Rear brake lever positioning

[ArizonaKev]

Ok, I know there are posts about HOW to adjust the positioning of the rear brake pedal - my question is, is there a right/recommended position for it, or is it best to just position to where it is comfortable to me?

It seems the me that when I rode motorcycles years ago, I really didn't have to lift my foot off the right peg hardly at all to apply the rear brake. But on my GZ250, I have to take my foot all the way off the pedal and raise it up to apply it. Is that a common positioning for cruiser style bikes? Where, how do most of you position your rear brake pedal? Does it really matter? Is there some kind of guideline to follow, or best practice?

Any and all advice/comments are appreciated. Thanks!


AZ Kev

[Water Warrior 2]

There is only one position!! The one that fits your leg/foot for maximum comfort and ease of operation. Adjust the pedal for your fit and ride knowing the pedal is right where you can find it at a moments notice. The factory picks a standard position for ease of assembly to save time. Each rider fits a little different. The better the bike fits the better you can ride and enjoy the bike.

[alantf]

The factory picks a standard position for ease of assembly

Which is NOWHERE NEAR the handbook spec! The handbook says 45 to 55 mm above the peg, so that should be your starting point.

25.4 mm to the inch, so work it out :)

[Easy Rider]

The handbook says 45 to 55 mm above the peg, so that should be your starting point.

As a starting point, maybe, but really useless......as a persons riding posture and leg length makes each one different; some radically different.

In your normal riding posture, with your normal "boots", the brake pedal should just barely touch the bottom of your foot.....or just barely NOT touch it, depending on your prefrence.

[ArizonaKev]

Thanks for the replies all - I appreciate it. I think I will follow the instructions I found here for adjusting the brake pedal and see if I can't lower it a little bit.

AZ Kev

[mrlmd1]

Don't forget after you adjust the pedal you'll probably have to adjust the rear brake light switch.

[Easy Rider]

Don't forget after you adjust the pedal you'll probably have to adjust the rear brake light switch.

AND even more importantly, the rear brake adjustment.

If you are lowering the pedal, it likely will bind the brake and cause some heat (and maybe smoke) if you don't.

You may HAVE to move the rear brake adjustment to get the pedal as low as you want it.

[ArizonaKev]

So I followed the instructions that "Sarris" posted here : viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2636&p=25417&hilit=adjust+rear+brake#p25417 (http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2636&p=25417&hilit=adjust+rear+brake#p25417)

...and it worked like a charm. Funny thing - the reason the pedal was sitting so high was because the adjustment bolt for it was basically turned completelty out, so the pedal was floating as high as the other parts would allow, which was very high indeed! I fixed that, adjusted the rear brake and the brake light switch, and it is working like a charm. I also adjusted the shifting lever, as it was way too low, and extremely hard to get my boot under for upshifting.

The bike is much more comfortable - and safe - to ride now. I loved it before, and I love it even more now. I was also impressed by just how easy it was to make those adjustments. Awesome bike, and awesome forum - thanks all!

AZ Kev :2tup:

[alantf]

the reason the pedal was sitting so high was because the adjustment bolt for it was basically turned completelty out,

There IS a locknut on the adjusting bolt - right? :)

[ArizonaKev]

Yep, there is a locknut on the adjusting bolt. It was completely loose when I first checked it, but I made sure to tighten it when I got the pedal where I wanted it.

Thanks,

AZ Kev

[Viirin]

Wait wait wait - Easy is making me worry - when your riding should your right foot be under the brake or always over it? Because my right foot is below it - someone said to me once that you would loose valuable braking time by having to bring your foot around from under to over it but someone else said to me that the position is just the style of cruisers....so me being lazy took the latter opinion as it meant I didn't have to break out the tools.

Good question, I was about to ask this myself before I saw the post

Vii

[Sarris]

The brake pedal should be above your toes. The height above on mine is about 1" or less. At least that's the way both my bike are. I pick my foot up off the peg slightly to apply the brake.

Also, be sure to get into the habit of using your front brake. I have found, and it is generally recommended to use about 60% front to about 40% rear in conjunction with engine braking downshifts. You do have to reduce your front braking in the rain and use the front prudently (read light touch) while cornering.

:2tup:


http://s3.postimage.org/vJkDr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqvJkDr)

(Had to take the photo on my Harley, as my boot wouldn't stay on the GeeZer peg.) :lol:

[alantf]

The brake pedal should be above your toes.

Sorry, but I disagree TOTALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This might suit you, & suit the brake pedal on your Harley, But the position & design of the brake pedal on the GZ means that the correct way is like as was stated - your foot should be positioned so that your foot is ABOVE the pedal. This means that you can use the brake WITHOUT HAVING TO MOVE YOUR FOOT! Come to think of it, ignore the first part of my reply. I wouldn't ride ANY bike where the pedal was above my toe! :cry:

The edit was for a typo.

[Sarris]

And I sir, disagree with you. In almost 40 years of riding I've never ridden a bike with the pedal below. Nor have I see anyone else with that positioning. IMHO, it makes it too easy to ride the brake.

To each their own. :)

[alantf]

In almost 40 years of riding I've never ridden a bike with the pedal below.

And in over 45 years of riding, I've never ridden with the pedal above my foot. The few miliseconds needed in an emergency, to slide my foot back & then go over the brake can make all the difference. Like you say, to each his own, but PLEASE don't give the newbies any of your bad habits. :)

[Sarris]

Nor should you!

[Easy Rider]

The brake pedal should be above your toes. The height above on mine is about 1" or less. At least that's the way both my bike are. I pick my foot up off the peg slightly to apply the brake.

[Edit] Before you comment on THIS post, please see the next one too....

For YOU that is OK.....because you are an old dog and you know about "new tricks" and all BUT......
That is not "right".

There are several reasons that it's not right but the most important one is: In a panic situation, you are likely to catch your toe UNDER the pedal and further complicate your emergency stop.

Secondly, most riders need to learn to use the back brake MORE in routine situations, not less.
What is sometimes called "trail braking" in a high speed racing situation is also useful for the street rider in routine manuvers. For instance, if you realize you are going into a corner just a little too hot, first you need to lean a bit more but you can also drag the rear brake a bit to slow just slightly and do it more smoothly than chopping the throttle........which can cause an abrupt change in speed and make bad things happen.

[Easy Rider]

Nor have I see anyone else with that positioning.

You need to look closer. I'll bet you will find a LOT. :)

After seeing your picture, however, I see part of the reason for the difference.
When you are working with a FLOORBOARD, it is a vastly different situation than if you have a peg......which is stock in most situations.

I can see how it would be almost impossible to get the pedal below your toe with a floorboard "in the way" so to speak.

AND I can see why, if you have more than one bike and they are different, that you would want them both to be set pretty much the same. As is often the case, there is no single "right".

I wonder what the "experts" have to say about this ???
Somebody with a book..........???

[Sarris]

If you closely at the photo I posted, you'll both notice that the pedal will contact the floorboard long before it could be positioned below my boot. Since Ive ridden HD most of my riding life, that is the pedal position I'm (and most HD riders) are accustomed to. Since I ride mostly with HD riders, the above the toes position is what I see.

I also did have to adjust the pedal on my GeeZer, but have left in the position I described, above my toes.

:)

EDIT: ER posted the above just seconds before this post.

[bonehead]

How about "personal preference". Will that work?

[alantf]

Just went to http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/street ... index.html (http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/streetsurvival/adjusting_your_bike/index.html)

Part of it says ............If you have to lift your foot to use the brake, as is the case on too many floorboard-equipped bikes, something is wrong (including priorities back at the factory).............

[Sarris]

How about "personal preference". Will that work?

Obviously not for Alantf.

:whistle:

[alantf]

How about "personal preference". Will that work?

Obviously not for Alantf.

:whistle:

Just quoting someone who appears to be more knowledgeable than either of us. Or don't you like impartial information?

After all, didn't easy just say " I wonder what the "experts" have to say about this???"

[Sarris]

I love impartial input. Now if YOU could just give some............. :twisted:

[alantf]

I love impartial input. Now if YOU could just give some............. :twisted:

I thought that's what I'd just done, by quoting an independent source. How about you putting up an INDEPENDENT source for your point of view. :mad:

[Sarris]

Look man, I don't have the time or interest in continuing this pissing match. HD sells a couple of hundred thousand baggers with floorboards yearly. All of them with the brake pedal as I have indicated. That's all the expert input I need. Do you purport to know more than them? I don't think so. My bike, my preferences. As far as I'm concerned, to each their own.

I'm done. Have a great day.

