Handbrake on RT - Opinion

[Purple Guy]

I had one and I ended up returning it.
I used it for about 1 month but found more times than not that I would roll the throttle while applying the had brake.
The original lever that comes with the hand brake is quite a reach. Thinking that might be it I ordered their custom lever which is bent in closer to the the handle bars but it still didn't work for me.
I do not have any limitations and only wanted one as I like to ride with my feet on my highway pegs.
I will also add that ISCI customer support is top notch and you can buy the hand brake with confidence!

 

[GA_Spyderman]

People either love or hate the ISCI brake. It sounds like you are a candidate for the ISCI. One needs to stop when they need to stop. If the foot does not work 100%, then you need the ISCI. I say, go for it. :yes:

I think that logic is where I'm at, spyderman. It scares me to think that my reflexes can be slowed significantly in an emergency. The handbrake will give me some security, knowing it's available when I need it. Maybe that won't make a lot of sense to some, but I don't want to put me and my bride in a potentially dangerous situation if there's something I can do about it. Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[RinconRyder]

Thinking about installing the ISCI handbrake on my 2014 RTL. Has anyone put this on their Spyder? What do you think, and do you have any regrets?
It's such an expensive farkle, I want to be sure before I pull the trigger on the purchase.
Thanks in advance.

I bought my Spyder specifically because it had the hand brake installed and would not drive without it. The sitting position on my RTL is bad enough that, coupled with a bad right hip, brings intense pain when lifting my foot to operate the foot brake. Very poor engineering by BRP IMHO.

The hand brake is somewhat hard to pull (my wife doesn't use it) compared to non-BRP products I have ridden but after a lifetime of two-wheelers I feel much more confident using the hand brake.

 

[ofdave]

Maybe this would work - all the people here who try and help by answering others questions ........Should just shut the **** -up and let the folks who don't have answers LOSE out on getting the answers ......:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead: .......... This Forum is heading to be just an outbranch of TWITTER or FACEBOOK :gaah::gaah::gaah: .... You probably don't remember " Scotty " one of the smartest members on this Forum ....He NO longer posts .....can you guess WHY !!!!!! ....here's a hint - look in the next mirror you pass .............. Mike :thumbup:

thanks for the tirade
I'm sure it makes you feel better but it makes no sense
Getting answers to questions is how we learn and why we ask.
Getting pointless questions instead of answers is useless.

 

[GA_Spyderman]

I bought my Spyder specifically because it had the hand brake installed and would not drive without it. The sitting position on my RTL is bad enough that, coupled with a bad right hip, brings intense pain when lifting my foot to operate the foot brake. Very poor engineering by BRP IMHO.

The hand brake is somewhat hard to pull (my wife doesn't use it) compared to non-BRP products I have ridden but after a lifetime of two-wheelers I feel much more confident using the hand brake.

RinconRyder, you have accurately described my problem. This convinces me that this add-on is exactly what I need. Thanks for that.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WELLLLLLL NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT

thanks for the tirade
I'm sure it makes you feel better but it makes no sense
Getting answers to questions is how we learn and why we ask.
Getting pointless questions instead of answers is useless.

" L ", ​I'm sure this makes no sense to you either .......... Mike

 

[loisk]

My issue is with my right knee. The sitting position is such that I get a catch in my knee when I move my foot to apply the brake. The pain is pretty intense and I also feel it in my hip. It hurts so bad that I’ve even had thoughts of selling the Spyder. My wife and I love to ride, but I just can’t keep dealing with the pain. This handbrake may be just help with my problem.

I know exactly what you mean.

Perhaps because i am not tall or wide - I cannot even sit on an rt without right hip seizing up.

The st was better for me than the Rs.

The f3s is best for me, as it is easy to tweak the height of the brake pedal, and the footboard location, and add a backrest - no more hip seizing or knee going on strike.

I know this doesnt help with your rt issue, but at least may give some clues.

 

[Buckeye Chuck 54]

I like mine

When I bought my 2014RT-S I ordered it with the ISCI hand brake. A farkle? Hell no.
I needed it. Some people here need such things. If you don't need it there's no need to
make any remarks about it.
It doesn't work as well as any motorcycle front hand brake, but it still works for me. It's all
I need.
Can't believe such sarcasm and rudeness about something that has nothing to do with what
some people want.
Next thing, will somebody criticize a want for a frunk lid decal?
Chuck

RinconRyder, you have accurately described my problem. This convinces me that this add-on is exactly what I need. Thanks for that.

 

[johnsimion]

Sometimes why people want something for their Spyder it is just none of our business.

Questions in a thread (by other than the OP) are often asked with the hope that having more information as to why, will result in better information being given. All too often the questions are posed to show the vast knowledge of the questioner, rather than a sincere desire to help the original poster with his/her question. And, yes, many asking do actually have a lot of knowledge about Spyders but, as noted,-sometimes it's just none of our business why someone wants something.

Would you question someone's choice of a meal--why do you want fish, what are you wanting to accomplish by eating fish? Or, do you really need the fish dinner?

Very often, people want something just because they want it. Nobody here needs a Spyder. We have them because we want them.

