This is the question. I need some help on making the decision of either keeping the front brake, or taking it off. I have an 8" rotor on a fork that doesn't have a thru-axle, so it clangs and rings a lot on the caliper pads when I jump since the rim and fork aren't totally play-free. I use my front brake a fair amount with doing little endos and whatnot, so I'm still not sure. Any advantages/disadvantages to having a front brake? Think I should take 'er off? The help of fellow DJMonkies is greatly appreciated :love:
I've taken mine off before and keep putting it back on. I just hate, HATE skidding my tire on the ground at the jumps when I only have one brake. Maybe you could just get a smaller rotor and adapter so it won't ping and make noise anymore...
I just took my front brake off (I don't know why, so I could feel cooler maybe) and I'll be putting it back on soon. I personally hate skidding on jumps and I don't do a lot of barspins, so I want my front brake back.
Disc brakes are even any over kill for jumping. I say ditch the front brake if jumping is all you use the bike for, and get a 6" rotor in the rear. What kind of bike are you running?
6" rotors should solve all of your issues except bar sping but longer hoses if set-up well should solve that. also .243 make a starnut you putthe line through that would let you barspin again
Oh, I can barspin just fine, my cables don't interfere. I put my 6" rotors back on. I won a set of Hayes' El Caminos from a contest Hayes was doing about a month or so ago, and they came with 8" rotors, so I put them on. Now I've got the hydros still, but with 6" rotors. Perfecto! Also, you can check out my bike here
I haven't been running a front brake for almost a year now. I like it. You can still do endo's or better yet nose-picks...just learn how to jam your foot between the tire and the fork arch.
I've been front brakeless for a couple years now. I tried one time to put it back on the front and I hated it, seemed cumbersome and all in the way. Foot jams are fun. I use this bike for primarily street so it works good.
ive been getting used to no front brake. foot jams work well especially with manitou reverse arch forks. got the bike down to 30lbs.
Here's a bigger pic of my bike, but it's a little outdated. I have the El Camino hydraulics (with same rotors though) the Maxxis Holy Roller tires, and a new seat since that picture was taken. Hopefully I'll get a newer pic soon.
listen to the man, i was a dedicated front brake rider for a loooooong time, then i took it off (because i had bleeding issues) went up to Rays indoor park and rode pretty much everything without it. IMO the only reason to have a front brake on a dj/park setup is if you do alot of trials type moves, or use the bike as an all arounder where you get into steepish woods riding.
what about skidding all over the place? you do that, your jack up the trail... skidding up the face(lip). boo! i'd say wait till you get used to commiting. unless you're alredy throwing barspins or your lever is getting caught up in your cargos when you're bustin those turndowns.
No front brake, unless you absolutely cant live without it. take a look at most BMX bikes...they dont even have bosses on the forks most of the time. its someting to get used to, but think of it as its one less thing to rely on when riding. Personally, for skateparks & street etc, i usually prefer to ride brakeless, as long as it isnt overly crowded. Alot of people argue that its stupid, but after trying it for awile, its not that bad at all, and you learn (quickly) how to adjust speed to not overshoot and crash horrifically. Trails, though, id rather have the rear brake.
Can you backwheelhop? Do you want to? Do you do urban or park on this bike too? If you answered no to all of these, then just run a front brake and no back. Sure it's unique, but it's smarter too.
I personally like running front brakeless, just because it is less to deal with and it teaches you to be a better rider. It also isnt really neccicary for street/dj