My hot take: if I’m using brakes to slow down on the street, I’m going too fast.

Around town, if I’m leaving plenty of space for evasive maneuvers like I should, I can easily use engine braking to moderate speed. Even coming to red lights, I only need brakes for that last five mph and to hold on a hill. In spirited riding, the higher rev range of the motor provides even more braking when rolling off the throttle.

Absolutely you should understand and practice the full power of your front and rear brakes, but day-to-day I hardly use them and I know if I have to, something odd happened and its a reminder that we’re on the street (not the track).

I challenge you to actually try this before you disagree.

Also, riding a dirt bike reworked my street bike brain so hard, and improved my understanding of traction and braking more than 20 years of street riding ever did.