Foot Brake vs Handlebar Brake - would it be better for me?

[flapjackandbeans]

Hi
I'm still on a list to have a Hip replacement but I'm keen to get out riding my Spyder RTL I bought new last August. If I ride at the moment I'm in so much pain having my legs apart and then having to press on the brake foot pedal. I'm asking, would it be a lot better if I fitted the handlebar brake system? I'm a motorbike rider so I am familiar with the brake on the handlebars.

Last Question; do you remove the footbrake if changing to a handlebar brake, as that would facilitate more ease to place my bad leg in a comfortable position?
This getting old stuff is hard work - keep taking the tablets...

 

[Hound]

My understanding of the kit is it attaches to the mechanical parts that activate your brakes.
It doesn't change anything in the brake lines. They have a pretty good instruction link on their website.

 

[Bfromla]

My understanding of the kit is it attaches to the mechanical parts that activate your brakes.
It doesn't change anything in the brake lines. They have a pretty good instruction link on their website.

Agree & there's also multiplayer reports of additional adjustments & a weaker response from the handbrake. Nothing horrible, just comments on how different it is from the foot pedal. Sorry, not sure if removing the pedal would be advisable if emergency stopping is needed.

 

[McClendons]

I had a handbrake on the last model RTL, and I LOVED it. The handbrake was not quite as strong as that on a normal motorcycle, but worked very well. Made it much easier for me to ride, I had the same hip situation as you describe. I found I could not move my leg quickly enough to be safe, which the handbrake problem solved. Note, I still transitioned to footbrake as well, a motorcycle habit I guess, but was never worried that my leg would fail me. I am considering a new model now that I've had my hip replaced, and I am actually considering used over new, because they don't seem to have the handbrake available for the '24/'25 Spyders yet. The system mounts mechanically only, no change to the existing brake system, so no safety issues - you do change out 1 pin as I recall, but it is literally just a metal rod with a hole in it for a cotter pin.

 

[BajaRon]

Hound is correct. The ISCI brake kit simply attaches to the master cylinder linkage. No need to modify or remove the foot brake. Just leave it there. It will go up and down with the use of the hand brake.

McClendons is also correct that the hand brake is not as strong as the foot brake. But it is quite effective.

 

[Outtomunch]

Are you having issues with just the right hip? If your left leg is ok...

I'm a right leg amputee and having at first considered the hand brake, I finally decided to move the foot brake to the left hand side.
I use my left foot/leg to operate it and there's no loss in braking efficiency.

Based in the UK it also worked out cheaper than the handbrake kit (with import duties etc).

PS Having had my 'good leg' hip replaced in my 40's due to the work it's done compensating for my dodgy right leg, hang on in there, you'll be blown away by how effective a total hip replacement is!

Andres

 

[Jetfixer]

I installed the ISCI handbrake kit on a friends' 2023 RTL. He loves it. However, be aware that you will not have as much leverage with the handbrake as you do with the foot pedal. As stated above, there is NO removal of the existing brake system. This is an add-on. My friend now uses a combination of the foot brake and the handbrake.