Many times I see rider who have a reluctance to use the rear brake, and I have even heard some riders say that they hardly ever use it preferring to rely on the front brake. 

Trust me, the rear brake is your best friend. It can be used at all times and is unlikely to cause the instability associated with the front brake. Overuse of the rear brake to the point of locking, unlike the front brake, will not cause the machine to collapse. In New Zealand, for emergency braking, the authorities advocate locking the rear brake for maximum effect, and then concentrate on adjusting the pressure of the front brake whilst literally skidding to a stop.  

I know some riders will point out that when braking hard it is possible to lift the rear wheel off the ground, but so what? It has to come down sometime. The rear brake gives you far better control at low speed; just ask around and see how many new riders have fallen off because they grabbed the front brake at an inappropriate time. The rear brake does not give the same result unless used excessively when cornering hard. The only problem is many advanced instructors advocated, to the point of obsession, that the machine must be held at rest with the right foot down, why? I would love someone to give me a sensible rational for this obsession. I can tell you why it is taught to the British Police, but that’s not a consideration for most riders. Please don’t tell me it’s to save the clutch, I tried that with an old boy who never uses neutral once he has moved off and he has never worn a clutch out. 

I teach that at times you are far better off coming to a stop with the left foot down and making full use of the rear brake. Yes I agree that an advanced rider should be planning far enough ahead to be able to bring the machine to a controlled stop, I wish traffic conditions are so changeable that I am frequently forced to stop in a hurry. Just try dealing with traffic lights on a dual carriageway with acceleration sense. 

I believe that the rear brake should always be covered during all low speed manoeuvring. Its use, combined with the clutch, will give accurate and reliable machine control its friendly than the front brake, which I often refer to as the Phil Mitchell of bike controls, when you need to kick down a door, use him but don't invite him to an 18th party as he will end up breaking it up.  

On motorcycles with linked braking there is often a valve that will sense braking effort and disconnect the front brake at lower speeds.The rear brake is also my favoured way of slowing a bike should you need to through a bend; it will settle the machine without causing instability in fact it will settle a machine, with inherent instability, as anyone who rode the old BMW 800 at speed will testify. Just try using it though some roundabouts or bends and realise what a friendly thing it is.

Make friends with your rear brake, have it handy so that it fits under the foot and is operated by the ankle joint rather than the leg. Don’t forget if you do adjust it, get the rear brake light to operate before the brake comes on, so that you have a signalling device. Use it for slowing or stopping but remember if someone is coming to break up your party big old Phil Mitchell is only a fingers throw away. 

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