USA - Front brake = left hand?

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Date: 24 Sep 2007 22:39:05
From: Jon_C
Subject: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
left lever applies the front brake.
Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
motorbike with the front brake on the right??

Date: 25 Sep 2007 20:32:49
From: Michael Press
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

In article
<1190673545.977498.181760@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com >
,
Jon_C <JonCCrouch@gmail.com > wrote:

> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> left lever applies the front brake.
> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> motorbike with the front brake on the right??

Not all. Mine are in the USA and the right lever
operates the front brake.

--
Michael Press

Date: 25 Sep 2007 22:06:37
From: Jon_C
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Sep 25, 5:51 pm, Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net > wrote:
> In article <1190731386.740727.279...@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com>,
>
>
>
>
>
> Jon_C <JonCCro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sep 25, 10:38 am, Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net> wrote:
> > > In article <1190673545.977498.181...@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
>
> > > Jon_C <JonCCro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my
> > > > surprise, half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that
> > > > squeezing the left lever applies the front brake.
>
> > > Yup. We also drive on the right hand side of the road. The two
> > > things are related. However, there are quite a few US cyclists who
> > > use the right lever for the front brake.
>
> > > > Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride
> > > > a motorbike with the front brake on the right??
>
> > > Most of us don't ride motorbikes. However, for those that do, the
> > > transition is easy enough.
>
> > So the idea is to keep a hand on the back brake while signalling?
>
> Well, the idea is for novices to use the back brake while signaling with
> their left hands- and vice versa for places where they drive on the
> left. The fear- irrational as it is- is that cyclist will be ass over
> teakettle over the bars if the touch the front brake while riding
> one-handed.
> - Show quoted text -

I'm not sure that's such a great idea. If your braking gently I'd say
it doesn't matter which brake you use one-handed and hitting either
brake hard while one-handed will likely throw you off unless you can
keep your weight off the bars.
Personally I prefer to keep a hand near the front brake and then if I
have to hit the brakes hard I'll put my other hand on the bars first.

Date: 25 Sep 2007 21:52:28
From: Jon_C
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Sep 25, 1:04 pm, "Tom Nakashima" <t...@slac.stanford.edu > wrote:
>
> When I rode my 1970 BMW R75/5 years ago, I had the front brake on the
> right side, as many motorcyclist here in the U.S. referred to it as the
> European
> brake set-up, and the front brake on the left side, the American Brake
> set-up ...

So in the US the clutch and brake/throttle switched sides at some
point? I used to own a Jawa (from Eastern Europe) which had the gear
shift on the right foot and that took some getting used to, but
accidental downshifts must be nothing compared to hitting the clutch
instead of the front brake.

On Sep 25, 5:36 pm, vey <jun...@ericvey.com > wrote:
> Tom Nakashima wrote:
>
> As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
>
> > motorcycle.
>
> Try working the shift lever in a car with your left hand. That can be
> harder to get used to than driving on the other side of the road.

At least the pedals are the same way round.

Date: 25 Sep 2007 21:48:01
From: Chalo
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Jon_C wrote:
>
> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> left lever applies the front brake.
> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> motorbike with the front brake on the right??

If my motorbike felt more like a bicycle, I suppose I would find it
confusing. But I've never used the wrong lever in an emergency. The
only thing that changed for me once I began motorcycling was that
afterwards I picked up the habit of using a bicycle's rear brake along
with the front, when I usually only used the front brake before.

Chalo

Date: 25 Sep 2007 13:07:01
From:
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Sep 24, 4:39 pm, Jon_C <JonCCro...@gmail.com > wrote:
> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> left lever applies the front brake.
> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> motorbike with the front brake on the right??

Dear Jon,

Front brake on the left for bicycles is pretty much standard in the
U.S.

I never had any trouble shifting back and forth between a road bicycle
and an off-road motorcycle. In fact, the real problem was changing
between motorcycles that had the gearshift and rear brake reversed, or
with reversed gearshift patterns.

