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hand brake survey

I am happy without the handbrake but certainly understand the need for those that have handicaps of one kind or another. My knees get stiff within about 45 minutes of riding. I'm waiting for a highway peg that I can adjust to sit above that front lower wing on both sides of the Spyder. I'm really messing up the passenger's part of the seat at the point where my butt meets the the passengers front part of the seat on my RT-S. I'm looking at cutting about 2" off the front of the passenger portion of the seat, just for the added room for the driver. If I could find a set of Highway pegs that don't detract from the appearance, I think I could avoid having to modify the seat.
 
I installed the ISCI handbrake last year. The handbrake allows the rider to apply extra pressure to the slave cylinders, which improves braking power noticeably (at least in my case -- I considered the stock brake with only a foot pedal to be kinda lame). Using the handbrake by itself produces shorter stopping distances than with footbrake only, and using both handbrake and footbrake together is like running into a wall. This is an unsolicited observation by a non-ISCI employee.
:agree:I as well installed mine in i think april of last year and there are still some on here that can't appreciate how they work and say they are not needed. I have seen the results on buds as well as the way it stops. Until you have at least tried them, you have no credibility. Perhaps there not needed, but I won't leave home without them. Think I'll go for a ride, it's warm out and I've not rode since nov.
 
I will explain my rational further. If you are going 75 mph, you are traveling 110 feet per second. If you cut your reaction time by 1/10 of a second, you have just stopped 11 feet sooner with everything else staying the same. However now you have both hand and foot applying pressure, so you will stop even quicker. In most cases you hand is quicker than your foot and always in the correct position to apply brakes were your foot, well perhaps. And then you have the leg cramps of us old folks and not so old. hope I've explained myself better for my reasoning.
 
I will explain my rational further. If you are going 75 mph, you are traveling 110 feet per second. If you cut your reaction time by 1/10 of a second, you have just stopped 11 feet sooner with everything else staying the same. However now you have both hand and foot applying pressure, so you will stop even quicker. In most cases you hand is quicker than your foot and always in the correct position to apply brakes were your foot, well perhaps. And then you have the leg cramps of us old folks and not so old. hope I've explained myself better for my reasoning.

If you apply the hand and the foot at the same time, it's the same as if you use one or the other. Unlike a bike without anti-lock brakes, application of the brake (either one) affects all wheels. Whichever one is applied sooner will allow for faster stopping times. I don't think there is any confirmed data that shows that one or the other engages with more force? Regardless, it is an issue of choice...it is obviously not necessary, but I'm sure being able to brake from either spot is a good thing. I just wouldn't justify spending that much money on it based on the fact that it stops the bike faster and will prove to be safer. So many two wheelers slide out when they brake quickly...we don't have that issue so that alone is an advantage for the Spyder , regardless of where the brakes are.
 
If you apply the hand and the foot at the same time, it's the same as if you use one or the other. Unlike a bike without anti-lock brakes, application of the brake (either one) affects all wheels. Whichever one is applied sooner will allow for faster stopping times. I don't think there is any confirmed data that shows that one or the other engages with more force? Regardless, it is an issue of choice...it is obviously not necessary, but I'm sure being able to brake from either spot is a good thing. I just wouldn't justify spending that much money on it based on the fact that it stops the bike faster and will prove to be safer. So many two wheelers slide out when they brake quickly...we don't have that issue so that alone is an advantage for the Spyder , regardless of where the brakes are.
Not true, I have had my spyder hooked to buds and have seen greater hydraulic pressure while exerting less force when using both hand and foot brake together. Also you will get more hydraulic pressure from the foot brake than the hand brake, but not by much. I am using the foot brake extension made for the floor boards so I have already a little more leverage than stock. It is still an issue of choice, but now maybe more educated. Those that have both and want to see confirmed data, just hook to buds and bring up brake pressures. It surprised me, didn't think they had this info available.
 
That is how I felt, but I have changed my mind. There are three times when I still miss a hand brake when using my :spyder:.
1. When pushing the Spyder around on uneven ground.
2. When dealing with the parking brake etc. on a slope.
3. When pushing hard through right hand turns I can't cover the brake pedal with my foot.
A hand brake will be one of my 09 mods. Ryde Safe and Enjoy :thumbup:
sabunim5:doorag:
:agree:
In addition I had an incident where I went into a switchback a bit too hot and after throwing the steering to the left hard I didn't shift my body weight fast enough and my right foot slipped off the peg.

All I could think of is, how the hell am I supposed to drag the brake with my boot shaving away on the pavement?

A hand brake sure would have been nice there.

It's an extreme example and it was definitely ryder error that put me in that situation, but even in normal cornering with your weight on your right foot on the peg, it's not easy to get back on the brake if you need to.
 
Has anyone put a handbrake on the RT-S yet if you have were did you put the handbrake. Did you have to cut off part of the handle bar shield. Can you show a pic of it

ride safe all
 
Not true, I have had my spyder hooked to buds and have seen greater hydraulic pressure while exerting less force when using both hand and foot brake together. Also you will get more hydraulic pressure from the foot brake than the hand brake, but not by much. I am using the foot brake extension made for the floor boards so I have already a little more leverage than stock. It is still an issue of choice, but now maybe more educated. Those that have both and want to see confirmed data, just hook to buds and bring up brake pressures. It surprised me, didn't think they had this info available.

Could the increase in hydraulic pressure cause the brake system to fail? How much pressure did the buds show when both hand brake & foot brake were applied?
Thanks Dennis
 
Has anyone put a handbrake on the RT-S yet if you have were did you put the handbrake. Did you have to cut off part of the handle bar shield. Can you show a pic of it

ride safe all

We have put a handbrake on the 2010 RT. It was on display in Daytona. The handle bar shield is part of the kit that we sell. We have purchased several from BRP and modified them to work with our brake system. Very neat and clean after assembly. This will be on my web page very shortly. We are taking advance orders for this item as well.
 
We have put a handbrake on the 2010 RT. It was on display in Daytona. The handle bar shield is part of the kit that we sell. We have purchased several from BRP and modified them to work with our brake system. Very neat and clean after assembly. This will be on my web page very shortly. We are taking advance orders for this item as well.

thanks Billy for the info

Do you have any pic of this setup and how much will it be for it
 
Never tried to see what was max pressures, but did try to see if the hand brake could give you the same pressures as the foot brake. Also happened to notice that if you used both you could get the same brake pressure with using less force at each location. Damage the system, you are still only activating the same slave cylinder that your foot engages and if you stood on that foot brake you would get crazy pressures also. Remember also, abs will kick in as soon as any wheel locks up. My point is your foot is not always where it needs to be in an emergency and your hand is, unless you are using cruise control.
 
YES

ISCI hand brake and floorboards are the best thing I've done to my Spyder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
brake

how does this mod effect the warranty is it from the factory.?????? :spyder2:does insurance cover you if it fails.
 
My problem with not having a hand brake is, Because the Spyder is foot brake only when i ride my two wheeler
i tend use the rear brake too often and too hard, Which is a no no.
So i guess if you never road a two wheeler you wouldn't miss a hand brake.
That's the crowd BRP was shooting for.
Guess they didn't think about the handicapped!?
 
My problem with not having a hand brake is, Because the Spyder is foot brake only when i ride my two wheeler
i tend use the rear brake too often and too hard, Which is a no no.
So i guess if you never road a two wheeler you wouldn't miss a hand brake.
That's the crowd BRP was shooting for.
Guess they didn't think about the handicapped!?

I really notice it too when I switch back and forth. Added the front brake handle to the Spyder and now its a comfortable change, no matter which one I am on.
 
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