Have you ever used your front brake in the air...

wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4358
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR US
wildbill
Edited Date/Time 10/11/2019 5:47am
to help you set up for a tight immediate corner? It works! Good luck. Smile

Have you ever used your front brake in the air?

8
|
wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4358
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR US
wildbill 10/9/2019 11:43am
10/9/2019 11:43am
But way out of shape.
zippytech
Profile picture for user zippytech
Posts
1127
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH US
zippytech 10/9/2019 11:44am
10/9/2019 11:44am
I did it back in the 80's for shits and giggles once and a while. It seemed to pull the bike down a little.
Jaybird67k
Profile picture for user Jaybird67k
Posts
527
Joined
10/27/2013
Location
Vidor, TX US
Jaybird67k 10/9/2019 11:54am
10/9/2019 11:54am
It works good like the OP said on tight courses such as AX.
1

The Shop

See All »
kb228
Profile picture for user kb228
Posts
6161
Joined
1/31/2018
Location
Mansfield, OH US
kb228 10/9/2019 12:05pm
10/9/2019 12:05pm
I feel like my fat ass would bottom harder if i also had the brake on while landing
wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4358
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR US
wildbill 10/9/2019 12:13pm
10/9/2019 12:13pm
228, please don't try this.
ctbale
Profile picture for user ctbale
Posts
1088
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
Gustavus, AK US
ctbale 10/9/2019 2:16pm
10/9/2019 2:16pm
Once, didnt like how it felt.
zippytech
Profile picture for user zippytech
Posts
1127
Joined
9/8/2018
Location
Bethesda, OH US
zippytech 10/9/2019 2:22pm
10/9/2019 2:22pm
My thoughts was if I was looping out why not? Never have had to do it in 30 years.
Hudd_421
Profile picture for user Hudd_421
Posts
645
Joined
2/17/2015
Location
TX US
Hudd_421 10/9/2019 2:25pm
10/9/2019 2:25pm
It's the weirdest sensation. It drops the front but it also disorients the bike. Like completely changes the direction of momentum you have. It feels like you're washing out in the air...don't do it.
23
Racer111
Profile picture for user Racer111
Posts
2767
Joined
5/23/2009
Location
Concord, NC US
Racer111 10/9/2019 2:25pm
10/9/2019 2:25pm
I’ve done it several times. Never had anything go wrong.
2
2
Jeremy Macbeth 10/9/2019 2:59pm
10/9/2019 2:59pm
The first time I used my front brake in the air was the last time I used my front brake in the air.

Losing that gyroscopic effect will pose a grave detriment to your health.
22
rob162
Profile picture for user rob162
Posts
609
Joined
7/8/2015
Location
IL US
rob162 10/9/2019 3:27pm
10/9/2019 3:27pm
A LONG time ago i use to front brake tap to get the front end down because i had a issue with stalling it using the rear. But yes very tight corners right before i land ill hit the front. Never had it do anything weird. Now if i was crossed up or sideways for any reason yeah that might be a different story.
1
2
gnarwhip
Profile picture for user gnarwhip
Posts
1972
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Los Angeles, CA US
gnarwhip 10/9/2019 3:32pm
10/9/2019 3:32pm Edited Date/Time 10/9/2019 3:35pm
No but one time my front wheel locked up in the air over a double and I almost ate shit. Definitely feels like you’re washing out in mid air. Not fun.
2
SKIDLID
Profile picture for user SKIDLID
Posts
978
Joined
4/9/2013
Location
Fairmont, MN US
Fantasy
761st
SKIDLID 10/9/2019 3:39pm
10/9/2019 3:39pm
My right ankle has limited movement. I am guilty of using the front brake or even pulling the clutch at times to drop the front. Only crashed once when I landed with brake still on. Guess I suck at riding then
1
Mr. Info
Profile picture for user Mr. Info
Posts
1672
Joined
5/3/2010
Location
Perris, CA US
Mr. Info 10/9/2019 3:49pm
10/9/2019 3:49pm
Not cause I wanted to and can say afterward not ever again
1
ElliotB16
Profile picture for user ElliotB16
Posts
1059
Joined
6/10/2019
Location
Cairo, GA US
ElliotB16 10/9/2019 3:51pm
10/9/2019 3:51pm
I use mine sometimes on small jumps. Better be straight when you do it.
2
bonseff
Profile picture for user bonseff
Posts
1276
Joined
3/29/2011
Location
Frisco, TX US
bonseff 10/9/2019 3:59pm
10/9/2019 3:59pm
na man, that's why i bought this huge-ass front rotor, bruh. its a 3 piston brembo off ebay, i think it was off a ducati, i used my dremel and made it work, but not in the air, it has a regulator.
2