All sorts of theories abound concerning why one side would be better
than the other for the front brake, but old bicycles mounted their
front spoon brake lever on the right:

An 1886 right-hand front spoon brake:

http://www.eriding.net/media/photos/transport/vintage_bikes/040930_cbr_mp_his_trans_vb_531.jpg

Ditto:

http://www.eriding.net/media/photos/transport/vintage_bikes/040930_amoore_mp_his_trans_vb_013.jpg

New-fangled 1889 safety:

http://www.eriding.net/media/photos/transport/vintage_bikes/040930_cbr_mp_his_trans_vb_576.jpg

Four new-fangled 1893 bicycles, all right-hand brakes:

http://woment.mur.at/images/GrazerDamenBicycleClub.jpg

The spoon front brakes on the hard-tired bikes in this gallery all use
right-hand levers:

http://www.thewheelmen.org/sections/photographs/hardtired/hardtired1.asp

Even this one:

http://www.thewheelmen.org/sections/photographs/hardtired/regviews/hardtired15v.jpg

At first glance, it looks as if the front spoon brake lever is on the
left! But so is the chain, and so are the buttons on the fronts of the
men's coats, so it's probably a reversed photograph--even the bell on
the tall fellow's handlebar is on the wrong side.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Date: 25 Sep 2007 14:43:06
From: Jon_C
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Sep 25, 10:38 am, Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net > wrote:
> In article <1190673545.977498.181...@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
>
> Jon_C <JonCCro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> > half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> > left lever applies the front brake.
>
> Yup. We also drive on the right hand side of the road. The two things
> are related. However, there are quite a few US cyclists who use the
> right lever for the front brake.
>
> > Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> > motorbike with the front brake on the right??
>
> Most of us don't ride motorbikes. However, for those that do, the
> transition is easy enough.

So the idea is to keep a hand on the back brake while signalling?

Date: 25 Sep 2007 16:51:51
From: Tim McNamara
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

In article <1190731386.740727.279850@19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com >,
Jon_C <JonCCrouch@gmail.com > wrote:

> On Sep 25, 10:38 am, Tim McNamara <tim...@bitstream.net> wrote:
> > In article <1190673545.977498.181...@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
> >
> > Jon_C <JonCCro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my
> > > surprise, half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that
> > > squeezing the left lever applies the front brake.
> >
> > Yup. We also drive on the right hand side of the road. The two
> > things are related. However, there are quite a few US cyclists who
> > use the right lever for the front brake.
> >
> > > Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride
> > > a motorbike with the front brake on the right??
> >
> > Most of us don't ride motorbikes. However, for those that do, the
> > transition is easy enough.
>
> So the idea is to keep a hand on the back brake while signalling?

Well, the idea is for novices to use the back brake while signaling with
their left hands- and vice versa for places where they drive on the
left. The fear- irrational as it is- is that cyclist will be ass over
teakettle over the bars if the touch the front brake while riding
one-handed. Cyclo-crossers usually have a right-front/left-rear
arrangement because of the dismount technique.

Many experienced cyclists prefer to have the front brake controlled by
their dominant hand. As a guitarist for nearly 30 years, my left hand
is actually slightly larger and easily as strong as my right hand, so
I've never bothered to switch even when I was racing 'cross.

Date: 25 Sep 2007 09:38:45
From: Tim McNamara
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

In article <1190673545.977498.181760@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com >,
Jon_C <JonCCrouch@gmail.com > wrote:

> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> left lever applies the front brake.

Yup. We also drive on the right hand side of the road. The two things
are related. However, there are quite a few US cyclists who use the
right lever for the front brake.

> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> motorbike with the front brake on the right??

Most of us don't ride motorbikes. However, for those that do, the
transition is easy enough.

Date: 25 Sep 2007 06:30:37
From: Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Date: 25 Sep 2007 16:24:49
From:
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

I believe the front-left came about in the early days of my bicycling
when the old saw that the front brake was dangerous was paramount,
Americans being mostly used to New Departure and Bendix rear wheel hub
brakes. For that reason the right handed folk decided that the front
brake should be banished to the weaker, less skilled hand and there it
stayed.

