which side do you have your rear brake lever ?
08-09-20, 04:40 PM
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which side do you have your rear brake lever ?
Some of the guys I ride with have their brake lever for the rear brakes on the right side. Some have it on the left side. Where is your rear brake lever ? Mine is on the left side, I thought this was the "standard" but maybe I have mine set up wrong. I would like to set it up to what the norm is so that if I ride someone elses bike it is the same and if someone borrows mine ditto.
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08-09-20, 04:44 PM
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It's normally on the right. Seems I've heard some Brits do it the other way. Also there are some folks who ride motorcycles and are afraid the difference will confuse them in a moment of panic. Interesting there is such variety in your group.
08-09-20, 04:47 PM
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Some of the guys I ride with have their brake lever for the rear brakes on the right side. Some have it on the left side. Where is your rear brake lever ? Mine is on the left side, I thought this was the "standard" but maybe I have mine set up wrong. I would like to set it up to what the norm is so that if I ride someone elses bike it is the same and if someone borrows mine ditto.
Unless a customer specifies otherwise, the hand lever that operates the rear brake must be on the right handlebar. The lever that operates the front brake must be on the left handlebar.
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08-09-20, 04:53 PM
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Most people are going to have it on the right. The Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements are the following
Most bikes are going to be set up with the rear brake on the right side of the handlebar for the store and most people leave them that way. Some motorcycle guys will swap them but I would say that 99% of all bikes have a right/rear brake setup.
Most bikes are going to be set up with the rear brake on the right side of the handlebar for the store and most people leave them that way. Some motorcycle guys will swap them but I would say that 99% of all bikes have a right/rear brake setup.
08-09-20, 05:47 PM
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I have the front brake on the right on all my bikes. Partly because I was a motorcycle rider, and partly because I wanted to have the strongest brake available if I were momentarily riding one-handed, for example when signalling. Maybe also, theoretically, if someone stole my bike they might get a little surprise! That's never happened.
As Cyccommute indicates above, this position is legal according to the CPSC if "a consumer specifies otherwise". When I bought my Airborne, the reversed lever position was an option; all my other bikes I switched myself.
As Cyccommute indicates above, this position is legal according to the CPSC if "a consumer specifies otherwise". When I bought my Airborne, the reversed lever position was an option; all my other bikes I switched myself.
08-09-20, 05:59 PM
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I believe the vast majority of riders have the rear brake lever on the right side. Bikes automatically come set up that way from the shops and almost all riders leave them that way. As noted, brifters and their cabling work best that way too.
Motorcycles do indeed have their front brake lever on the right since the clutch is operated by the left hand and the rear brake by a right side foot pedal.
Motorcycles do indeed have their front brake lever on the right since the clutch is operated by the left hand and the rear brake by a right side foot pedal.
08-09-20, 06:08 PM
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Some of the guys I ride with have their brake lever for the rear brakes on the right side. Some have it on the left side. Where is your rear brake lever ? Mine is on the left side, I thought this was the "standard" but maybe I have mine set up wrong. I would like to set it up to what the norm is so that if I ride someone elses bike it is the same and if someone borrows mine ditto.
Last edited by Litespud; 08-09-20 at 06:12 PM.
08-09-20, 07:27 PM
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Standard setup in the UK and Ireland is front right, rear left, which makes the most sense to me as a right-hander. Since your front brake does the majority of the braking, logic would suggest that it should be operated by your dominant hand - the hand that has the most strength and control.
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08-09-20, 07:44 PM
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When you ride one handed, you better use the rear brake, not the front one. That's what should decide whether the rear goes to the left or to the right... unless you have very weak muscles and you need the stronger arm to control the front brake.
08-09-20, 07:48 PM
#12
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I mix it Up, I have both, using both any how, its unimportant..
mostly it's Moto ..
Touring , grabbing the left rear , let me catch my breath on a super steep hill in 'the 2 foot gear' & not have the bike roll backwards.
Last Long Tour Was in a drive left country, Irish Isles, & Scotland..
...
mostly it's Moto ..
Touring , grabbing the left rear , let me catch my breath on a super steep hill in 'the 2 foot gear' & not have the bike roll backwards.
Last Long Tour Was in a drive left country, Irish Isles, & Scotland..
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-09-20 at 08:01 PM.
08-09-20, 07:57 PM
#13
Non omnino gravis
Right on rear, because that's how every bike I've ever had has been, and this dog is too old to learn the front-brake-on-right trick.