Pit Row

See All »
FortyHat
Profile picture for user FortyHat
Posts
345
Joined
5/16/2017
Location
CO US
FortyHat 10/9/2019 5:14pm
10/9/2019 5:14pm
I cover my brake with my index finger, and I tapped it on accident during a race while old-man-scrubbing a small jump and got concussed into the next week when the bike gyrated to the side. I'm super careful now not to do that Blink
3
ga_pike
Profile picture for user ga_pike
Posts
2607
Joined
7/14/2011
Location
Valdosta, GA US
ga_pike 10/9/2019 5:45pm
10/9/2019 5:45pm
I specifically remember using front brake in the air at Frozen Ocean at a regional qualifier. There was a series of 7 jumps I was going 2-3-2 on an 80. Over the middle huck, I'd hit the front brake to drop the front quickly. Worked very well. Rear brake didn't work as effectively. There have been other times, but that stands out to me.
4
Kelz87
Profile picture for user Kelz87
Posts
1159
Joined
7/21/2018
Location
Phoenix, AZ US
Fantasy
1468th
Kelz87 10/9/2019 6:10pm
10/9/2019 6:10pm Edited Date/Time 10/9/2019 6:11pm
Never done it, but I can see how it would disorient the bike with the gyroscopic effect of the front tire spinning.

I could wheelie a mountain bike easily up until the front tire stops spinning and then it would get sloppy from there. And that’s a lot less mass rotating
ctbale
Profile picture for user ctbale
Posts
1088
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
Gustavus, AK US
ctbale 10/9/2019 6:17pm
10/9/2019 6:17pm
I saw Doug domokos do it one time while doing his patented wheelies, he flopped over to the left or maybe it was the right. Think I'll do a poll on that
5
Jeremy Macbeth 10/9/2019 6:24pm
10/9/2019 6:24pm Edited Date/Time 10/9/2019 6:25pm
ctbale wrote:
I saw Doug domokos do it one time while doing his patented wheelies, he flopped over to the left or maybe it was the right. Think...
I saw Doug domokos do it one time while doing his patented wheelies, he flopped over to the left or maybe it was the right. Think I'll do a poll on that
True story: Doug Domokos used to run a small electric motor mounted to the forks to keep his front wheel spinning when he did wheelies in stadiums. That way he could use the gyroscopic effect of the front wheel to steer the bike.
3
FortyHat
Profile picture for user FortyHat
Posts
345
Joined
5/16/2017
Location
CO US
FortyHat 10/9/2019 6:49pm
10/9/2019 6:49pm
Kelz87 wrote:
Never done it, but I can see how it would disorient the bike with the gyroscopic effect of the front tire spinning. I could wheelie a...
Never done it, but I can see how it would disorient the bike with the gyroscopic effect of the front tire spinning.

I could wheelie a mountain bike easily up until the front tire stops spinning and then it would get sloppy from there. And that’s a lot less mass rotating
Same here regarding bicycle wheelies. As a kid I could wheelie my bmx bike for up to a quarter mile, but when the front wheel stopped spinning it was really hard to keep going, especially if there was any breeze to counteract.
1
crt32
Profile picture for user crt32
Posts
674
Joined
4/20/2015
Location
Oklahoma City, OK US
crt32 10/9/2019 7:03pm
10/9/2019 7:03pm
Did it once, wheel was slightly turned and It pulled the bike awkwardly; first and last time to try that.
cwtoyota
Profile picture for user cwtoyota
Posts
1930
Joined
3/11/2013
Location
Tacoma, WA US
cwtoyota 10/9/2019 7:05pm
10/9/2019 7:05pm
FortyHat wrote:
I cover my brake with my index finger, and I tapped it on accident during a race while old-man-scrubbing a small jump and got concussed into...
I cover my brake with my index finger, and I tapped it on accident during a race while old-man-scrubbing a small jump and got concussed into the next week when the bike gyrated to the side. I'm super careful now not to do that Blink
I cover mine pretty often and land with it on when it's a benefit to brake down the backside of a landing.