Being a motorcyclist, I chose to have the front brake on the right
because my British motorcycle was out of service often enough that I
had to bicycle to the parts store and elsewhere. Switching back and
forth, left and right, was not logical to me at the time.

In countries where front and rear hand brakes were always the norm,
where people rode in the mountains, the front-right was more popular.

Jobst Brandt

Date: 25 Sep 2007 10:04:43
From: Tom Nakashima
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

<jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org > wrote in message
news:46f93651$0$14130$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...

> Being a motorcyclist, I chose to have the front brake on the right
> because my British motorcycle was out of service often enough that I
> had to bicycle to the parts store and elsewhere. Switching back and
> forth, left and right, was not logical to me at the time.
>
> In countries where front and rear hand brakes were always the norm,
> where people rode in the mountains, the front-right was more popular.
>
> Jobst Brandt

When I rode my 1970 BMW R75/5 years ago, I had the front brake on the
right side, as many motorcyclist here in the U.S. referred to it as the
European
brake set-up, and the front brake on the left side, the American Brake
set-up or
short; European brakes / American Brakes.

I always thought for braking in the mountains, using the engine's
compression
the better choice? As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
motorcycle.

For a bicycle, I like the left side front brake because of a longer cable.
Guess for tall frames it doesn't matter.
-tom

Date: 25 Sep 2007 17:36:30
From: vey
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Tom Nakashima wrote:
As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
> motorcycle.

Try working the shift lever in a car with your left hand. That can be
harder to get used to than driving on the other side of the road.

Date: 26 Sep 2007 06:40:00
From: Tom Nakashima
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Date: 26 Sep 2007 06:35:26
From: Tom Nakashima
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"vey" <junker@ericvey.com > wrote in message
news:fdbuql$vhq$1@news.datemas.de...
> Tom Nakashima wrote:
> As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
>> motorcycle.
>
> Try working the shift lever in a car with your left hand. That can be
> harder to get used to than driving on the other side of the road.

lol....I once had a BSA Goldstar, more confusing than British shifting and
the above was figuring out the Lucas electronics system.

The British had some jewels however;
British Spitfire
Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II
1965 Triumph Bonneville 650
1962 XKE Jaguar
the Beatles
Actor Robert Shaw; "ya know the worst thing about a shark Chief?... the
eyes, the black eyes Chief"
-tom

Date: 26 Sep 2007 00:17:49
From: Clive George
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Date: 25 Sep 2007 19:31:14
From: vey
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Clive George wrote:
> "vey" <junker@ericvey.com> wrote in message
> news:fdbuql$vhq$1@news.datemas.de...
>> Tom Nakashima wrote:
>> As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
>>> motorcycle.
>>
>> Try working the shift lever in a car with your left hand. That can be
>> harder to get used to than driving on the other side of the road.
>
> Ah - that game, changing gears with the window winder (BTDT).
>
> Yes, it's definitely harder driving a hired LHD car than ones own RHD
> one on the continent. But not so much as to be awful.
>
> cheers,
> clive
>
>

Not awful enough for you? Well, how about trying to judge the distance
from "the other side" when in a car park and pulling into a space? Oops,
punched out a turn signal light, no problem until you see the bill for
100(!) pounds. That should be awful enough for you.

Date: 26 Sep 2007 00:43:32
From: Clive George
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"vey" <junker@ericvey.com > wrote in message
news:fdc5hq$ltb$1@news.datemas.de...
> Clive George wrote:
>> "vey" <junker@ericvey.com> wrote in message
>> news:fdbuql$vhq$1@news.datemas.de...
>>> Tom Nakashima wrote:
>>> As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
>>>> motorcycle.
>>>
>>> Try working the shift lever in a car with your left hand. That can be
>>> harder to get used to than driving on the other side of the road.
>>
>> Ah - that game, changing gears with the window winder (BTDT).
>>
>> Yes, it's definitely harder driving a hired LHD car than ones own RHD one
>> on the continent. But not so much as to be awful.
>
> Not awful enough for you? Well, how about trying to judge the distance
> from "the other side" when in a car park and pulling into a space? Oops,
> punched out a turn signal light, no problem until you see the bill for
> 100(!) pounds. That should be awful enough for you.

