In looking at some of the pics of restorations and such, I am not seeing very many bikes with front brakes. Did most of you use back only?
I started using front and back early on in my BMX career. There were a number of times that the extra stopping power allowed me to go a little longer than the next guy and it made the difference between winning, or not.
I beat Shawn Texas in the summer of '82, at Kearney Moto Park in San Diego. The win was a direct result of pedaling to the last possible second, hitting the brakes hard going in high on the last turn, and swoping him on the inside for the sprint to the finish.
Of course, looking at the price of period correct brakes these days, it could be a case of simple economics: way too much money for two sets

I used them BITD. I still have them on my survior Torker.
I grew up in Moto-X way before BMX. It was only natural to me to have a front brake.

It will be interesting to see the responses to you question. My recollection is that very few people ran front brakes in the 80's. Like you I always believed that in some (rare) occasions the extra late braking into a turn allowed by the additional available braking force was a valuable benefit. The second brake is not rotating mass, and was well worth the slightly extra weight to me.
My old cruiser is now a street only bike but still has both brakes.


Mike

I used them in the mid '70s/early'80s when the turns were flatter. I found that I could carry higher speed entering a turn,thus making up ground,then give both brakes a quick tap to check the speed,and sometimes was able to pull a pass as a result. It was also better for avoiding crashing into down riders,so peace of mind resulted from increased braking ability.

I started using front brakes when we were racing on the indoor tracks with concrete and wooden jumps in the late 70's.
Got accustomed to having both brakes, and I still have front brakes on both my cruiser and twenty.

For a time, I remember using front brakes for racing. I started racing on a Diamondback Silver Streak and if Harry did it, I did it. I remember being able to stop VERY quickly.

Even though I probably wasn't fully aware of what I was doing, they would allow me to drive deeper into turns and take lines I wasn't supposed to be able.

I once swooped 4 guys in a turn at one time as a result of a small tangle they got into. I went way up on the grassy part of the berm, because I was running 4th, as I did it, a guy passed me low and when I went down the berm I was in 1st and with such a lead, there was no way anyone could catch me. They guy who passed me at the last second by driving low was immediately re passed as he got caught up in the berm drama.

Front brakes had nothing to do with that, by the way- it was just a cool story.

I would love to see a full picture of that bad boy!

I was just thinking about this yesterday, about how many bikes came stock with front brakes.
I couldn't help but wonder who actually kept them on, much less used them?
I did not and don't really remember anyone who did.
As a motocross rider/racer for a couple decades I know the advantages of front brakes but never
used them on my BMX rides...

I used to hate tweaking the cable doing cross ups, but they did have a place in racing.

never used them....
Also, it seems i remember that the track (louisville) when I raced did not allow or at least frowned upon hem..

I usually had two bikes one for racing and one for kicking around, but I never used fronts for racing as our track had HUGE long berms and was ultra fast and well it was more pure speed than technical, it was half downhill sort of and the jumps were gigantic even by todays standards and it was one of the longest tracks I have ever seen even to this day.
besides I always felt it made the bike front heavy!

No on BMX, only on MX

It's actually a pretty beat-up survivor. Many races on it years ago (all with front brakes). I recently pulled it up from the basement, added a new downtube stickers and re-pop Comp IIIs. Then re-installed KOS bars like it used to race on. Now I just street ride it.



Mike

Even though I ran front brakes on my race bikes, it was for doing endos and stopping the front wheel from spinning while riding a wheelie. I wouldnt even consider using them in a race.

Yeah- they come in handy when riding down Northstar in Tahoe on a Proline 79. And a few full suspension mountain bikes were passed.

BBBBBad to the Bone!

Yep! Used them in the old days and have had them on my bikes since then. I don't think I will ever feel comfortable on a bike that does not have them.
I can't even begin to tell you how many times they have helped me win races. One time in particular was in early 90's at a national in Akron Ohio. In the main, I drew gate 8 and was a little bit bummed about that. When the gate fell I got a great start but being on the outside kinda just put me even with everyone else going into the first turn, A fast sweeper. Well the guy on the inside slid out and proceeded to take the whole moto over the first turn except me. I had both brakes full on locked up and stopped right at the edge of the berm. I took off without looking back thinking everyone was right on my heels, till the announcer started laughing at me cause I was nearly wrecking on every jump. None of the other guys had even got on their bikes yet. Nothing like a main win at a national to show they are useful.

Sure did!



jk

Raced from age 8 - 12. Weight was more of a factor; shave every ounce you can! I had no need for them and a single brake would easily stop a little ripper like me! Still roll around the hood w/o front brakes on my 24" slingshot. Kids trying to beat me, each on an o/s Titan mini. (keep it light!)

Yep, always had front brakes here, too. Same as MadCowboy - I used them mostly for tricks, endos, etc. or for street use for better stopping around town.

Always front brakes! then and now...

I did untill we got berms. We needed them on flat hairpins.

Changstar

Front brakes???? We don't need no stickin front brakes!!!!!

I tried them for about a minute and did not like them. Just preferred dive bombing into the turns and seeing what happened next. For me less was definitely more.

I did for a short time. Thought it looked cool on I think it was Harry Leary's bikes.
Here is a pic of me using it in early 80 or late 79.
I can say though it didnt seem to give me any advantage and I stopped on my next build (a 1980 Quadangle)

Never used them racing bitd, but I can see how they could be an advantage to certain riders on certain tracks.

But I put front brakes on all my builds...I think it makes them look more complete and more balanced, even if it (arguably) takes away from that 'hard-core racer' look I like to go for. Usually use MX-1000's on the rear and 900's on the front since the shorter reach seems to fit better on a lot of forks including Landing Gears. Plus 900's tend to come a little cheaper than 1000's. Front brake levers are usually harder to find than rears, however.

I raced BMX when I was between the ages of 9-13. My dad didnt have a clue and I knew I just wanted to race bikes. I got my first bike at some run of the mill town bike shop.

I remember after my first race going home and taking off the front breaks with my dads wrenches.

thats all I have to say

Front breaks are for freestyle. Not bmx

Well, I did use them for BMX and did pretty well with them. Since I was 6'1" and about 185 at the time, I liked the extra braking power. Looks like some used them some didn't. Quite a mix and interesting views.

Freestyle is still BMX and besides, just because we raced doesn't mean we never did any freestyle. I lived for racing but I was pretty comfortable on a quarter pipe as well as doing endos, tailwhips, bunnyhop 360s etc... Racers usually dabble into some sort of freestyling. I wasn't scared to try anything, and most often I did.

Amen to that, MadCowboy.

In perusing the covers of BMXAction and BMX Plus magazines, it is apparent that many racers did, indeed, use front brakes. There were however, quite a few that did not. I guess that it came down to personal preference.

I had them, but for tricks like everyone else. I had a Diamond Back Formula One with 1 3/8" tires. In order to put a front brake on, a brake from a 10 speed road bike was used so it was short enough that the brake pads could hit the rims.

Here's some more about using front brakes in racing. Interesting read...

http://www.bmxbasics.org/new/bmx0895.html

I don't remember ever using any brakes in racing, except maybe to stop to avoid a crash. Didn't happen much though...I usually hole shot by the first turn at least a bike length ahead.