UK vs US brake differences.

[Jerseymike]

Can anyone explained to me why we from the UK have the brakes set up properly like a motorcycle and elsewhere they have it set up wrong?

 

[hollister]

It's saves your already taxed brain from having to remember what lever to pull

I'd go deeper into it and explain the difference between using your foot vs hand to brake, but I'm guessing that's beyond you

 

[dyna-ti]

Right hand is front in the UK isnt it :? I always forget

 

[Jerseymike]

Right hand is front in the UK isnt it :? I always forget

Yup. I'm used to having the front brake on my right hand but the bikes here in Canada are the other way round.

I just picked up a couple of bikes here and had to swap the cables round before I killed myself.

I was just wondering if there was a reason for it? Or how it come about? Surely can't have anything to do with side of the road we drive on in different countries?

 

[ez054098]

Right hand is front in the UK isnt it :? I always forget

I never knew that

 

[T'boo Ted]

front brake should be on the left, thats the proper way.

I believe the reason is (and there have been a zillion htreads on this) is that you are supposed to use the inside arm (the one closest to the centre line of the road) to do hand/arm signals and so the rear brake is set up for the other arm...so left rear for right hand drive contries and the other way around for the left hand drive countries (of course I run it backwards, as I'm just better)

 

[Russell]

I run rear on the right, I live in't UK.

There is no right or wrong.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

It's revenge for British motorbikes having gears on the wrong side until the 1980s.

 

[RobMac]

I have the front brake lever operated by my strongest hand (right).

 

[RobMac]

What brake has the most effect at stopping a bike, front or rear?