Is that the voice of experience speaking? Silly man :-) No, I don't have
problems hitting things when driving - I take suitable extra care when I'm
in a strange car/country. Norway on ice is the most fun.

(of course if it's UK/US, it's probably not helped by the way we've got
smaller parking spaces too AIUI).

cheers,
clive

Date: 25 Sep 2007 20:05:35
From: vey
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Clive George wrote:

>
> Is that the voice of experience speaking? Silly man :-)

Yes it is.

> (of course if it's UK/US, it's probably not helped by the way we've got
> smaller parking spaces too AIUI).

Do tell. I didn't have that trouble in other Commonwealth countries.

Date: 26 Sep 2007 01:07:22
From: Clive George
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"vey" <junker@ericvey.com > wrote in message
news:fdc7i6$n9$1@news.datemas.de...
> Clive George wrote:
>
>>
>> Is that the voice of experience speaking? Silly man :-)
>
> Yes it is.
>
>> (of course if it's UK/US, it's probably not helped by the way we've got
>> smaller parking spaces too AIUI).
>
> Do tell.

Nothing much to tell - I believe we've got smaller parking spaces than
countries where land is cheaper (and cars are bigger).

> I didn't have that trouble in other Commonwealth countries.

You mean Aus/NZ/Canada, places with lots of space? Wouldn't surprise me.

cheers,
clive

Date: 25 Sep 2007 22:04:42
From: Jambo
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"Clive George" <clive@xxxx-x.fsnet.co.uk > wrote in message
news:13fj8m75ptjiu93@corp.supernews.com...
> "vey" <junker@ericvey.com> wrote in message
>> I didn't have that trouble in other Commonwealth countries.
>
> You mean Aus/NZ/Canada, places with lots of space? Wouldn't surprise me.
>

Aus/NZ have smaller individual parking bays than the US.

Date: 25 Sep 2007 20:33:03
From: vey
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Clive George wrote:

> You mean Aus/NZ/Canada, places with lots of space? Wouldn't surprise me.

Even more than those. I've driven in 25(?) countries, maybe more, and
only five on the continent. The Bahamas was memorable.

Date: 26 Sep 2007 01:37:13
From: Clive George
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"vey" <junker@ericvey.com > wrote in message
news:fdc95n$81q$1@news.datemas.de...
> Clive George wrote:
>
>> You mean Aus/NZ/Canada, places with lots of space? Wouldn't surprise me.
>
> Even more than those. I've driven in 25(?) countries, maybe more, and only
> five on the continent.

Heh - did 6 on the continent on the way back from hols this summer :-)

> The Bahamas was memorable.

?

cheers,
clive

Date: 25 Sep 2007 20:55:50
From: vey
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Clive George wrote:
> "vey" <junker@ericvey.com> wrote in message
> news:fdc95n$81q$1@news.datemas.de...
>> Clive George wrote:
>>
>>> You mean Aus/NZ/Canada, places with lots of space? Wouldn't surprise me.
>>
>> Even more than those. I've driven in 25(?) countries, maybe more, and
>> only five on the continent.
>
> Heh - did 6 on the continent on the way back from hols this summer :-)
>
>> The Bahamas was memorable.
>
> ?
>
> cheers,
> clive

They drive like nut cases in Nassau. And they don't let up on the horn.
Left Turn, sound horn warning. Right Turn, sound horn warning. Pass,
sound horn warning. Start the car, sound horn warning. They drive with
one hand on the wheel and the other on the horn when not changing gears.

Memorable.

Date: 25 Sep 2007 17:55:10
From: Jambo
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"vey" <junker@ericvey.com > wrote in message
news:fdbuql$vhq$1@news.datemas.de...
> Tom Nakashima wrote:
> As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
>> motorcycle.
>
> Try working the shift lever in a car with your left hand. That can be
> harder to get used to than driving on the other side of the road.

