Rear Brake Tap in MTB: What It Does (and Why It’s Overrated)

Mid-Air Rear Brake Tap: Does It Actually Work? (MTB Jumping)

If you’ve spent time scrolling MTB comments or chatting at the trails, you’ve probably heard this advice:

“If your front wheel is too high… just tap the rear brake!”

It sounds like a simple magic fix — but is it really that effective?

Let’s break down what the rear brake tap actually does, where it comes from, and when (or if) it’s worth using.

✅ What Is a Rear Brake Tap?

A rear-brake tap means momentarily locking the rear wheel in the air.
When the wheel stops spinning, there’s a small forward-pitching effect that can help lower your front wheel slightly.

This technique is often borrowed from motocross, where it is MUCH more commonly used and effective due to greater wheel mass, engine torque, and jump speed.

In mountain biking, things are a little different.

✅ Does It Work?

Yes… but only a little.

A rear brake tap can help your front end come down slightly, especially on:

• Bigger jumps

• Faster jumps

• Where you have more airtime

But even then, the correction is usually small.

It’s not a dramatic front-end drop like many people imagine.

On average, you’ll feel:

• A tiny “stall” or slowdown

• A small forward pitch

It’s more of a subtle adjustment than a fix.

✅ So… Why Do People Talk About It?

There are almost no MTB coaching videos specifically dedicated to brake tapping, and not much detailed info online.

If it were a super reliable technique, you’d see:

• More coaches teaching it

• More tutorials made about it

• More riders talking about it

But you don’t.

Because for most riders, it’s not a primary method for correcting mid-air body position.

It’s more of a niche tool.

✅ Why It’s Limited in MTB

There are a few reasons it isn’t very strong on bicycles:

1) MTB wheels don’t have as much rotational mass

Moto wheels spin with much more force → greater pitch control.

MTB wheels are lighter → smaller effect.

2) Less speed / airtime

Most MTB jumps are smaller than motocross ramps.
Less airtime = less room to make adjustments.

3) Body position matters more

Your hips and chest angle control most of your pitch.
You’ll often get WAY more correction just by adjusting your body, not touching the brake.

✅ What Works Better Instead

If your front end is coming up too high, the best solutions are:

✅ 1) Better takeoff technique

• Stay centered

• Don’t pull too much with arms

• Push through legs evenly

Takeoff fixes 90% of the issue.

✅ 2) Mid-air body adjustment

• Push bars forward slightly

• Bring chest slightly forward

• Shift hips forward

Even a tiny body change has a big effect.

This is more effective — and more reliable — than brake tapping.

✅ Should You Still Try It?

Sure.

If you’re comfortable jumping and have decent bike control, experiment and see how it feels.

Some riders say it helps them.
Others barely notice it.

There’s no harm in learning it as a tool —
just don’t rely on it.

Think of it like a backup adjustment, not a primary technique.

✅ My Experience

I’ve been jumping since the late ’90s and have experimented with brake tapping MANY times.

What I’ve found:

• The effect is real, but small

• Most of the correction comes from your body

• It’s rarely needed on normal jumps

I recently filmed back-to-back examples:

• Tapping the brake mid-air

• Trying to fix my front end high

• Using body technique instead

The body adjustment was noticeably more effective.

Brake tapping?
You could see it — but it wasn’t much.

✅ Where It Helps

• Bigger jumps

• Long airtime

• Fixing small mistakes mid-air

• If you’re already comfortable jumping

Where it doesn’t help much:

• Small jumps

• Tight trails

• Slow speed

• Beginners learning takeoff

✅ Bottom Line

Rear brake tapping in mid-air can help bring your front wheel down…

But it’s not the magic fix people make it sound like.

It should NOT be your main method for correcting front-end angle.

Instead, focus on:
✅ Proper takeoff
✅ Balanced body position
✅ Mid-air body adjustments

If tapping the brake works for you?
Awesome — keep it in the toolbox.

But if it doesn’t…
No worries. Most riders don’t use it anyway.

Proper technique will take you MUCH farther.

✅ What Do You Think?

Have you tried tapping your rear brake mid-air?

Did you feel it help, or not much difference?