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Front brake lever - which side...Left or right?


Which side of the bars do you have the lever for your front brake?  

34 members have voted

  1. 1. Which side of the bars do you have the lever for your front brake?

    • Right
      16
    • Left
      26
    • Backpedal
      0
    • What brakes???
      2


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Posted

I noticed moving from my DB (LH rear) to my Scott (RH rear), I just adapted.

 

Hand strenght :wacko: I would have rather said dexterity plays more of a role in deciding which side to put your rear or front brake lever.

Posted

I have always ridden my rear brake on the right.

 

I find it's the motorcyclists who love it the other way around.

 

 

 

Agree 100%. had MX bikes in my youth and got so used to front brake being on rhs had to change MTB brakes to reflect this. Found that I had better control with my dominant hand too - which is my right.

Posted

Since my first bmx I got in std 1 front was right and rear left.

 

All bikes after that was like that. If it wasn't I changed it!

 

Its just seems RIGHT!

Posted

Since my first bmx I got in std 1 front was right and rear left.

 

All bikes after that was like that. If it wasn't I changed it!

 

Its just seems RIGHT!

 

Thats the way!!

 

Whichever way you have it , it makes pretty much no difference as long as you are comfortable.

 

JUST DO NOT TRY SWOPPING IT AFTER DECADES OF RIDING IT ONE WAY!!

 

In a critical moment your body will rely on its programmed instincts and pull the wrong brake lever - some serious consequences will result..... like over the handlebars at high speed.

Posted (edited)

I know most people would like to think they can run the front brake based on their personal preference, but unfortunately there is only one correct answer to this question:

 

post-1099-0-83647100-1345551151.jpg

 

End of debate.

Edited by javadude
Posted

I have all my bikes set up with front right. Even my road STIs I swopped around. I just prefer my stronger more sensitive right hand modulating the brake that gives you the majority of your stopping power.

 

For advanced skills teach yourself modulation by riding very slowly down a flight of stairs with just the front brake and stop on each stair.

Posted

Dominant hand should control your front brake.

yeah, hand with strongest and fastest twitch should be front...

 

therefore, right.

personally, i prefer to be able to control my front more effectively, hence the reason for it to be on the stronger, more dominant hand (muscle twitches are more controlled) same as trying to brake in a car with your left foot... try it - you'll suck unless you've practised a helluva lot.

 

Hand with more control gets my vote...

Ditto Cptmayhem. My thoughts exactly.

 

 

 

Weird, I had this conversation today with a friend.

 

 

 

What I've heard is that the majority is left back and right front.

 

The only reason what I can think of is if your rear brake is on left

then you can brake with rear and if you want still shift up and down on

the right. But don't ask me why you want to brake and shift at the same

time.smiley5.gif

Rear left,weaker hand.Front right hand stronger.

Find it better to feather on very steep descents with front ,stronger/right hand.

The rear is just to drop anchors ,dont really need precision on the back. :whistling:

Posted

I know most people would like to think they can run the front brake based on their personal preference, but unfortunately there is only once correct answer to this question:

 

post-1099-0-83647100-1345551151.jpg

 

End of debate.

 

Personal preference dude. I wonder if Merckx was left or right handed?

Posted

Yeh BMX for the past few years seem to somehow got you into Right Hand = Rear...

 

Maybe thats cos the old brakes didnt stop diddly when wet and u needed to really crush that guy.

Guest Omega Man
Posted

I ride dirt bikes and even so I run my front brake on the left on my mountain bikes. Never had an issue. I think it's a remnant of my bmx days.

Guest Travis.
Posted

I'm the norm then! Left = front!

 

New bike came with the levers the other way around...I didn't want to fiddle with it, I thought I'd just get used to it. I went out the night before my first proper night at Groenkloof (I was still drunk when I started the cycle). Down the one straight I decide I want to see what my new puppy can do. I give it gas and around a small little corner out pops Mr Rock, instinctively I grab the brake levers - guess what happens when you're still drunk and forget which side is which....Needless to say, I swopped them there and then!

Posted

I keep it simple, all the rear stuff on the right and the front stuff on the left.

 

Rear Deraileur and brakes on the right

Front deraileur and brakes on the left

 

not arse about face, I like my teeth where they are

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