hand brake

[Pennyrick]

In addition, isn't the Spyder marketed toward older motorcyclists who no longer want to or can't balance on two wheels as well as people who have handicaps / disabilities? I know there are plenty of people on this forum with hip, leg and foot problems. Wouldn't the Spyder be more enticing to those people if they offered the hand brake? I hope BRP marketing is reading .....

BRP didn't miss a thing IMO.

The machine is sold as a Roadster, not as a motorcycle. It isn't ridden like a motorcycle and in many places it isn't licensed as one. The farther away that BRP removes it from being a motorcycle enhances their opportunity to sell to their target markets. A fully integrated foot braking system coupled with the VSS system is an engineering delight.

We added the ISCI handbrake to my wife's RT but if she didn't have a disability that requires that type of assistance it would not be needed. Even then, without some kind of power assist there in no way the hand brake can out perform a foot brake.

Stewart... I guess you think they ought to put the hand throttle and hand choke controls back in automobiles as well?

 

[stewartj239]

Guys. I'm just expressing my opinion like the rest of you. As I've said before, the main reason for me adding the hand brake was for quicker response time. The hand brake accomplishes that without a doubt. There is no way a finger on the brake lever is slower than you having to lift your foot and apply the brake with it. Also coming off 2 wheels, you are still going to ride the Spyder like a motorcycle. It is natural especially if you've got the SM transmission. I appreciate that many of you defend the front hand brake by not being there, but I am on the other side of the fence. People can make their own decisions about what is important to them.

 

[daveinva]

I've always been completely okay with the footbrake, but I've often suggested a darn good reason for adding handbraking: when taking a trike hard into a corner, since the trike doesn't lean but *you* do, from time to time a Spyder rider will inevitably find themselves out of position to easily use the footbrake in a corner. There are times it's simply impossible to use the footbrake in a corner without upsetting your center of gravity atop the Spyder.

And, considering that, unlike a two-wheeler, since it's perfectly safe on the Spyder to (almost) always use significant braking in a corner, the lack of a handbrake to modulate said braking feels not only hits performance, it's also a potential safety consideration (i.e., when you're surprised by a giant turkey vulture strutting in the middle of a blind forest corner, as I once was, I'd really be happier having a handbrake in easy reach than having to awkwardly shift in mid-corner to stomp on the brake pedal! :yikes.

That said, for me, it ain't ever been *close* to worth $1400 to address. For $300... maybe. :sour:

 

[stewartj239]

Stewart... I guess you think they ought to put the hand throttle and hand choke controls back in automobiles as well?

What was the point of this post?

 

[stewartj239]

I've always been completely okay with the footbrake, but I've often suggested a darn good reason for adding handbraking: when taking a trike hard into a corner, since the trike doesn't lean but *you* do, from time to time a Spyder rider will inevitably find themselves out of position to easily use the footbrake in a corner. There are times it's simply impossible to use the footbrake in a corner without upsetting your center of gravity atop the Spyder.

And, considering that, unlike a two-wheeler, since it's perfectly safe on the Spyder to (almost) always use significant braking in a corner, the lack of a handbrake to modulate said braking feels not only hits performance, it's also a potential safety consideration (i.e., when you're surprised by a giant turkey vulture strutting in the middle of a blind forest corner, as I once was, I'd really be happier having a handbrake in easy reach than having to awkwardly shift in mid-corner to stomp on the brake pedal! :yikes.

That said, for me, it ain't ever been *close* to worth $1400 to address. For $300... maybe. :sour:

Another good example of what I'm talking about. I had two instances last summer of similar scenarios as I was trying to learn how to rely solely on the rear brake pedal. After the second one, I decided it wasn't worth it.

 

[stewartj239]

The ONLY reason motorcycles have separate hand and foot brakes is that the technology to correctly proportion front to rear braking across all conditions with a single control did not exist until the last decade or so. Can Am decided to make a clean break with the old tech and controls

That is definitely true, but I am not aware of one manufacturer other than BRP that has eliminated the front brake lever. Just because BRP did it doesn't mean it's right or that it adds no value. My VFR has had linked brakes since 2002 and they still sell it to this day with the front brake lever.

 

[Pennyrick]

Originally Posted by Double Trouble
Stewart... I guess you think they ought to put the hand throttle and hand choke controls back in automobiles as well?

What was the point of this post?

Stewart... no point at all. I was just trying to wise off but failed in my attempt.

My apologies.

 

[stewartj239]

Originally Posted by Double Trouble
Stewart... I guess you think they ought to put the hand throttle and hand choke controls back in automobiles as well?




Stewart... no point at all. I was just trying to wise off but failed in my attempt.

My apologies.

No problem. I get a little too emotional with my opinions as well, so it's all good. However, I think that "healthy" debate is also a good thing in order to really understand other points of view that I am missing - which you guys have presented - so thank you. The main thing is that we are all Spyder lovers

 

[mcpjan]

ISCI Handbrake

I have only had my RT a little more than a week, I have learned the foot brake and have no issues. I did order the handbrake for my RT for my husband to be able to ride it without me having to replace the brakes all the time. He has Parkinson's and his right foot trimmers are bad. I currently have him on a Honda scooter with only handbrake. I want to keep him independent as long as possible. With Parkinson's balance is a big issue. He is still OK for 2 wheels but for how long. So I am for 1 glad ISCI has this quality handbrake available. His happiness and safety is more important than a few dollars. Just my thoughts.

 

[Easy Rider]

I completely disagree. Its a Band-Aid and has no real purpose except for handicap applications.

x
I thought I would be able to resist replying to some short sighted opinions in this thread but......noooooo.

I got here looking for front brake lever options and so far, it appears that there is only one.
I consider the price highway robbery however.
Knowing that most of the need is people with a handicap, they should be ashamed.

There are all kinds of handicaps. Being OLD and not being able to pick up new things quickly is one. Especially if you are still riding on 2 wheels too. You can teach an old dog new tricks.......but you can NOT un-teach him the old ones.

I'm not worried about braking in routine situations.
But I quite assure you that should an emergency come up, I will be grabbing for the hand lever first; if it isn't there that WILL be a problem.
You just can't undo 50 years of training, experience and practice.

 

[Warlock]

I installed the hand brake on mine. I had total knee replacement on both knee and the hand brakes works for me when I need to keep the leg stretched out. As far as stopping power my hand brake does just a good as the foot brake. I installed my own with the help of others here that has done it. With adjustment I can stop mine and the lever comes no where from bottoming out on the grip. My left leg does good. Just my right one ever now and then needs to stay on the cruising pegs. Now with the hand brake I barely use the foot any more.
David

 

[fjray]

Although I'm leaving the spyder world the ISCI handbrake is about the best thing I did to the RT. The quality and customer service are the best I've seen in many years. When I first installed it there was some issues bleeding it and they went the extra mile to make sure it got sorted out to my satisfaction. It's expensive but what value do you put on safety and your life.
I could brake hard enough to engage the ABS with no problem so those that say it isn't as good as the foot brake are wrong. IMHO. It makes riding the twistys much better when you need the brake in a hard right hander.

 

[Easy Rider]

It's expensive but what value do you put on safety and your life.

.
Yea I know. But that doesn't justify price gouging......in my opinion.

 

[fjray]

You're certainly entitled to an opinion. they are just like belly buttons, we all have one.