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Old School BMX 1980 - 1988 => Old School Freestyle (frame stands and kickturns galore!) => Topic started by: loosenut on July 20, 2005, 12:20 AM

Title: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: loosenut on July 20, 2005, 12:20 AM
While this may be the most boring poll ever, this question has always been a mystery to me!

I run my back brake lever on the left, a habit i haven't been able to kick since having my raleigh budgie back in 1977.

i always assumed having the lever on the other side was some kind of american copycat fashion thing, the old school equivalent of wearing womens jeans perhaps.

so whats yr preference (and why?)
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: JAY on July 20, 2005, 12:26 AM
Right for me , don,t know why.Its not a natural thing because when i look at old photos from the early 80's i had the rear on the left. ??? :-\
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: billstup on July 20, 2005, 12:44 AM
Left for me, only because I had it that way bitd, in fact I had to look at a few pics just so I could set up my first ride after 20 years :-[
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: missfitsat101 on July 20, 2005, 12:59 AM
on the right for me as i just like it that way  is it wrong do i need help :'(
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Dollarbill on July 20, 2005, 07:57 AM
Left for me, don't know why, just the way it's always been? :-\
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: QUADROPHENIA on July 20, 2005, 09:56 AM


left
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: TrickyDicky on July 20, 2005, 09:59 AM
On the left for me.  Hasn't it always been that way?  Don't remember anything different BITD  ???
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: oberonspacefruit on July 20, 2005, 10:34 AM
i used to run it on the right, so yo could pull it harder with your right hand and do big skids. then orb told me off and now i run it on the left. which is better for attempting rock walk.
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: dordymush on July 20, 2005, 10:56 AM
i had mine on the right hand side.mind im left handed does that make a difference  ???.
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: oberonspacefruit on July 20, 2005, 10:58 AM
left handed children where often killed at birth. consider yourself lucky. :'(
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: The-flying-banana on July 20, 2005, 11:12 AM
I run two brakes and its on the left for me as always  :) I dont wanna confuse my mellon man :o
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: tailwhip540gimp on July 20, 2005, 11:31 AM
1 finger braking on the left
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Moose on July 20, 2005, 11:40 AM
I run mine on the right, I've looked at pictures of my old BMX's when I was a kid and these were also on the right. I remember experimenting back then, changing sides, but the only photo's I have show on the right.

This is particularly strange as my mountain bike is on the left :-\
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: bmxmatt1974 on July 20, 2005, 12:21 PM
just to be awkward i have the brake on my new school on right and old school on left-how i used to have it bitd.
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: puss in boots on July 20, 2005, 01:08 PM
 ???  :o i thought this thread was about brake levers, but it is starting to look more like a trouser thing  :o  ;)  "which way do you hang!!!" :D   :-X
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: ORB on July 20, 2005, 01:40 PM
stay in your own forum woman, you would not understand....
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: musicmitch on July 20, 2005, 05:44 PM
Back brake on the left.I always have and I always used the 'R' from the word front to remind me that front goes right if that makes any sense??? Plus it's important when running two brakes you know which one is the front as it's easy to pull an unintentional endo and kiss concrete.. :D
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Zippy on July 20, 2005, 07:01 PM
On the Robinson Race bikes the back brake is on the right.
On the Haro's (Sport and Mirra) the back brake is on the left.
No science to it it's just that my right arm is the stronger one really. (please no jokes)
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: lazychubs on July 20, 2005, 07:49 PM
always run me rear brake on the left as i did a endo on mates bikes who had his set up wrong .and boy did that hurt
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: greentoad on July 20, 2005, 08:41 PM
I set them up so I can stop  ;D....levers at about 25 degrees down, same angle as I had on moto x.

I always have back on left and front on right from all the time spent on freestyle....one handed endo etc as my right hand is stronger (I'm right handed), plus from spending years doing moto x and riding m/cycles.

I also found it better to get around the bike as I would usually go clockwise when onto the front wheel, over bars etc, and nearly always lay it down on the left etc...so first brake on is the front when pulling it up.

I suppose also as most people are right handed, and when learning tricks I picked up that way.

