K1200LT Brake Set-up, info please

[TheBigOne]

I have just bought a K1200LT and I am very happy with it, I have read through this site but I cannot find a exact explanation of the brake set up.
I find I get full braking through the handle-bar(front) brake and lesser braking through the foot(rear), is there a precentage differance or is it purely down to riders pressure on the levers?
Hopefully someone can assist, thanks Bob, Ireland.

[dcwchfc]

The 02 and after have integrated abs
The effect is that whether you use the hand brake or the foot brake, you'll get both. My experience on my 02 is that a little foot brake does very little to the front brake (but maybe that's only my imagination)
What year is yours??

[sparkchaser1200]

I have a 2006 and I noticed the same situation, front brake lever you get more brakes for you pull than the foot brake if you only use one.

I have gotten used to just grabbing the front and not using the foot brake.

I had a short period of time where the back brake would squeal if you did not hit the foot pedal. That went away after a few miles. PS my bike just now has 2000 miles on it so it's brakes are still pretty new.

[Zotter]

Ties back to the basics of any motorcycle braking. Front brake gives you the majority of your braking effort and are your primary 'Stop this thing!' control.

On the LTs with the integrated - you'll get even MORE braking effort by using the front at speed, since the controller is 'aware' of your speed and how much brake input you're asking for (force of squeeze), so it'll add in rear brake effort as well. More input (panic stop), the more it'll use the 'other' brake for you as well.

On any motorcycle, using the rear will get you more of a 'slow down a tad' effect than real braking. However, on an LT with integrated, if you panic mash the rear, you'll get some front action as well. Again, the controller having sensed speed and amount of brake input.

In a perfect street world, you use the front almost exclusively. For maximum braking, you add in rear brake (panic stops). As one of my old ride'n teachers told me, "Front brake is for stopping, rear brake is for control".

Now, at 'parking lot' speeds - the controler is a lot less agressive about using the 'other' brake for you. You use the rear to do those slow speed, tight U-turns - you'll not get any front braking. Similar, if you just lightly grab the front (you're demonstrating how to dump your bike in a tight, slow turn), you'll not get any rear action.

Just practice good motorcycle braking technique as taught in the MSF course - the controller will handle the twiddly bits just fine.

[TheBigOne]

Thanks for the replies, I think the one from Zotter gives the explanation I was wanting. My bike is a 04 with 9,000 miles on it, just put on new Bridgestone Tyres, is handling like a dream, a joy to ride.
Thanks again to all that replied. Regards TheBigOne. :bmw: