Removing the rear brake...Is it safe?

[Suzukfan78]

Hi everyone...Im really tempted to remove the whole rear brake system on my 78' gs1000ec. If I get ss braided lines on the front, do you think it is safe? Ive heard that the rear brakes can contribute 30 percent stopping power, Im not into twistie riding that much and I would only need full stopping power in an emergency. And the thing is, it seems like I would lock up the back anyways which seems worse then not having back brakes at all. Another thing to consider is Ive removed a lot of weight already from the bike...Im guessing 50 pounds, more if I could remove the brake, wouldnt that make it an even safer mod?

[DanTheMan]

You need both brakes to stop and control the bike adequately. Attempting to stop on say, a gravel patch or soft surfaced road will cause a front wheel skid with the front brake only.......very dangerous! Do NOT remove the rear brake, don't disable any of the stopping power on your bike unless you want to become a statistic!

[madjack57754]

Why would you even want to run without a rear brake????

[beergood]

I gotta say, this sounds like a terrible idea.

I once had my brakes go out in my car. It was terrifying, and I was in a car.

I can't see any possible benefit from not having a rear brake. There are a ton of other ways to save weight that are better than removing a brake (I could stand to drop a couple pounds).

You do need it for proper handling, and stopping is definitely the kind of thing where you can stand a little redundancy.

[Unclesol]

Hi everyone...Im really tempted to remove the whole rear brake system on my 78' gs1000ec. If I get ss braided lines on the front, do you think it is safe? Ive heard that the rear brakes can contribute 30 percent stopping power, Im not into twistie riding that much and I would only need full stopping power in an emergency. And the thing is, it seems like I would lock up the back anyways which seems worse then not having back brakes at all. Another thing to consider is Ive removed a lot of weight already from the bike...Im guessing 50 pounds, more if I could remove the brake, wouldnt that make it an even safer mod?

It's not safe. It's ridiculous.

[Tarbash 27]

I tend to use my rear brakes alot on my bike. I actually only run rear brakes on my honda because Im too cheap to buy a new front brake cable. Plus its exempt from front brakes.

Removing the rear brakes is a very bad idea!

[jetta90]

Don't remove the rear brakes. This is not a good idea at all. Don't even go there.

[morthrane]

There's a reason why even full on track-only racebikes are required to keep a functional rear brake (despite many who would otherwise never use it)...

Learn to use your rear brake. Its a finesse tool, not a brute stopping tool.

[Suzukfan78]

Rear Brakes

I probably wont remove it, Its not just weight but rotational inertia from the disc I was getting at. The cast wheels are so freakin heavy for this bike it bothers me...Im just dreamin somehow shedding some of the unsprung weight on this bike. Isnt there anybody that still sells alloy or light weight wheels? Is it easy to convert back to the wire spoke design? And the chrome rear shocks weigh like 20lbs each it seems.... Is there a light weight option?

[drhach]

Rear brakes

Buy a new bike if you want to save weight. Barring that, there are many people who fit rims from newer machines. I've reidden unsafe death trap bikes. I don't recommend it and I feel fortunate to have survived my stupidity. The more brakes the better.

[Billyboy]

I didn't realize how much I used the rear until the MC blew.
I use it at stop lights all the time, and for slow, parking lot manouvereing.

The rear brake is unsprung weight that pays dividends. I'm ADDING another disc up front. I know it's extra weight, but it's worth it to gain the stopping power.

Edit: OH! I meant to say: Give your head a shake!

[jonesti]

Big believer in the "Use the rear to settle the chassis down" theory. Almost all my braking is from the front, however, using the rear definitely calms things down. Especially with these old pigs....meant with upmost respect!!!

[cberkeley]

Brakes = GOOD THING \\/
No Brakes = BAD THING
......Brakes is our friend :-D

[ScottMc1100L]

....and I would only need full stopping power in an emergency.

and I only hit the (pick a stationary object) once....

The stock front brakes on your bike are nothing to brag about in the first place(nor are any of mine) so why make them do even more work?

Rotational inertia? They are not that heavy. Stop overthinking this or you're gonna hurt yourself :razz:

Practice stopping from say 40-0 with both front and rear, then just the fronts. Every foot counts especially on two wheels!!

I didn't realize how much I used the rear until the MC blew.

Good point. You blow a line and you are in trouble. You are also potentially endangering other people :-? .

[Mike_H]

NO WAY...Besides, A disc weighs almost nothing compared to the cast aluminum wheel. A disc is very close to centerline, whereas a wheel's weight is moved far outboard. Your line of thinking can go something like this..."Well, Tires are heavy, and far outboard. How about I run my bike without tires?" That's idiotic, and we all know it. Running without brakes for the reason you quoted is just as dumb.