Front / Rear Brake linked

[Mike Hufnagel]

I know I'm going to be a smart ass with this one, but ever consider riding flat track?

74 Yamaha TY 250
84 Yam IT200
75 Jackpiner w/ 250 eng.
82 KTM GS250II (import)
82 KTM 495 (2)
98 KTM 300mxc
04 KTM 125 SX
00 KTM Duke 2/rd. racer
06 KTM 950 Adv.
08 Suzuki DR70Z

[Bob Bean]

Hi all,
  Thanks for the comments and ideas..

Moving the lever over to the clutch side wouldnt work for me.
Im a clutcher and wouldnt be able to use both of them with one hand
all the time.  Just not flexable enough I guess.  <G>

Mike,  I forgot all about the Diff-brake..  I seem to remember Buck Walsworth using one on a Penton years back...  That is what I am thinking about doing..  Not sure about the spring tension thing I saw on the Ebay listing though.. Too complicated for me to make.

Mark,  The thumb Idea is not bad, but not sure if I can hang on with
just the fingers if I take the thumb off the grip.

TedG.   The throttle idea is interesting..  I can see using a street bike dual cable throttle set up...  Getting the kinks worked out of overtravel, reversing, would take a little doing, but would be neat to try.  Not sure if enough leverage though, to pull the brakes.

Thom,   I would definately LOVE to get better brakes and like your Idea of getting them re-lined with better material.  Can you give me any info on what your "friction shop" used ?  I wonder how they "rate" different materials ?
My riding style demands very good front brakes and going back to the vintage bikes and the "barely there" brakes has been hard for me to get used to.  My hands dont have the strength they used to and as soon as I tire some, I dont use the brakes as much.. and slow down..
too much..

Mike H.  Flat track... !  LOL.... Tried that... Back in the 60's.
Never seemed to get the hang of it.. <G>

The ISDT RR will be the last event I ride this year. And will have all winter to try and get the finger and hand back in shape, so maybe I should just ride as is and forget all about trying to engineer something special for one event ?....  
  Especially as right now we are in the middle of buying a house and may be starting moving in a few weeks...  After 37years in the same house, its not gonna be fun..

Bob Bean

1986 ISDE Italy
1987 ISDE Poland
1989 ISDE Germany

1970 125 Six Day
1973 100 Berkshire
1973 Jackpiner 175
1974 Penton 250 Harescrambler
1976 Husky 250CR
1985 Husky 400WRX
1985 Husky 400WR

[Jeff D]

Not exactly a front brake, but there's always the tried and true compression release which we used to compensate for wet and ineffective brakes in New England.  Requires drilling and tapping a second spark plug hole if you don't already have a two-hole head.  I still have one on my Desert Phantom and love it, plus the lever is on the clutch side.  I've got an extra in the garage if it will help your cause.

Jeff DeBell