Congrats on your bik-take it slow and becareful-when you start getting confident and think you know what your doing -thats when you crash-lol
Quote Originally Posted by slow_hatch
Congrats, start slow and work your way up. Oh and try not to get in a habbit of using your rear brake.
I agree with Brad on this one

If you get in a habbit of using your rear brakes all the time-in a panic situation you'll nail the front and Rear(like you would in a cage) and your rear will just lock up and then guess what-you can't steer so you skid off into a guard rail-see that happen a lot with new riders in the mountains-they think they are coming into a corner to hot-freak out-nail brakes(used to driving a car)-bike stands up and your off the road heading for the cliff or guard rail
Quote Originally Posted by GIXXERDK
Dont listen to him, and you'll be fine. Your rear will provide up to 25% of the stopping power, it might be in your best interest to get the most during a panic situation.
and I will agree with gixxerDk also:
Its ok to use it sometimes-just not ALL the time or it will eventually bite you

A New rider has a lot to think about and the rear brake isn't that critical and if you use it too often or unwisely- well you know what will happen

that being said I do use my rear brake on the street some and if I'm ever riding in gravel-offroad ect---but I rarley use it on the track-and I would encourage new riders to not rely on the rear brake much at all