Which right is right??

[KXcam22]

A topic for discussion.  Probably almost every dirtbiker rides a mountain bike or bicycle. Since I spend much more time on a dirtbike, I always swap the right bicycle brake to the left so that the right is the front brake (as it should be) and not the rear brake.  Over the years I have tried to talk my riding friends into doing this but they all insist that they can tell them apart (I think they're also hinting I'm a little lacking upstairs).  Instead I have seen some unecessary injuries and a few needlesly scuffed up streetbikes.  Tonight, I just got home from visiting one of them in the hospital with a nice steel rod pounded down his femur to keep it together.  Yuk!  I got to say "I told you so" but it wasn't as rewarding as I'd hoped.  Was a typical story, spending far more time on the mountain bike then going for a dirtbike ride, getting out of shape at speed, panicing and grabbing a big right handfull of (bicycle) back brake!!  A co-worker of mine broke his collarbone a month ago the same way. A heavy mountain biker but new to dirtbikes, he also discovered his KTM450 rear brake is not on the right handle bar.  I guess my point is that guys who are more used to the bicycle brake layout often react wrongly in a panic situation.  For me and my family I swap em', although for me it's mostly to avoid hurting myself on my mountain bike.  Then no worries.  Cam.

PS no matter how hard I stomp on the pedal my mountain bike rear brake just won't work........

[John]

I guess I am also damaged gods.    I switch the brakes on my bicycles as well. It's just nasty to brake the rear wheel with your right hand.

[demographic]

Every pushbike I have ridden over here has had the front brake on the right (same as a motorbike) side.

Do they put them on the other side in the US

Thats crap isn't it.

[alan]

Yep I swapped mine the day I got my bike. I have never understood the Dumbassed logic of the manufactures putting the hand brakes in that position anyway! What's up with that!!!  " You Idiot Stempy"

[metallicarebal]

I also am religious with changing my rear brake to the left side and vice-versa on my bicycle. I thought I was the only one that did that . Just a freaky tid bit, I used to be good buddies with a guy that had only one arm, and he rode bmx. Yes, you read that correct, he had one arm and he rode bmx. He had both of his brake handles on the left side on his bicycle, and he also rode a blaster which had the clutch and the front brake both on the left side and had a custom made left hand throttle on the left. So he used the clutch, throttle, and front brakes all with his left (only) hand! To see him ride was just incredible.  

[Timbowe]

Must be just a U.S. thang! My bikes have allways been same as me motorised type. Good thing too for that particular reason! YEEEOWW.

[5dracing]

I too change my brake levers around on all my human powered bikes.

[John]

How many HP's do you have on your bikes (Human Powers). I think I have around 60                                              %.

//John

[alan]

I was talking with my son-in-law today. He had his a bike shop in Dallas and rides both road and mountain bike races competitively. He said that brake lever positions same are all over the world they are right rear and left front. Also said he was always being ask to switch  them around for his customers when he was in the business.  I am wondering which came first hand brakes on bicycle or motorcycle hand brakes.

[demographic]

I was talking with my son-in-law today. He had his a bike shop in Dallas and rides both road and mountain bike races competitively. He said that brake lever positions same are all over the world they are right rear and left front. Also said he was always being ask to switch  them around for his customers when he was in the business.  I am wondering which came first hand brakes on bicycle or motorcycle hand brakes.

Errrrrrr, not trying to be funny but he is wrong.

Over here (the UK) we have the sense to mount the front brake on the right (and the same on a motorbike) side.

But we also ride on the correct side of the road

[John]

Oi!

I have bought 3-4 bikes here in the UK and I have changed over brakes... Argos cr*p...

//John

[demographic]

Weird, I have had loads of pushbikes and they have always had the front brake on the right (same as motorbikes)

[Timbowe]

Gota agree with ya there Demo! Never ridden a pushy with the front brake on the wrong side. Now on my 7th decent mtb.

[FuriouSly]

Hmmm... I must be confused about this topic.  So overseas from the US, most BMX/MTB have the rear brake lever on the left side?  Why would there be a difference of position depending on where you live?

I have ridden BMX bikes since I was 5 Y/O.  I raced BMX for a time until a serious injury.  I also rode MTB's for awhile.  They have always had the rear brake on the right side.  I have also ridden motorcycles since I was 7 Y/O.  I personally have never had a problem switching between the two.

Remember the bicycles that had the foot brake where you just pushed back on the crank and it engaged the brake?  I guess since I was dominant right footed that I always used my right foot to brake.  So when my bikes went to rear caliper type brakes it only made sense to stay dominant right side.  Maybe its more of a right/left dominant thing?  I rode motorcycles and bicycles at the some time with opposite mounted levers and never thought about it until this topic.  Very interesting.

Sly

[Timbowe]

Hey Alan what about the old brit bikes? My old Norton had the gear lever on the right hand side and the rear brake on the left. The gears are 1 up and the rest down. Made for interesting times specially at the track where sometimes I'd race my mates Dunstall Norton in one race then swap back to the Ducati for the next race. That first corner was allways a bit of a worry to make sure I had the right pedal be activated. In an emergengy I would just pull and push everything I could get me fingers round or toes on.