Nb.....wheeled the road (200m+) some one handed (so right hand comes off, and left hand controls speed and stability), last night on the daughters cheap mountain bike (bought by N & Grandad) and hers is the same layout....
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: TwoBobRob on July 21, 2005, 12:56 AM
Gentlemen, interestingly enough it is (or was) the law. A bicycle had to have a front brake as a minimum and the lever had to be mounted on the right hand side. Coz most people are right-handed.....

For the record, I run my rear brake ont' left as I am indeed, lefthanded.  :)
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Dingobmxer on July 21, 2005, 07:24 AM
I run mine on the left, it always used to be the right untill I got my first motorbike & I had to change (because motorbikes have their front on the right)
The reason English bikes have theirs on the left is because we drive on the left, so when you make a right hand turn & signal with your right hand your left hand is covering the rear brake so if you panick brake you dont go over the bars, which is why I guess we all ran our back brake on the right bitd as our bikes were American?
 :) DINGO :)
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: OrgasmDonor on July 21, 2005, 12:22 PM
On the right im right handed so it makes sense, if your gonna do a one handed trick your gonna keep your strongest arm on the bike if possible, id have thought anyway,

Mr fruity its a bad habit usin brakes to rockwalk dude, stunts your growth and everything ;D
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: puss in boots on July 21, 2005, 04:17 PM
stay in your own forum woman, you would not understand....

 :o :-X
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: oberonspacefruit on July 21, 2005, 04:23 PM


Mr fruity its a bad habit usin brakes to rockwalk dude, stunts your growth and everything ;D
ah well , im big enough....
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: OrgasmDonor on July 21, 2005, 04:25 PM
ive heard that rumour
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Jazzchimp on July 21, 2005, 09:20 PM
Always two - back on the right, from the days when I ran just the back

Does that mean I swing both ways??
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: CD17 on July 22, 2005, 04:45 PM
Back Brake on the Right. This is the way Iv always had them.
Does not really matter to me tho, cos when I rode a motorbike & scooter, the front brake was on the Right, but you soon get used to it whatever way round they are.  :)

Chris
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: theRuler on July 27, 2005, 08:50 AM
i switched my brakes in 84 when i started doing trackstands, and needed the front brake on the left.

nowadays i still run the rear on the right - i'm right handed and need most strength on the rear brake hand. it makes sense.
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: black rat on July 27, 2005, 02:07 PM
Depends if running a single (rear) or a pair of brakes (f + r)...

RHS if just running a rear brake set up.

LHS if using both front and rear brakes.

Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Darkshadow on January 14, 2006, 10:55 AM
im not botherd
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: phantom photon on January 14, 2006, 11:23 AM
The left - always has been and always will be  :)
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Coastvl on January 15, 2006, 05:38 AM
I spose if you rode a motorbike as well you'd wanna make sure they were the same. High speed endo's aren't a lot of fun. been there done that. My rear brake has always been on the right.
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: RADHAB on January 15, 2006, 01:49 PM
i used to run it on the right, so yo could pull it harder with your right hand and do big skids. then orb told me off and now i run it on the left. which is better for attempting rock walk.

Why are you using brakes for Rockwalks????
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: jT Racing on January 15, 2006, 04:45 PM
left hand brake, right hand dog lead
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: woodzy on January 15, 2006, 09:52 PM
i ride back on the right and the front on the left its just how it come so i left it they way
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: Holmetech on January 15, 2006, 09:54 PM
Left for me as every bike i've had came like that from new,also i kickturn to the left and lock my rear brake while letting go with my right hand on one handers.
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: woodzy on January 15, 2006, 09:55 PM
woops left for back right for front  :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: wirewheel on January 17, 2006, 01:00 AM
rear right. no front these days, changed over 84 or around about then. never felt the need to change back, just to lose the front brake. does it matter?
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: theRuler on January 17, 2006, 09:23 AM
i switched my brakes in 1984 too.
the reason for this was trackstands - standing on the left side of the bike, and needed the front brake in the right place.
Title: Re: How do you have your brake levers set up???
Post by: sam hudson on January 18, 2006, 12:52 PM
Well,although i ride my 05 Ripper with rear on the right,looking back to ye olde days,my silver streak was a left rear set up and so was my Team burner and my firebird delta2.So things have changed.

Progress  ;D
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