Front / Rear Brake linked

[Bob Bean]

Dealing with the broken / screwed up finger, I find I cant use the front brake like I want to.
 Has anyone ever seen or tried to link the front and rear brake together ?   I know they do it on street bikes with disc brake systems, but I was wondering about drum/cable system ?

Maybe run the front brake cable to the rear brake pedal..

How would it affect handling ? etc...

I ran a hour and 45 minute HS yesterday, and by the half way point it was hurting too much to use the front brake.  

Comments ?

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

[Mark P]

Which finger is broken? Perhaps fabricating a new front brake lever that would allow you to maximize and leverage the use of your good fingers.

[thrownchain]

How about having the clutch and brake levers on the same side? I have a friend who lost an arm and that's how he did it. I've ridden his bike and once you're used to it, it's fairly easy to get used to. Then when you're healed up, just switch it back over.

[Steve Minor]

Brakes? We don't need no stinking brakes!!!!

I'd try the clutch/brake on the same side till your finger is healed up and haired over.

Steve Minor
Wilmington, NC

[checkcrew]

Bob, hi,

do an Ebay search for Diff Brake

this was a company from back in the early 70's that made such a product that you are looking for,

you apply the rear brake and it would apply the front at the same time,

i remember a friend of mine that ran Jersey Enduro's on a 72 Yamaha CT2 and had this set up and did well with it after he got it properly adjusted,

there are 3 to choose from on Ebay that i saw,

hope this helps,

regards,

Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]

[Mark P]

Another idea is to rotate and mount the front brake lower on the bar so you use your thumb to brake, like the throttle on a snowmobile. Would require bending/modifying the brake lever to fit your thumb.

[TedG]

I made one for a friend of mine years ago. I modified the throttle to roll backwards and apply the front brake. I had to make a special throttle cable so the cable wouldn't push into the carb. I used a multiple (1 into 2) cable. Then he taped his broken up hand to the throttle and the thing worked pretty well.

[tomale]

I had something else I think that should be considered regardless of how you deal with how to apply the brake. Most of the aftermark brake shoes are too hard and they require alot of fingers to get them to even work sort of ok. I took my wheels to a friction shop who first trued the drums and then made a set of shoes to fit my bike. they peeled off the pad replaced it with new stuff. The difference is amazing and I went from using 4 fingers to using two.
It allowed me to adjust my brake lever tight enough so that I can still hang onto the handle bar with my ring finger and pinky... and brake with the other two. This may not solve the problem but it will sure make make it easier to ride a longer ride.

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
93' RMx 250 suzuki

[Mark P]

Which finger is broken? Perhaps fabricating a new front brake lever that would allow you to maximize and leverage the use of your good fingers.

[thrownchain]

How about having the clutch and brake levers on the same side? I have a friend who lost an arm and that's how he did it. I've ridden his bike and once you're used to it, it's fairly easy to get used to. Then when you're healed up, just switch it back over.

[Steve Minor]

Brakes? We don't need no stinking brakes!!!!

I'd try the clutch/brake on the same side till your finger is healed up and haired over.

Steve Minor
Wilmington, NC

[checkcrew]

Bob, hi,

do an Ebay search for Diff Brake

this was a company from back in the early 70's that made such a product that you are looking for,

you apply the rear brake and it would apply the front at the same time,

i remember a friend of mine that ran Jersey Enduro's on a 72 Yamaha CT2 and had this set up and did well with it after he got it properly adjusted,

there are 3 to choose from on Ebay that i saw,

hope this helps,

regards,

Mike Gallagher, NJ.
[email protected]

[Mark P]

Another idea is to rotate and mount the front brake lower on the bar so you use your thumb to brake, like the throttle on a snowmobile. Would require bending/modifying the brake lever to fit your thumb.

[TedG]

I made one for a friend of mine years ago. I modified the throttle to roll backwards and apply the front brake. I had to make a special throttle cable so the cable wouldn't push into the carb. I used a multiple (1 into 2) cable. Then he taped his broken up hand to the throttle and the thing worked pretty well.

[tomale]

I had something else I think that should be considered regardless of how you deal with how to apply the brake. Most of the aftermark brake shoes are too hard and they require alot of fingers to get them to even work sort of ok. I took my wheels to a friction shop who first trued the drums and then made a set of shoes to fit my bike. they peeled off the pad replaced it with new stuff. The difference is amazing and I went from using 4 fingers to using two.
It allowed me to adjust my brake lever tight enough so that I can still hang onto the handle bar with my ring finger and pinky... and brake with the other two. This may not solve the problem but it will sure make make it easier to ride a longer ride.

Thom Green,Still crazy after all these years!
76' 250 MC5 (orginal owner)
74'250 hare scrambler (project)
74' 1/2 440 maico
78' 440 maico
72' cr125 Husky (project)
93' RMx 250 suzuki