MTB brake lever orientation

[Tankman]

Yep, the stronger, more sensitive right hand controls the front brake.

 

I'm interested to see that the majority here are set up like that when most bikes come from the shop set up left front.

 

Thats because us left brain logical thinkers actually ask the bike shops to change it, or do it ourselves!

The right brain arty farties take it as it comes.

Edited April 19, 2012 by Tankman

[Cycle Factory]

All our bikes are setup Left Font, Right Rear as we've found most people ride like that. We feel it's best to have your "clever hand" control the rear brake. Chances are that's the one you'll use the most and will need control over.

 

By the time you grab the front brake it's to STOP. Not to reduce speed.

[RockCoach]

All our bikes are setup Left Font, Right Rear as we've found most people ride like that. We feel it's best to have your "clever hand" control the rear brake. Chances are that's the one you'll use the most and will need control over.

 

By the time you grab the front brake it's to STOP. Not to reduce speed.

You should almost always brake with both brakes equally and evenly - squeezing them gradually and not grabbing. This gives you time to move your position back so that you are driving your weight through your pedals under hard braking.

 

Newbies should learn not to fear the front brake brake as it gives most of your stopping power. As long as you shift your weight back as you brake it is impossible to go over the bars. I sometimes demonstrate how you can go down a steep incline using only your front brake - just to show that it is possible to not go over the bars if you use the front brake.

Edited April 20, 2012 by slick

[Iwan Kemp]

When chasing single track I hardly ever use front brake as most of the time you're only scrubbing some speed and not really "braking". Front brake only gets used when seriously reducing speed (switchback or something like that)

 

When going down a hill I'll brake evenly front and rear.

[RockCoach]

When chasing single track I hardly ever use front brake as most of the time you're only scrubbing some speed and not really "braking". Front brake only gets used when seriously reducing speed (switchback or something like that)

 

When going down a hill I'll brake evenly front and rear.

 

I do exactly the same. That's why I said "almost always" use both equally. Cycle Factory was refering to bikes they sell to noobs who are unlikely to be 'chasing singletrack' the way we do. Those noobs should be using both.

[Stoffel76]

My previous bikes were all left - front. Got a new (to me) bike this weekend and it's set up with right being the front brake... Takes a bit of getting used to certainly keeps your brain working at first...

 

As it was a second hand bike, I'll probably replace the fluid anyway and then switch them...

[DubbelBuys]

same as scooter, left is rear

 

LOL - All the guys blabbering about right front because of motorbikes & you come in at another angle.

 

I ride moto style too. When I got back into mtb my first new bike was setup the other way & I failed miserably, but after changing back tyo moto style my handling was instantaneously better.

[Dirtbreath]

When chasing single track I hardly ever use front brake as most of the time you're only scrubbing some speed and not really "braking". Front brake only gets used when seriously reducing speed (switchback or something like that)

 

When going down a hill I'll brake evenly front and rear.

 

I scrub with my front unless I feel traction is becoming an issue, the start adding back. The sound of locking brakes and skidding drives me insane. Images of ripped up trails and hard work undone.

[Trivium]

Same as my motorbike.

[Guest Omega Man]

Same as my motorbike.

So you have a foot brake on the right and a clutch on your bicycle? Just messing.

Edited December 26, 2012 by Omega Man

[Guest Omega Man]

I run my bicycles with the rear on the right and I've never accidentally grabbed the clutch on my moto hoping for front brakes. Having said that I'm left handed so the strongest hand on the rear brake flies out the window for me.

 

My theory is that the first bike I ever had (black horse Game special BMX) had the rear on the right and the rest is history.

[udxcob]

I just ride my bike, I don't even know how my bikes are setup

[Leg breaker]

Rode my uncles bike once, he had his bikes brakes different to what i'm used to. He had Back as left and front as right, i was ridding and need to brake quickly to avoid something (A walker) ended up flying over the bars into him...

[DeFconOK]

Right front on my DH bike. My XC's brakes won't allow swoppage unless I bleed them, and I don't have a bleed kit yet...

 

Most brakes you can swap round with out bleeding, undo hose, fluid wont leak unless you pump them or drop the hose on the floor, swap them.

 

I run moto style, always will, right hand endo, left hand wheelies.

 

Its much easier to work on bike with right hand rear tho, you can stop the wheel without having to reach over the bike, and then there's the mirrors in traffic, very good point.

Edited January 16, 2014 by DeFconOK

[Josh0]

Both my hands are pretty intelligent, but my right claw is the cleverest. I like my cleverest hand to modulate my rear brake when doing high speed manuals/wheelies. Left claw is smart enough to handle front brake duties.

[Super Sywurm]

I need my rear brake on the right!!!