Brake Levers - which way round?

[Flat Lander]

Got a question to all the Guru's out there. I'm used to the Uk convention of left lever to rear brake and right to the front. however it seems to be different here in Holland.
Does anyone know why and what the brake standard is?

Thanks

 

[longun]

dont think there is a standard,just personal preferance with me

 

[orange71]

I think they tend to use L-hand front R-hand rear in the States and in some places on the Continent?

 

[Flat Lander]

From my own experience, Norway was strictly Right Hand Rear and Left front. Found out the hard the way when I borrowed a mates bike and nearly killed myself on a decent.
Holland is a bit mixed as far as I have been able to tell.

So if you want to rent a bike in the states, check the levels match your preference, right?

 

[dyna-ti]

Keep it the UK style.That way if some bugger nicks it,he aint getting away unscathed :twisted:

Or build a fixie and put a magura on the rear Skidtastic

 

[jameshurrell]

In France it's opposite to the UK - right rear, left front. A French friend of mine visting me many years ago ended up over the handle bars as he yanked on what he thought was the rear brake at high speed on a descent.

 

[Tazio]

To me the british way makes a lot more sense as most people are right handed and the front brake is generally the one you have to modulate more.

 

[mikee]

motos
on a motorbike its all the same front brake on the right
and whatever ..............

 

[T'boo Ted]

they tell me its an australian standard (will have to look up) that the brake must be front right, rear left, but ill be stuffed if im going to run them that way, id have a big crash in about 5 seconds...

 

[Andy R]

As far as I know, the diffenence came about because BITD the convention was to set-up a bicycle in such a way that when preparing to turn across the opposing traffic lane you could give a hand signal and brake with what was seen to be a "safe" brake (ie the rear one).

Hence, left = rear for Britain and front = rear for most of the rest of the world.
Regardless of where I am I always set mine up the "proper" way, right = front, same as on a motorcycle, which have standardised on this for donkey's years.