It's surprisingly easier than it seems. I can now drive manual shifts in
both American and European sides with ease, and learning to adapt to both
took much less time than I thought. It's almost as easy to learn as
operating your computer's mouse with either hand - the brain seems to be
able to translate mirror actions relatively quickly.

The hard part in driving on the "other" side of the road happens when there
are no other cars to follow - the "feel" of the road becomes strange and
there is an urge to go to the side where one was used to.

Date: 26 Sep 2007 00:27:37
From: Clive George
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"Jambo" <-@-.- > wrote in message
news:46f98386$0$19637$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>
> "vey" <junker@ericvey.com> wrote in message
> news:fdbuql$vhq$1@news.datemas.de...
>> Tom Nakashima wrote:
>> As far as confusing, I would say British shifting on a
>>> motorcycle.
>>
>> Try working the shift lever in a car with your left hand. That can be
>> harder to get used to than driving on the other side of the road.
>
> It's surprisingly easier than it seems. I can now drive manual shifts in
> both American and European sides with ease, and learning to adapt to both
> took much less time than I thought.

Took me, ooh, about one shift to say "Hmm, odd. Oh well". There's no fine
control required for gear selection. If clutch and accelerator were swapped
that would be rather harder.

How much of this difference is because we're taught in cars with manual
boxes, and indeed mostly drive manual?

(American and mainland European sides are the same)

> The hard part in driving on the "other" side of the road happens when
> there are no other cars to follow - the "feel" of the road becomes strange
> and there is an urge to go to the side where one was used to.

Never got that. The only time I've seen problems is at junctions, where one
has to think a bit harder than normal.

One interesting artefact I've noticed is that when coming up to a junction,
I (and others) will get the left/right name wrong - ie "left" for the one
which doesn't involve crossing the road (usian right).

cheers,
clive

Date: 26 Sep 2007 00:05:13
From: Aeek
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 06:30:37 -0700, "Qui si parla
Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com" <peter@vecchios.com > wrote:

>Coupla reasons to have right-front/left rear-all having to do with
>mashing one brake in an emergency-grabbing the musette bag with right
>hand, shifting the downtube shifter while braking, cyclocross and
>getting off the left side of the bike and braking with the left
>hand..other reasons as well...but I do prefer right-front for these
>reasons.

The reason for the worldwide setup is so we can signal to turn across
traffic and operate our rear brake. Maybe that made sense years ago
with early brakes but it makes no sense to me now.

I want my hand covering my front brake if I'm concerned about an
intersection. Lucky for me I'm in Oz so its my dominant right hand.

Date: 24 Sep 2007 22:36:22
From: Mark
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Date: 24 Sep 2007 18:40:46
From: !Jones
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:39:05 -0000, in rec.bicycles.tech Jon_C
<JonCCrouch@gmail.com > wrote:

>Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
>half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
>left lever applies the front brake.
>Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
>motorbike with the front brake on the right??

Personally, I tend to agree with you; therefore, I change mine.

When I go to other cities and rent, I cope. I don't *like* it but...
in the famous last words of Timothy McVeigh, I "adapt and overcome"!

Now, why can't I shut off those annoying alarms in my car that tell me
my key is in the ignition? I *know* that the fucking key is in the
ignition because that's where I want it to be.

Jones

Date: 24 Sep 2007 22:11:18
From: jim beam
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

!Jones wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:39:05 -0000, in rec.bicycles.tech Jon_C
> <JonCCrouch@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
>> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
>> left lever applies the front brake.
>> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
>> motorbike with the front brake on the right??
>
> Personally, I tend to agree with you; therefore, I change mine.
>
> When I go to other cities and rent, I cope. I don't *like* it but...
> in the famous last words of Timothy McVeigh, I "adapt and overcome"!
>
> Now, why can't I shut off those annoying alarms in my car that tell me
> my key is in the ignition?

disconnect the switch on the key barrel! unplug the wires that go the
the bleeper unit!

buy the factory service manual for the vehicle, read the circuit
diagram, go from there. unless your vehicle has some bizarre
dependency, it's totally doable.

