the break tap will be slower

i think the break tapping slows you down bc when you use it... your probly going up anyways, not foward... and when you just lean your weight foward off the take off, you kind of "pull" the bike foward with your bodyand arms instead of up with the rebound.

Silver_Fox · #14 01-09-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisBach14

hit your brake and drop the front end over every single jump... check your times, then go and do it all again, but instead of using the break, use your body weight... lean all the way foward to keep the front end down, and hold it WFO about 1/2 thru the jump, and land that way.... check your times... the break tap will be slower

.

Wow, you must have some high tech timekeeping equipment.

Like I said earlier tapping the brake to insure a good landing with power on is going to be faster that not tapping the brake and having a front end up landing.

Dirtbikindad393 · #15 01-09-2007, 11:27 AM

I did teach myself how to do the rear breake at my second GMB. I now never use it.....why? I think its a combination of a few small things first; I know more about the suspension settings and I don't have a problem with the front coming high. Also I have learned more about my body language and where to be on what take off. I do not go jump anything right away I will take a two laps rolling everything then start jumping. If I am nervous or there is a new jump I will take that one jump and practice it over and over again starting from on the side of the track then adding in the track leading up to the jump.

The one thing I have learned about jumping which seems to have been the best info I was ever given is land with the power on. I find myself not letting off the throttle when I am trying a new jump. That is one less thing I have to think about when trying a new jump. I have saved many a short landing by twisting the throttle in the air and landing with the power on. It will save you more often than not. If you are going to land hard and you know it twist that throttle.