I did it back in the 80's for shits and giggles once and a while. It seemed to pull the bike down a little.
It works good like the OP said on tight courses such as AX.
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My thoughts was if I was looping out why not? Never have had to do it in 30 years.
It's the weirdest sensation. It drops the front but it also disorients the bike. Like completely changes the direction of momentum you have. It feels like you're washing out in the air...don't do it.
The first time I used my front brake in the air was the last time I used my front brake in the air.
Losing that gyroscopic effect will pose a grave detriment to your health.
A LONG time ago i use to front brake tap to get the front end down because i had a issue with stalling it using the rear. But yes very tight corners right before i land ill hit the front. Never had it do anything weird. Now if i was crossed up or sideways for any reason yeah that might be a different story.
I ride offroad. What's this "air" you speak of?
"A link is only as long as your longest strong chain"
No but one time my front wheel locked up in the air over a double and I almost ate shit. Definitely feels like you’re washing out in mid air. Not fun.
My right ankle has limited movement. I am guilty of using the front brake or even pulling the clutch at times to drop the front. Only crashed once when I landed with brake still on. Guess I suck at riding then
na man, that's why i bought this huge-ass front rotor, bruh. its a 3 piston brembo off ebay, i think it was off a ducati, i used my dremel and made it work, but not in the air, it has a regulator.
I cover my brake with my index finger, and I tapped it on accident during a race while old-man-scrubbing a small jump and got concussed into the next week when the bike gyrated to the side. I'm super careful now not to do that
I specifically remember using front brake in the air at Frozen Ocean at a regional qualifier. There was a series of 7 jumps I was going 2-3-2 on an 80. Over the middle huck, I'd hit the front brake to drop the front quickly. Worked very well. Rear brake didn't work as effectively. There have been other times, but that stands out to me.
Never done it, but I can see how it would disorient the bike with the gyroscopic effect of the front tire spinning.
I could wheelie a mountain bike easily up until the front tire stops spinning and then it would get sloppy from there. And that’s a lot less mass rotating
I saw Doug domokos do it one time while doing his patented wheelies, he flopped over to the left or maybe it was the right. Think I'll do a poll on that
2 Stroke, Drum Brakes, Finned Cylinders!!!
Did it once, wheel was slightly turned and It pulled the bike awkwardly; first and last time to try that.
I cover mine pretty often and land with it on when it's a benefit to brake down the backside of a landing.
You really have to be comfortable with the modulation and setup of your front brake, fork setup and tire pressure to get away with it consistently. Most of the time when I'm landing with the front brake I start with very little and feed in more brake as I roll down the landing ramp. In those situations the bike is leaned over to initiate the corner, almost like I started the arc of the turn coming up the takeoff ramp.
As for covering the brake, I do that all the time. A friend saw us on a photographer's social media from the local track and she sent me a link to the pics. See the second pic: Kele Russell is in the air behind me. My rear wheel just touched dirt, I'm full throttle with a finger on the brake & clutch ready for a 180° left hand corner. Speaking of brake modulation, that's a Honda brake on my YZ...
10-4 on that. I wasn't super clear, when I said I'm careful "not to do that" I meant squeezing it inadvertently in the air. I have to think real hard about not covering either lever with my index fingers. Sick photos btw.
Ok, that makes more sense when I re-read your other post.
I can't imagine not covering the controls, but I can understand how a lot of guys aren't comfortable braking down the backsides of jumps. I still remember the first time I figured it out. I was at Perris Raceway in about 2008 and wanted to hit this steep triple, but still catch the inside line. I figured out the timing on a Friday practice and that move won the race on Saturday night.
I few years later put an easy step-down in my home track that requires the move to catch a flat inside line.
The photographer did a nice job on all his stuff, thanks. I need to get in touch with him, there's one in a rutted corner that I want to buy.
to help you set up for a tight immediate corner? It works! Good luck.