Well, I thought Peter's response was very good. I have no health issues at all but when I bought my Spyder, my first thought was that I wanted to get the handbrake because I was coming over from a motorcycle and it felt weird not to have a handbrake on this "motorcycle-like" thingy that we call Spyder. After riding it a few miles I realized that it would be totally unnecessary. So, when I read Peter's response, from my own perspective it made perfect sense. The OP didn't identify his physical issue and IMHO Peter handled it politely and I think it's all been cleared up.

 

[Easy Rider]

After riding it a few miles I realized that it would be totally unnecessary.

For YOU.

After about 7 months and 3000 miles, my feeling that I need one hasn't changed.
I still occasionally reach for the lever that is not there.
And sometimes fumble with my foot to properly find the pedal.

Things that you learn and become burned into your brain over 50 years are hard to un-learn.

I have my kit and will be having it installed soon.

 

[Bob Denman]

"Georgia"
If you can justify the expense, and it keeps you riding: buy it! :thumbup:
ISCI is a GREAT Company, and they build high-quality stuff for our bikes.

But to try and start a scrum over opinions that you asked for: not cool...

 

[GA_Spyderman]

UPDATE

After weighing all the info and comments, I have decided to go ahead and get the handbrake. One of our kind forum members has offered a used one at a much reduced price over a new one. I really believe it will benefit me a lot. I'll have to get the short reach lever, because I have small hands, but that's OK. Thanks, guys .

 

[Bob Denman]

:congrats:, and I hope that it fulfills your every riding need! :clap:

 

[RinconRyder]

After weighing all the info and comments, I have decided to go ahead and get the handbrake. One of our kind forum members has offered a used one at a much reduced price over a new one. I really believe it will benefit me a lot. I'll have to get the short reach lever, because I have small hands, but that's OK. Thanks, guys .

One other "benefit" of using the hand brake.....

The Spyder gets all upset when you fail to remove your foot from the foot brake. You will not have that problem using the hand brake.

 

[trikermutha]

" L ", ​I'm sure this makes no sense to you either .......... Mike

Does the "L" stand for Lover? :shocked:

 

[Petrom714]

installed last few months on my f3

mild disability in lower legs--while i can apply gas pedal in car nearly perfectly, a nanosecond delay on right foot getting onto the brake pedal made me decide to install the handbrake isci--its great, im still new to all things can am but am practicing using both the hand, and foot brake separately, together, etc...10/10 recommend--only caveat is the distance of the lever to the bar is quite the stretch and also have to learn to not accidently throttle up while reaching for the handbrake

Thinking about installing the ISCI handbrake on my 2014 RTL. Has anyone put this on their Spyder? What do you think, and do you have any regrets?
It's such an expensive farkle, I want to be sure before I pull the trigger on the purchase.
Thanks in advance.

 

[jbim]

If you need a hand brake for physical reasons then I say go for it. If not, I would say ride the Spyder the way it was intended to be ridden.

Before I bought my Spyder I thought I wanted a manual with clutch lever. Then I rode an RT and an F3 and realized the SE6 is quite enjoyable as is. For those coming to Spyder from a 2-wheel, I would suggest the conversion would be easier if they went right away with the SE6. That way, it's easy to train your brain to not think clutch or brake levers. I think BRP should drop the clutch and go solely SE6.

 

[stevencovert]

Me too..

My issue is with my right knee. The sitting position is such that I get a catch in my knee when I move my foot to apply the brake. The pain is pretty intense and I also feel it in my hip. It hurts so bad that I’ve even had thoughts of selling the Spyder. My wife and I love to ride, but I just can’t keep dealing with the pain. This handbrake may be just help with my problem.

New hip, Bursitis, knee pain. I'm getting ready to pull the trigger myself. Once on the bike I am comfy as get out (2016 RTS), can ride for 8-10 hours no problem. The biggest thing I am looking forward to is stretching out on the LaMonster pegs and not worrying about getting back to the brake pad in a hurry. I'm 6'5" and cannot tell you how much more comfy it is to use those pegs and stretch legs out. That is a real, valid reason for the upgrade IMHO - not using highway pegs to be comfortable, knowing things are gonna pop, catch and groan trying to get to the brake pedal in a hurry!! GO FOR IT!! :yes:

My 2 cents

Steve

 

[stevencovert]

Valid point!

I had one and I ended up returning it.
I used it for about 1 month but found more times than not that I would roll the throttle while applying the had brake.
The original lever that comes with the hand brake is quite a reach. Thinking that might be it I ordered their custom lever which is bent in closer to the the handle bars but it still didn't work for me.
I do not have any limitations and only wanted one as I like to ride with my feet on my highway pegs.
I will also add that ISCI customer support is top notch and you can buy the hand brake with confidence!

Thanks for that input. Very useful! I am getting ready myself to buy the kit and didn't think of the reach and position of the lever! I've been on two wheels so long I expect them to be within a good tolerance.

Steve

 

[stevencovert]

Update when you get it installed!

After weighing all the info and comments, I have decided to go ahead and get the handbrake. One of our kind forum members has offered a used one at a much reduced price over a new one. I really believe it will benefit me a lot. I'll have to get the short reach lever, because I have small hands, but that's OK. Thanks, guys .

I'd like to hear your experience with it! Also grats on getting it cheaper than new.