:tup:

[Viirin]

Oh man - look what I started haha

so would it be fair to say it isn't right or wrong? - I've never tried riding with the brake below my boot - maybe i'll try it...but i am pretty used to it being above

[bonehead]

I have to LIFT my foot off my gas pedal to hit the brake in my truck, so what's the diff with floor boards on a bike? Just sayin'.

[alantf]

I have to LIFT my foot off my gas pedal to hit the brake in my truck, so what's the diff with floor boards on a bike? Just sayin'.

You don't have to pull your foot out from under the brake pedal, just slide it across. That's the difference. :)

[Water Warrior 2]

Woohoo, you started a good one. So here's my take on brakes and assorted feet. Do what works best for you. Experiment with pedal heights, positions and easy of operation with or without pegs instead of floorboards and visa versa. That is one of the reasons the pedal, shifters and hand controls are adjustable. You can make a bike fit you for your best comfort level and ease of operation. Different length legs, boot size, boot width all play a part in the final fit.
And always remember, any adjustment is not permanent. You can always go back if you want.

[patrick_777]

Guys, I think you're missing an important piece of information in Sarris' picture. He's using FLOORBOARDS. With floorboards on a bike, it's perfectly acceptable to have the brake pedal sitting above your toes. It would in fact, be impossible to have it below your toes and successfully USE the floorboards for their built purpose.

If you're riding with PEGS though (like the GZ and a most other bikes) then you have a pivot point right in the middle of your foot. This is why a brake pedal on a pegged bike needs to be BELOW your toe, and why you can adjust it up and down with ease. The peg allows you to pivot your foot down onto the pedal, something you couldn't do on a floorboard. If on a pegged bike, you find yourself riding the rear brake, then adjust the pedal down to where you're not.

[patrick_777]

And it appears that I inadvertently stated the exact same thing Easy said earlier.

Crazy how this works.

[Easy Rider]

I love impartial input. Now if YOU could just give some............. :twisted:

I thought that's what I'd just done, by quoting an independent source. How about you putting up an INDEPENDENT source for your point of view. :mad:

Down boys.....DOWN. :skull:

What you quoted wasn't QUITE what I had in mind.....this is berating the basic design of a bike with floor boards. If you think about it for just a bit......and look at the picture that Sarris posted......I think you will see that there just isn't any other practical choice.

I fully agree that it isn't the BEST setup but, under the circumstances, it is the ONLY one that works.

What I was interested in is an opinion about which is best when you actually have a choice in the matter.......without completely re-designing the bike. I'm pretty sure that I know the answer; it was the first part of what you quoted.

[Sarris]

There is only one position!! The one that fits your leg/foot for maximum comfort and ease of operation. Adjust the pedal for your fit and ride knowing the pedal is right where you can find it at a moments notice. The factory picks a standard position for ease of assembly to save time. Each rider fits a little different. The better the bike fits the better you can ride and enjoy the bike.

:plus1: :plus1: :plus1: :plus1:

[ArizonaKev]

Wow, I hate to jump into such a fray (well, not really, otherwise I wouldn't right?) but I thought I would put my 2 cents in.

I personally believe that whatever a person is most comfortable with, whatever "feels" right to them and comes most naturally, is what should dictate where the lever is positioned. I really don't care what one site says or what another says about the "right" positioning of it : fact is, in a panic situation, every person is going to go with what they know, their gut instinct, and do that before their brain really has time to process what they are doing.

I, for example, have my brake pedal positioned a little above my toe, and whenever I think to apply my rear brake, I instinctively lift my foot a little - that's just what I do. If I were to change the positioning because of what somebody else thought was the correct way, and to get in a panic braking situation, I am sure that I would instinctively lift my foot a little, thereby losing valuable braking time, and probably eating it hard.

By the same token, if someone is much more comfortable with the pedal just below their foot, and their instinct is to push their foot immediately down upon braking, by all means, they should keep it that way. We have to remember that the front brake SHOULD be the same for every bike (of course, there are probably some old 'suicide brakes' out there too), and as has been said, that is the primary stopping brake anyway.

It's just like driving a car in my opinion : all the books say that driving with your hands in the 10 and 2 position is THE correct way to hold the wheel when you drive - but how many of us can honestly say we do that? We do what is comfortable and instinctive for us, right? I think it should be the same with a bike : as long as what the person is doing does not fall completely out of the range of sensibility, I think the best advice is to do what "feels right". Again, just my opinion, and I won't defend it, because personally, I don't care where people position their brake levers as long is it works for them.

:2tup:

AZ Kev