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Thumb brakes


Boozybloke

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Just come back from dropping a mate off at the local bike shop to pick up his bike and had a sti on a couple of bikes while there, the first time throwing my leg over since my accident (not getting it over - you appreciate the difference...) and I seem not to be able to operate a normal rear brake pedal :eusa_think:

So it looks like having to install a rear brake thumb control when I finally scrape enough cash together to get my next bike (Falco hopefully).

My question(s); are they easy to fit? Is it just a case of plumbing it into the existing system or does it require a bit more than that?

Are they expensive? I don't need a major full on racing exotica type, just a functional unit. Are there cheaper versions out there?

Anyone had to fit one for the same reasons as me? Is it easy to get used to?

I know most of you will say 'Who uses the rear brake anyway?" but I do use it quite a lot round town and settling the bike in corners etc, and I wouldn't feel comfortable riding without being to operate all of the controls properly.

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A lot depends on the system you use.

They are easy enough to fit, good ones are expensive and none of them work very well as an acutal rear brake.

Ok for helping to change line, steady the bike while wheelying etc. but nowhere near as powerful as a normal rear brake.

But then again, you've got an Aprilia so it'll probably be an improvement!

I'll get some prices and pros and cons of the different systems available for you if you want.

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A company called Rekluse does an auto clutch and rear brake on the bars for quite a few bikes now. They basically use a scooter rear brake mastercylinder and a hose down to the standard mastercylinder. It gave the option of both perhaps you could get something similar? I imagine you could dump your leg on the rear brake pedal to hold you but not gently use it to control the bike? Have a look.

I personally think the road bike variants are well over priced since they are just a rear brake mastercylinder with a bit of ally to work as an actuator.

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Thanks for the responses guys, although a small amount of nervous gas escaped my bottom when I saw the costs MilleMille was saying... B)

Tootall - Yeah, I would really appreciate if you could give me some numbers and options, cheers for that

Bloody crippy leg.....

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Hi

The problem with all thumb brakes is the amount of bike control you lose as all your hand works against the thumb for grip, no thumb = no grip !

It would appear that whatever system you buy it won’t cheap, but you do need something that works.

If you would like to consider your options there is always a double lever at around £1,000 inc vat.

have a look at products on www.thestopshop.co.uk

doubleleverblack.jpg

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Honda & Linked Brakes anyone?

Its a good bit of lateral thinking, but I reeeeeeeeeelly want another Falco

Like the look of that double lever, but at a grand thats nearly half of what I'm hoping to pay for the bike!

I think I may just try adjusting the footpedal- maybe get a modified one made or something

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Google 'Clake'. No idea if they are anygood though.

See suspensionsmith's 'nonsensicle' thread - although I think he's taken it off again.

I like the idea of those, but about £750 plus having to get it shipped from Aus is a bit more than I can justify "just to have a play with it".

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I was contemplating trying a thumb brake next year, since I've broke my leg I don't think I'm going to have enough ankle movement to use the pedal effectively.

Then I realised I won't have enough feel in my broken thumb to use a thumb mounted brake either.

I was at this point it dawned on me that I'm an idiot.

-John

:icon_bounce:

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Have you seen the back brake setup that Yukio Kagayama uses?

It's a converted nissin radial front brake master cylinder that is mounted on the l/h fork leg and has this mungous great long lever that loops and ducks and dives and which he pulls (rather than pushes) with his fingers that aren't pulling the clutch in.

I did have a picture I took of it at Goodwood FoS last year and I'm sure I posted it on here but I'm fucked if I can find it....

Please find it chap. Sounds very interesting!

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Have you seen the back brake setup that Yukio Kagayama uses?

No chance am I taking brake set-up advice from a man with a colostomy bag, but no spleen.

I'm bad enough as it is, thanks!

;)

-John

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Yep you’re right there, I’ve looked at Yukio’s bike, it’s just two mastercylinders mounted behind each other with a homemade extra long lever !! It’s not ideal but it works for him.

^ Which is effectively a home-brew version of the Harris dual-lever setup someone posted above.

Re the Harris lever, we make them and sell them to Harris ! It does work very well and is much less cumbersome than Yukio’s set up. The other advantage of our twin mastercylinder is that the two adjusters on each lever means you can not only adjust the span, but also the pivot point, depending on what you have connected to which lever and what 'feel' you want, it also fits either on the left or right and although uses two independent cylinders it only requires one reservoir. It's also available thru NADB's grant system.

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I like this idea that a custom made set up created by a WSB championship winning team being used by one of the top 15 WSB riders in the world and that passes FIM scrutineering is 'home-brewed' and 'not ideal'.

Cobblers!

It offers way more adjustability and tuning in terms of lever position, stroke, feel etc.

I think you could make a set up that replicates Yukio's for about £250 ish, which is an awful lot less £1k.

