Using the rear brake

Seeing a post by Duke of Wrath where he is having trouble getting his dealer to fix a rear brake issue got me thinking: how often do you use your back brake?
I'm guessing that the motocrossers amongst us use the back brake loads as do the wheelie merchants and those of us who like to back it into corners but what about the rest of us?

Never used to, but since I have also a dirt bike I started to use it more often and can see the benefit in certain conditions.

I mostly use it to settle the back. The useful function because with the front brembos and powerful engine braking the rear brakes are not essential

But off course I also use it to brake other times

I use mine purely out of habit. My rear brake is shockingly useless, I might need to bleed/adjust it or something.

Interesting that its 50/50 between "always" and "never" at this time of posting.

I think I only use it at very slow speed to calm the engine's enthusiasm. Can't remember consciously using it at speed on road or track.

As I am lame as bear with a sore paw at stunts, I don't use it for wheelies; but I would if I could.

Use it very occasionally, I think the last time I used it was right after I was forced onto the wet grass at Oulton last summer.

I never use it for wheelies as it's just not necessary

I use it all the time. Even if it only provides at extra 5% of stopping power in tricky situations, that's still 5% I wouldn't have had at my disposal.

It's also worth noting that if you apply the rear brake a split second before the front, you're settling the chassis and making it easier to scrub speed when you do apply the front brakes. To add to that, if you're ever in a decreasing radius corner or find yourself running wide, careful application of the rear brake will squeeze the front end back into the turn to tighten your line up.

The trouble is that some folks just aren't used to using the rear brake, so in situations like above you're more likely to wad your bike up

Right on

I find I use my rear brake most of the time I ride,it's just how I learned and I can tell you from experience, those panic stops are all the more settled when you use the rear brake.

not sure really when i use it but i do , its just natural . i bit like when someone asks what gear i am in round such and such a corner,answer is i dont know

Good post I voted
For me I am like Nerd on the track I never used it when I raced and when I just did chucky.
On the street I always use both if I an slowing to a light I will use the rear.
On my Harley the rear brake is as important as the front.It' like a chevy truck pedal If you have to panic stop you can stop with out sliding.
On my Yz450 I have to brake the rear to slide when I need to.
On my RC8 the thought of not having a rear brake is unnerving if the front end wants to come up and on this bike it does.It's nice to be able to tap the rear to get the front end down.
I did superbike school a life time ago and what they said I think is still important today.75-80% will be front end brakes the rest is rear.I think the the real fast guys which I am not one use both when the have to. Since I do not go 200mph like moto gp or isle of man I would think when you go that fast and you need to stop or slow down I think I would have to learn both.but that is just me.So the bottom line is what kind of bike ,what kind of riding and if you like to to stunts doing wheelies with out a rear brake will get you in trouble real fast.This I know first hand.

I originally told Duke "VIC",
that i didnt use it at all but i do cover it when wheeling and over jumps.Cadwell Park springs to mind

I use it in traffic a lot, that's about it.

I use it occasionally. It's a psychological thing but I'm aware I use it when going downhill. I've been using it a bit more recently though as I don't want to change my front pads until the worst of our weather is past.

Schwantz never uses rear break, and Rossi is famous for taking his foot off the rear break peg.