Imagine a bike with the rear shifting on the left. I just couldn't.
Imagine a bike with the rear shifting on the left. I just couldn't.
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08-09-20, 08:12 PM
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Left is rear for a few reasons that some might not care about, on my bikes. Andy
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08-09-20, 08:18 PM
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Seems like with downtube shifters, easier to brake using left hand front brake while shifting with right hand.
scott s.
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scott s.
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08-09-20, 08:34 PM
#16
Newbie
Front right, rear left. I am right handed and want the front brake to be operated by my dominant hand. Lots more control that way.
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08-10-20, 09:09 AM
#17
Stevoo
Old moto and bike guy here. Moto is right hand front brake. All my bicycles have alwsys been right hand rear brake. Brain adjusts fine . Never an issue.
Rode a friend's mtn bike that was set up "moto style" and I struggled with it as my brain was in bicycle mode when on the bicycle . Go figure.
But, rode Japanese and old Spanish motos a lot back in the day. Foot shift and brake controls are swapped between them. Never any issues jumping between them. The brain is interesting.
Rode a friend's mtn bike that was set up "moto style" and I struggled with it as my brain was in bicycle mode when on the bicycle . Go figure.
But, rode Japanese and old Spanish motos a lot back in the day. Foot shift and brake controls are swapped between them. Never any issues jumping between them. The brain is interesting.
08-10-20, 09:18 AM
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Explanation I have heard is that "proper" bicycle turn signalling in countries that drive on the right is done entirely with the left hand, so CPSC mandated rear braking for the hand still on the bars (ie right hand) because of a (misplaced) fear of the danger of stopping with only the front brake (the logic being that beginners have trouble modulating front brakes and stop too quickly and get thrown). In places like UK where they drive on the left, the reverse applies, and right hand is rear.
Cyclocross riders often switch the sides, depending on which side they typically dismount on for a bike-carry.
Cyclocross riders often switch the sides, depending on which side they typically dismount on for a bike-carry.
08-10-20, 10:11 AM
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Maybe if you learned on a motorcycle a long time ago.... Back brake was on the left, gear shifter on the right. Front brake on the right.
Panic stop... go to the left, Clutch, back brake.
"Imagine a bike with gear shifting on the left"... well that's what motorcycles have today.
Panic stop... go to the left, Clutch, back brake.
"Imagine a bike with gear shifting on the left"... well that's what motorcycles have today.
08-10-20, 10:13 AM
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Explanation I have heard is that "proper" bicycle turn signalling in countries that drive on the right is done entirely with the left hand, so CPSC mandated rear braking for the hand still on the bars (ie right hand) because of a (misplaced) fear of the danger of stopping with only the front brake (the logic being that beginners have trouble modulating front brakes and stop too quickly and get thrown). In places like UK where they drive on the left, the reverse applies, and right hand is rear.
Cyclocross riders often switch the sides, depending on which side they typically dismount on for a bike-carry.
Cyclocross riders often switch the sides, depending on which side they typically dismount on for a bike-carry.
08-10-20, 06:00 PM
#21
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+1 Brit's are Left/Rear Right/Front
I is one, but now in California.
So I let my USA R3 keep it's USA config and just deal with it.
Barry
I is one, but now in California.
So I let my USA R3 keep it's USA config and just deal with it.
Barry
08-10-20, 07:38 PM
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08-10-20, 09:50 PM
#23
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I have always ridden dominate hand for front brake. In my case that puts the rear on the left. I always ignore the CPSC.
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08-10-20, 10:07 PM
#24
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Every bike I ever bought was R-R. Either way; dumb accident
I was riding through this small town on a tight road. I grabbed my water bottle with my right as per habit, just then a cat darted out in front of me, having only my left hand on the brakes, I applied too much pressure and flew over the handle bars.
Lesson learned. Grab water bottle and other things with front brake hand.
And just to make it controversial, some bloke accused me of not paying attention to the road because I should have seen the cat before it darted out from under that car.
I was riding through this small town on a tight road. I grabbed my water bottle with my right as per habit, just then a cat darted out in front of me, having only my left hand on the brakes, I applied too much pressure and flew over the handle bars.
Lesson learned. Grab water bottle and other things with front brake hand.
And just to make it controversial, some bloke accused me of not paying attention to the road because I should have seen the cat before it darted out from under that car.
08-11-20, 03:15 AM
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Right front like a motorcycle.