Dear Bike Industry

[Jbr]

I don't see the problem.

 

Rode left-front for more than 30 years on my bikes. Got on a motorbike for the first time in my life and it wasn't a problem at all.

I race motorbikes and bicycles and never understood why some bikers think it's cool to have you brakes the wrong way around on their bicycles...

[DR ◣◢]

I race motorbikes and bicycles and never understood why some bikers think it's cool to have you brakes the wrong way around on their bicycles...

 

There is no wrong way.

[PhilipV]

..... designed for the rear to be on the right. Off course it was possible to hack it, but it looked cr@p ..... so the decision was made to go "Right = Rear" ...... I....

Possibly the worst ever reason to change brake orientation.

 

But it does prove that habits can be changed. Glad you made it work.

[TheoG]

An American's point of view on the matter (if it matter  ):

 

 

On MTB though side of the road shouldn't be important because you belong off-road ... 

[MrJacques]

Aaron Gwin runs his rear brake lever on the right even though he did motocross - he says it's from his BMX days. I'm used to the rear brake lever on the left, changing would be difficult. It's personal preference though.

[MrJacques]

Why should turning the bars right make the bike turn right? Who decided that was a good standard?

 

 

This could be a good anti-theft strategy

[Jbr]

hahaha I was just reacting to the initial post saying that's the way it should be and no other, obviously everyone does how they want

 

Personnaly I don't really care, one day my right lever popped on the MTB and I had to plug my rear brake to my left lever and ride without front brakes, it was absolutely fine except the rear brake was overheating a bit. Same as on the motorbikes where I get used to changing from normal gearbox to inverted gearbox.

[MORNE]

Maybe the brake is the wrong way around on motorbikes because thats where they had to be by default? Lol

 

I think it went down like this:

 

The front brake is on the throttle hand for a reason...the throttle is on right side. I think it it has more to do with motorskills, feel, precision and being designed by default over the decades for right handed people.

 

Most people have the most control in their right hand...great-put the throttle there. Ok so now the throttle is there..so we need to put the clutch on the other side because how the hell are jou going to twist your wrist and modulate a clutch on one hand at the same time?.

 

Ok done. That means front brake then goes on the throttle hand - but hey look!...happy accident is that it means you probably cant grab a fist full of front brake and fo a mark Marques washout while cranking the throttle wide open....so less chances of a silly accident.

 

The rear brake is also something you don't want to over use by accident we scheme right guys?....so maybe on the right foot with the most modulation for most people is best...but then it also works best there by default because we have the gear lever on the left “dumb foot” on the other side? As well as the chain and everything else. So yes. Nice..it all fits. Good..build it.”

 

Obviously this didn't happen exactly like this but you get the idea.

 

Bicycles don’t have most of these constraints. And you do actually get most brakes sets in versions for either side...go shop on some international stores.

The Americans and Europe like their rear brakes on bicycles on different ends. The americans also still count in fractions so and speak American supposedly...so the are oddballs for sure.

 

We just dont get those versions here. And you obviously wont have a choice on a OEM cookie cutter bike.

 

Saying the front brake on the right is wrong is like saying driving on the other side of the road in other countries, and subsequently having everything flipped around inside the car - is wrong.

 

It isn't, its just different.

[Frosty]

...and please, right hand, front brake.

 

Left hand is for clutch or rear brake only

Thankfully the hose can be cut and fitted to either left or right lever based on your choice, so there is freedom without compromise. Coming off a road bicycle, right is rear (brake and shift), left is front (shift and brake).

[Jewbacca]

I love how, out of ALL the weird 'standards' and proprietary parts and tools, the 'brake side conundrum' dominates the thread and actually has nothing to do with 'bike standards' in the context of having to buy tools/new parts/brand specific spokes and nipples etc at exorbitant prices.

 

Brake sides can be swapped in all of 10 minutes using a hammer, a G-clamp, a shifting spanner and some syringes. All of which a regular home mechanic/fiddler should have.

 

I've been using the same 'universal' bleed kit for 7 years. It has not been an 'evolving' standard as per the context.

 

We are a weird bunch

 

One standard that has me up against a wall is the weird GIANT OD road steerer diameter. I need a 110mm stem for my Egg plant baby but can only order one specially through a GIANT concept store at unimaginable cost. 

 

It is somewhat annoying. Although at the time of purchase I did say, this is going to bite me in the butt but it's so pretty..... 

[Frosty]

Strange the article didn’t mention spokes. J-bend, straight, round, flat, etc., although they did imply extra stiffness by using more spokes

[MrJacques]

Most brake hoses don't even have to be cut anymore

 

Many can just unscrew the olive and swap around the hoses, and depending on the lever you might be able to just burp out the bubble swapping creates

 

Sram brake levers (like the Guide / Level, etc.) can just be flipped over, so you don't even need to disconnect any hoses. Quick and easy to swap them around.

[BMXER]

Sram brake levers (like the Guide / Level, etc.) can just be flipped over, so you don't even need to disconnect any hoses. Quick and easy to swap them around.

Yip, sram level ultimate seperate from the clamp and are interchangeable left to right.

[Frosty]

Most brake hoses don't even have to be cut anymore

 

Many can just unscrew the olive and swap around the hoses, and depending on the lever you might be able to just burp out the bubble swapping creates

Out the box, Shimano brakes are 1700mm for the rear. Mine was cut shorter, and required the olive.

[ChrisF]

Most brake hoses don't even have to be cut anymore

 

Many can just unscrew the olive and swap around the hoses, and depending on the lever you might be able to just burp out the bubble swapping creates

Swopping the Shimano hoses on my commuter was super easy ....

 

Unscrewed both sides ... "un plug" both pipes, swop about, push into the lever unit .... tighten the screws. That was it !!!

 

 

I did check the bleeding, but it was perfect.

 

 

The pipe routing is the biggest constraint ... on som bikes. The internally routed would come out of the down tube on the left, loop around to the right side lever .... the cable really doubles up if you want to attach it to the left lever. Doing a proper job would require a re-routing, so the cable exits the frame on the right .... IF the holes in the frame allows this ....

[TheoG]

Swopping the Shimano hoses on my commuter was super easy ....

 

Unscrewed both sides ... "un plug" both pipes, swop about, push into the lever unit .... tighten the screws. That was it !!!

 

 

I did check the bleeding, but it was perfect.

 

 

The pipe routing is the biggest constraint ... on som bikes. The internally routed would come out of the down tube on the left, loop around to the right side lever .... the cable really doubles up if you want to attach it to the left lever. Doing a proper job would require a re-routing, so the cable exits the frame on the right .... IF the holes in the frame allows this ....

 

That is exactly what I did on my bike, swapped around and rerouted everything the way I like it.

 

Sure it is a bit of effort but definitely not the end of the world and only needs to be done once unless you are female and you change your mind every other day ...     (Only joking girls, please don't attack).

 

Brake cables hoses on my frame is still externally routed so not a big deal at all to customize.  Don't even need to cut cable ties since I got some of those nice C-clamp jobbies.