How long...

[FairfaxPat]

On a motorbike, the rear brake is foot operated, and the clutch is on the left, so you can change gears and work the throttle (on the right) at the same time. This leaves the right side for the front brake. I use this setup for my bikes, except for my '91 Funk, which is opposite-but OK. I'm pretty sure that bikes evolved their brake setup from motorbikes, at least in Europe, but the opposite is used mostly here in the U.S.

 

[jimo746]

I always have the front brake on the right and rear brake on the left, I've ridden other bikes with the opposite configuration and it just feels "wrong".
As others have said it probably derives from the setup used on motorcycle handlebars, having ridden motorbikes for many years I guess my motor skills and muscle memory would have a hard time adapting to levers the "wrong" way around

I can't really see a distinct advantage to one setup or the other these days, I just go with what I know best and am used to.

Out of interest though, we know that the UK has the front brake on the right, that the Euro-shambles has it on the left, as does mostly North America, but what about other countries/continents? And does it depend on which side of the road we ride/drive on? for instance in Japan where they also drive on the left do they configure their brake levers the same way as the UK? :?