Linked brakes
- Thread starter ex-walker
- Start date
madsen203
Undetermined
My VFR has linked brakes. I find with them I use the back brake WAY more often. I like that I get a percentage of the brake up front. I also have ABS so I just push as hard as I can and it does the work for me and if I need to slow down faster I apply the front brake as well. It gives the perception that the back brake is more powerful as it is applying pressure to the front as well.
** The VFR shoots maybe 1/4-1/5th front brake to the rear and vise versa so not 100% link/combined.
I like them. Could I live without them? Probably. This is my first bike with ABS and Linked brakes so maybe I could live without the linked part and still stomp on the rear.
russ69
Backside Slider
it depends on the system. there must be 3 or 4 ways to do a linked system. A system that operates both brakes with the front brake lever works pretty well. If you clamp it on full power the rear wheel will be in the air and the rear brake will be of no value. But for normal braking it supplies some rear brake which is OK. For systems that operate off the rear brake, you are usually talking less than maximum braking but pretty good rear brake performance. It really depends on the bike and what you are doing with it.
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I'm assuming you'd be considering a modern bike with both linked brakes and ABS. In the unlikely event you would consider linked brakes without ABS, I'd advise against it.
Personally, I continue to want a way to activate the rear brake independently of the front. There are few times where this is important, but finding yourself off into the dirt is one such time. I don't know how ABS equipped linked brakes applied at the lever would behave in that case.
With the adaptations I think you are trying to make, it seems like linked ABS would be a reasonable solution.
Personally, I continue to want a way to activate the rear brake independently of the front. There are few times where this is important, but finding yourself off into the dirt is one such time. I don't know how ABS equipped linked brakes applied at the lever would behave in that case.
With the adaptations I think you are trying to make, it seems like linked ABS would be a reasonable solution.
I think it would, yes.
I have semi-linked (front brake activates the rear but not the other way around) and could do without it.
On the one hand it's nice to have it always use the rear for panic brake situations but on the other hand I prefer to have more control in common situations.
Even with the (semi) linked brakes, when I'm going to brake I apply a bit of pressure on the rear before I start activating the front (+ linked rear).
I don't think I'd own a bike that had the rear activate the front.
On the one hand it's nice to have it always use the rear for panic brake situations but on the other hand I prefer to have more control in common situations.
Even with the (semi) linked brakes, when I'm going to brake I apply a bit of pressure on the rear before I start activating the front (+ linked rear).
I don't think I'd own a bike that had the rear activate the front.
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clutchslip
Not as fast as I look.
This does not make sense to me. The front brake is your main braking force. Other linked systems will activate the rear, when the front is actuated, but not the other way around. Is it equal force applied to the front brakes when you use the rear first?
My S1000RR has linked brakes, I think they are good for street riding, even at a decent pace in the hills. For different circumstances, you can tap the rear brake and disable the link. It's pretty smart actually. But, I would just disable it for high track speeds.
[I edited my question because he said it only applied a certain force to the rear]
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ex-walker
Well-known member
The bike does not come with linked brakes. I want to try and put linked brakes on it cause my legs don't work and I have no way to use the rear brake
That year VFR would apply one front piston on the left caliper only when you press the rear brake pedal. The front calipers each have three pistons.
RickM
Well-known member
In case you haven't considered this: The rear linked brakes on the VFR doesn't work directly off the lever. The rear pistons are activated by the torque on front left caliper. So it's affected by both the front lever force and the front wheel speed. Incorporating such a design might be an important consideration
The Honda ST1300 had a similar set up with a small master cylinder on the forks. I worked seamlessly on the ST1300. My K1600GT also had linked brakes, only way you noticed was the need to change rear brake pads more than I thought I had used them.
This is an aside, but Honda has done some weird creative things over the years with front brake calipers that lead a double life as an actuator for something else. The ST1100 had an anti-dive system that was hideous. You'd apply the front brakes, the left caliper would pivot forward and depress a plunger that would close a valve in the left fork leg and stiffen the compression stroke to reduce dive. Of course it also reduced the fork's ability to track bumps.
I disabled mine and replaced the fork internals with cartridges. Arguably more fork than the bike deserves, but it doesn't dive as much and it keeps the front wheel in contact with the ground.
Anyway, I'm not a fan of these Rube Goldberg set-ups of daisy-chained mechanical triggers.
russ69
Backside Slider
Thumb lever on clutch side or just forget about a rear brake. I often ride without ever using the rear brake. I usually check it as I take off but never use it again.
ex-walker
Well-known member
I agree,but here's the situation. I don't really use the rear brake on street bikes, except for wheelie and panic stops. I should probably be avoiding both of these if possible. Just in case one of these can't be avoided I would like a little rear brake. The problem with the thumb brake is there is very little room left on my bares,grip,electric shifter,blinker cluster then clutch. Also after talking with gp-tech, he says the thumb brake will not have a lot of stopping power. This is why I was leaning towards linked brakes. Since I never rode a bike with linked brakes, I just wondered how well they worked.
Thanks for your responses
DJ Thrawn
Can't drag knee...
I have linked brakes on my RoadGlide with ABS and love them. Find myself using the rear brake for most braking conditions. Also when on an HD with that mushy front end it reduces front end drive.
Other bike is an R1 which I get more annoyed with the ABS than I find that it's helpful on the track.
Other bike is an R1 which I get more annoyed with the ABS than I find that it's helpful on the track.
anytwowilldo
Well-known member
My BMW R1150RT has power assisted, linked, ABS brakes and stops very well. When riding it around at normal speeds all you need is one finger I believe (you would think I would remember) to stop it and I never touch the rear brake as the system is handling that for me. When You start riding it like a sport bike and hauling it down from 90 to 40 in a short distance I'll put one more finger on the lever and use the rear brake to settle the chassis.
I love the brakes on that bike and think that most larger street bikes should have ABS brakes, but that is a very controversial topic.
I love the brakes on that bike and think that most larger street bikes should have ABS brakes, but that is a very controversial topic.