£50 for custom made clutch lever to retro-fit your existing clutch m/c or perch (if it's cable), 2nd hand nissin radial m/c £125 and £75 for the nissin m/c mounting hardware and lever.

If anyone is interested I'll have a go at producing one for them.

Chill pill time Mike :eusa_whistle:

I used the word "homebrew" in the sense of "largely made from available parts", not in any pejorative sense. Almost certainly better tuned to Kagayama's requirements.

And yes, as soon as I saw the pic I started thinking about how hard it would be to make one.

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I think you could make a set up that replicates Yukio's for about £250 ish, which is an awful lot less £1k.

£50 for custom made clutch lever to retro-fit your existing clutch m/c or perch (if it's cable), 2nd hand nissin radial m/c £125 and £75 for the nissin m/c mounting hardware and lever.

If anyone is interested I'll have a go at producing one for them.

Consider me interested. Can I PM you when I finally get funds together for the new wheels? (looking like mid next year now at the earliest, sadly =( )

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I like this idea that a custom made set up created by a WSB championship winning team being used by one of the top 15 WSB riders in the world and that passes FIM scrutineering is 'home-brewed' and 'not ideal'.

Cobblers!

It offers way more adjustability and tuning in terms of lever position, stroke, feel etc.

I think you could make a set up that replicates Yukio's for about £250 ish, which is an awful lot less £1k.

£50 for custom made clutch lever to retro-fit your existing clutch m/c or perch (if it's cable), 2nd hand nissin radial m/c £125 and £75 for the nissin m/c mounting hardware and lever.

If anyone is interested I'll have a go at producing one for them.

Don’t get over excited about this Mike !! :icon_salut: likewise my “not ideal” comment was purely based on the fact that I’ve seen Yukio’s set-up and although it worked, the use of two separate mastercylinders was cumbersome and defo didn’t look pretty.

Re: “It offers way more adjustability and tuning in terms of lever position, stroke, feel etc.”

Sorry, no it doesn’t, I agree that depending on which donor mastercylinder you start with, you should be able to get span adjustment, but you won’t get anything with the level of pivot (stroke) and feel adjustment to match the twin system anywhere !

As far as price is concerned, although I agree with you in principal, comparing the price of a new specialist made piece of kit that is guaranteed and manufacturer supported, with a “2nd hand nissin radial m/c” is a bit of a cheap-shot ! :D

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Well as you aren't exactly coming from a neutral position on this we'll have to agree to disagree.

I’m ok with that, but I assure you my comments were not biased, I only stated factual information in respect of what the twin m/c is capable of.

Admittedly the observation that Yukio’s setup “didn’t look pretty” was only my opinion. As a racer myself, I’m always looking at different ways to do things, and like to see other people’s ideas.

I presume we've met at some point in the past for you to be using my real name and not my user name?

I apologise if you thought that I used your real name out of turn, I always believed this was a friendly site for people with a common interest, I do believe we have met before, but will respect your wishes in future.

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See suspensionsmith's 'nonsensicle' thread - although I think he's taken it off again.

I like the idea of those, but about £750 plus having to get it shipped from Aus is a bit more than I can justify "just to have a play with it".

I am still running the clake on the bike,and i am liking it the more i get used to it,still mucking around with the tuning options it has.

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I noticed a thumb brake in one of the 'other' mags made by a company in Cumbria for £200 it looks a really nice piece od kit, I'll try and find there details again..

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If you want to try a traditional style one then I can sell you one of these

tbc050-xbk-thumb-brake-bk-1-text.jpg

£151 retail

(pb discount applies ob, and you'd need a master cylinder)

Nice one mate- thats the sort of prices I was hoping that someone would be talking about. I just need to sort out the bike now...

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If you want to try a traditional style one then I can sell you one of these

tbc050-xbk-thumb-brake-bk-1-text.jpg

£151 retail

(pb discount applies ob, and you'd need a master cylinder)

Tootall,

Do you need the rose joint and pushrod as well as the master cylinder or do you supply that?

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As Millemille correctly pointed out in a previous post, I may not be “coming from a neutral position”, but having had personal experience of thumb brakes and acknowledging that in general they are well made bits of kit. I would urge you to ride your bike without the use of your thumb before you buy one, just be sure you are happy with the amount of bike control you have/don’t have, which may lead you towards a double lever system of some sort.

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As Millemille correctly pointed out in a previous post, I may not be “coming from a neutral position”, but having had personal experience of thumb brakes and acknowledging that in general they are well made bits of kit. I would urge you to ride your bike without the use of your thumb before you buy one, just be sure you are happy with the amount of bike control you have/don’t have, which may lead you towards a double lever system of some sort.

I've always been a bit suspicious of them for this reason, especially since the convention seems to be to put them on the left bar. You pull the clutch in, you need to react it with your thumb. I've tried it.

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