You really have to be comfortable with the modulation and setup of your front brake, fork setup and tire pressure to get away with it consistently. Most of the time when I'm landing with the front brake I start with very little and feed in more brake as I roll down the landing ramp. In those situations the bike is leaned over to initiate the corner, almost like I started the arc of the turn coming up the takeoff ramp.

As for covering the brake, I do that all the time. A friend saw us on a photographer's social media from the local track and she sent me a link to the pics. See the second pic: Kele Russell is in the air behind me. My rear wheel just touched dirt, I'm full throttle with a finger on the brake & clutch ready for a 180° left hand corner. Speaking of brake modulation, that's a Honda brake on my YZ...






4
FortyHat
Profile picture for user FortyHat
Posts
345
Joined
5/16/2017
Location
CO US
FortyHat 10/9/2019 7:13pm
10/9/2019 7:13pm
FortyHat wrote:
I cover my brake with my index finger, and I tapped it on accident during a race while old-man-scrubbing a small jump and got concussed into...
I cover my brake with my index finger, and I tapped it on accident during a race while old-man-scrubbing a small jump and got concussed into the next week when the bike gyrated to the side. I'm super careful now not to do that Blink
cwtoyota wrote:
I cover mine pretty often and land with it on when it's a benefit to brake down the backside of a landing. You really have to...
I cover mine pretty often and land with it on when it's a benefit to brake down the backside of a landing.

You really have to be comfortable with the modulation and setup of your front brake, fork setup and tire pressure to get away with it consistently. Most of the time when I'm landing with the front brake I start with very little and feed in more brake as I roll down the landing ramp. In those situations the bike is leaned over to initiate the corner, almost like I started the arc of the turn coming up the takeoff ramp.

As for covering the brake, I do that all the time. A friend saw us on a photographer's social media from the local track and she sent me a link to the pics. See the second pic: Kele Russell is in the air behind me. My rear wheel just touched dirt, I'm full throttle with a finger on the brake & clutch ready for a 180° left hand corner. Speaking of brake modulation, that's a Honda brake on my YZ...






10-4 on that. I wasn't super clear, when I said I'm careful "not to do that" I meant squeezing it inadvertently in the air. I have to think real hard about not covering either lever with my index fingers. Sick photos btw.
1
cwtoyota
Profile picture for user cwtoyota
Posts
1930
Joined
3/11/2013
Location
Tacoma, WA US
cwtoyota 10/9/2019 7:31pm
10/9/2019 7:31pm
FortyHat wrote:
10-4 on that. I wasn't super clear, when I said I'm careful "not to do that" I meant squeezing it inadvertently in the air. I have...
10-4 on that. I wasn't super clear, when I said I'm careful "not to do that" I meant squeezing it inadvertently in the air. I have to think real hard about not covering either lever with my index fingers. Sick photos btw.
Ok, that makes more sense when I re-read your other post.

I can't imagine not covering the controls, but I can understand how a lot of guys aren't comfortable braking down the backsides of jumps. I still remember the first time I figured it out. I was at Perris Raceway in about 2008 and wanted to hit this steep triple, but still catch the inside line. I figured out the timing on a Friday practice and that move won the race on Saturday night.

I few years later put an easy step-down in my home track that requires the move to catch a flat inside line.

The photographer did a nice job on all his stuff, thanks. I need to get in touch with him, there's one in a rutted corner that I want to buy.
2
ratonmacias
Profile picture for user ratonmacias
Posts
1042
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Guadalajara MX
ratonmacias 10/9/2019 8:03pm
10/9/2019 8:03pm
Hudd_421 wrote:
It's the weirdest sensation. It drops the front but it also disorients the bike. Like completely changes the direction of momentum you have. It feels like...
It's the weirdest sensation. It drops the front but it also disorients the bike. Like completely changes the direction of momentum you have. It feels like you're washing out in the air...don't do it.
Exactly what it felt like.

Tap the back not the front brake
motoxxx599
Profile picture for user motoxxx599
Posts
2871
Joined
11/18/2008
Location
Sachse, TX US
Fantasy
985th
motoxxx599 10/9/2019 8:20pm
10/9/2019 8:20pm
I have on accident a few times just because (thanks to Gary Bailey) i keep a finger on the lever.. and like someone said above you lose the sensation of control a spinning front wheel gives you.
1

Post a reply to: Have you ever used your front brake in the air...