Brake control convention

[Punk_shore]

Hello fellow riders,
Over the last few years I have noticed an increase in electrically-powered bicycles. There has also been mention in this forum of fitting small internal combustion engines to bicycles.

Now I believe it was in the early-to-mid 1970's that the motorcycle industries of various countries standardised their layouts for riders' controls. This included having a right-hand-lever to operate the front brake. Since then, some small motorcycles have been produced with automatic transmissions and these have included a left-hand-lever for the rear brake.

The motorcycle convention above fits in with what I had been used to for bicycles. However, I have since found a "continental" layout with left->front and right->rear brake controls. Is this something which should be covered by a relevant Standard please?

[mattsccm]

Worms- can etc. Big argument about which hand should cover the front brake when turning etc. I prefer the British standard as it matches motrcycles. Dunno why the Euro's go the other way. This will evn descend into a debate about which brake to cover when crossing traffic, turning right etc.

[Valbrona]

And why don't you make them Frenchies drive on the left side of the road while you are at it?

[reohn2]

Dunno why the Euro's go the other way.

It all to do with turning right (for the UK) and turning left (for the continent) with regards to hand signals as its safer to brake with the rear brake for two wheeled vehicles whilst using hand signals in the middle,most vulnerable part,of the road for two wheeled vehicles.
Motorcyles can't have the clutch and throttle on the same side sothe front brake has to be on the right and the rear brake is operated by the left foot anyway.

[tooley92]

Motorcyles can't have the clutch and throttle on the same side sothe front brake has to be on the right and the rear brake is operated by the left foot anyway.

Right foot is for the rear brake, gear shift is on the left (unless your'e lucky enough to have a Vincent Black Shadow!).

[john4703]

Dunno why the Euro's go the other way.

Motorcyles can't have the clutch and throttle on the same side sothe front brake has to be on the right and the rear brake is operated by the left foot anyway.

Not always true. I used to have a BSA Bantam and the gears were on the left and the rear foot brake on the right. (Switching from a Yamaha which had gears on the right and brake on the left led to some hairy moments )
I have a very weak right hand due to a spinal injury so switched the brake and clutch on the Bantam, it was interesting using clutch and throttle with the same hand but it also meant that I could get enough force on my front brake to stop.
It is probably safer to have a standard for which side each brake is on a bike but is also very easy to swop over brake cables to suit the rider.

[reohn2]

Motorcyles can't have the clutch and throttle on the same side sothe front brake has to be on the right and the rear brake is operated by the left foot anyway.

Right foot is for the rear brake, gear shift is on the left (unless your'e lucky enough to have a Vincent Black Shadow!).

Oops my mistake!(can't tell my left from my right )should've remembered,all gearing on the one side and all brakes on the other
Funny you should mention the Vinnie I've seen two in as many weeks one was a Black Shadow the other a Comet .

[drossall]

There is a requirement, but it applies only at the point of sale.

For a previous debate, and to avoid covering old ground again, try this thread.

[mattsccm]

See the message above. Can of worms.
And the idea of safer braking. I always cover the front brake.Its safer.
shall we now tal k about the weather?

[[XAP]Bob]

Left hand lever, left hand brake.
Right hand lever, right hand brake.
Friction lever low on left bars, rear brake (handbrake).

Oh, you mean on a bike I have my right hand do my front brake, but only through habit - I agree with Sheldon, that I should be able to indicate across a road and still brake effectively.