[then you'll lock the keys int he car next time you're at the supermarket.]

> I *know* that the fucking key is in the
> ignition because that's where I want it to be.
>
> Jones
>

Date: 26 Sep 2007 03:42:38
From: !Jones
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:11:18 -0700, in rec.bicycles.tech jim beam
<spamvortex@bad.example.net > wrote:

>disconnect the switch on the key barrel! unplug the wires that go the
>the bleeper unit!
>
>buy the factory service manual for the vehicle, read the circuit
>diagram, go from there. unless your vehicle has some bizarre
>dependency, it's totally doable.

Oh, I don't doubt that a bit. I just expect it to be easy... like my
I prefer my women.

Jones

Date: 24 Sep 2007 16:12:04
From:
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Sep 24, 5:39 pm, Jon_C <JonCCro...@gmail.com > wrote:
> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> left lever applies the front brake.
> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> motorbike with the front brake on the right??

I ride both bicycles with front brakes on the left and motorcycles
with front brakes on the right. It's never been a problem for me,
guess I just got used to it. As another poster has stated, the bicycle
brakes can usually be reversed if there is confusion.

Smokey

Date: 25 Sep 2007 17:51:42
From: Alan Hoyle
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:12:04, smokeystrodtman@gmail.com wrote:

> I ride both bicycles with front brakes on the left and motorcycles
> with front brakes on the right. It's never been a problem for me,
> guess I just got used to it. As another poster has stated, the
> bicycle brakes can usually be reversed if there is confusion.

If you're running linear-pull "V-brakes", you might need a replacement
noodle to make it work with the right-hand lever.

-alan

--
Alan Hoyle - alanh@unc.edu - http://www.alanhoyle.com/
"I don't want the world, I just want your half." -TMBG
Get Horizontal, Play Ultimate.

Date: 24 Sep 2007 19:02:13
From: vey
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Jon_C wrote:
> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> left lever applies the front brake.
> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> motorbike with the front brake on the right??
>

'Bout flipped over the handlebars? My Italian and Japanese "motorbikes"
both had the front brake on the left in the US, too. Just something to
get used to.

I seem to recall have trouble looking long enough in the correct
direction when pulling out into traffic in a few countries that will
remain nameless. That and 60 MPH through downtown was a bit unnerving in
more than one. Oh, yes, and if you did 50, they toodled the horn as they
passed.

So there you are driving much faster than you think you ought to be
driving and being toodled at constantly. Makes for a wonderful drive!

Date: 24 Sep 2007 17:55:47
From: DougC
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Date: 24 Sep 2007 17:48:13
From: A Muzi
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

Date: 25 Sep 2007 18:58:43
From: Marty
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

> Jon_C wrote:
> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
> left lever applies the front brake.
> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
> motorbike with the front brake on the right??

When I had a motorbike (GSXR750), the rear brake was applied via a foot
lever. The front brake via a hand lever. The other hand lever is the
clutch, the other foot lever is the shifter. You mees this up, you die -
so, you don't mess it up. I never found it to be an issue.
--
Marty

Date: 25 Sep 2007 19:02:06
From: Marty
Subject: Re: USA - Front brake = left hand?

"Marty" <m_piet@yahooo.com > wrote in message
news:wNydnerICqdHM2TbnZ2dnUVZ_oSnnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> Jon_C wrote:
>> Well I just bought a bike after moving to the US and to my surprise,
>> half way down a steep gravel driveway, discover that squeezing the
>> left lever applies the front brake.
>> Is this the way for all US bicycles? How do you cope if you ride a
>> motorbike with the front brake on the right??
>
> When I had a motorbike (GSXR750), the rear brake was applied via a foot
> lever. The front brake via a hand lever. The other hand lever is the
> clutch, the other foot lever is the shifter. You mees this up, you die -
> so, you don't mess it up. I never found it to be an issue.

And I rode both just about every day - when I had both - until I had
children and sold the GSXR for a minivan. :-(
--
Marty