Has anyone installed one of these?

[JayDawg]

Within the next 2 years, I will be buying a RT-S or RT-Limited but want to add the hand brake control to it. Here is the link to the aftermarket handbrake.

http://www.isciride.com/iscirtautoparts.htm#handbrakesystem

I was curious if anyone has installed one of these and how they liked it?

 

[TuckMiddle]

ISCI Brake

Kit is wonderful. Rode down to Montgomery one eve, got to the shop at 8 AM CDT after a stay in a real close by motel and was home for dinner in GA. Great folks, terrific facility and people. Got the extra long flag mount also, mounts on the license plate hardware. Brake lever reach is a little long, it's the HD reservoir/lever assembly that's on current HD touring and some other models, but mounts on a slight outward angle and the lever sits about 4 fingers width from the throttle grip instead of 2.5 or 3 on a HD. It is not adjustable and I have found no one making an adjustable lever. Kit is made like it's going on a tank and everyone is impressed with it.

I suggest you sit on a bike with the kit and see what I mean about the lever. We old guys with arthritis need the lever closer to be perfect. It gets an A+ anyway, don't get me wrong. :firstplace:

Tuck

 

[Harley]

Recently purchased my first Spyder from Len at Cowtown in Cuba Mo. I had the handbrake installed before I picked it up, as I have been used to riding two wheelers, and in a panic stop, I would be grabbing for the handbrake. I am very pleased with the product and the dealership. As mentioned before, it is a little too far from the bar, but still a worthwhile addition. I am 75 yrs. young, so I want all the safety things. I purchased a 2012 RT Performance AC SE5 with some mods, and very happy with it.

 

[spyder-dude]

I purchased one last week when I was at Daytona Bike Week and Jeff from ISCI installed it for me. One of the best mods for my spyder. I now feel safe when I have my feet on the floor boards or highway pegs that I can brake fast. I tend to use this hand brake now instead of the foot brake all the time now

 

[rogerb]

I have had mine since June of 2010 when I bought my RT. Have never been sorry for buying the hand-brake system. Quality is great. Most of us senior two wheelers have a tendency of reaching for the front brake, especially in emergencies. For me it has served me well.

 

[dancogan]

Mine was installed at Cowtown at last year's Spyderfest. I really, really like it, but it may not work for someone with small or physically weak hands. Since I move back and forth from 2 wheels to 3 I really like having it. Very well made!

 

[Bob Denman]

They not cheap... because they're well-built and worth it! :2thumbs: :firstplace:

 

[JayDawg]

Thank you all for your responses. Is this something that you can install yourself or that you need to have someone install? I went to RPM Motorsports in Denver yesterday to check out some Spyders and they said it would not void the warranty but they would not install one? But then again, the salesman also said he could not show me how the cruise control worked until after I bought the Spyder too so maybe I just need to go to another dealer?

 

[gypsy_100]

I installed one early on out of concern for reaching for a lever that wasn't there. Or getting back on my two-wheeler and just hitting the pedal, which doesn't do a whole lot on many motorcycles. It's a very high-quality product, well engineered and well made. Installation is time consuming but do-able if you're into that sort of thing.

My only performance comment would be that it takes a lot of squeeze pressure (a strong grip) to get much braking force. If you're used to a two-wheeler where you use a couple fingers for most braking, this won't cut it. It takes all fingers and a lot of grip. Having said that, I can tell you that not long after getting the RT and installing this unit, my wife and I were out riding when some bozo pulled out in front of us -- true panic stop required. I can tell you that I pulled the lever a split second before my foot hit the pedal. Even if the lever didn't give me the full force of the pedal, every split second counts in those situations.

The unit is very cleverly designed in that it doesn't affect the original hydraulic brake system in any way -- I'm sure for liability purposes no one is going to design a system that hydraulically connects to the original system. This instead is simply an alternate way of pushing on the brake pedal. The slave cylinder for the lever simply pushes on the pedal linkage as though you were stepping on the brake. And yes, the pedal does move accordingly. The beauty of it is that even if this system failed or sprung a leak or whatever, there would be no effect on the original system and your pedal brake would work just like it always does. Not that I expect a problem with this quality system and its all steel-braided brake hose, but it's nice to know.

 

[Bob Denman]

I wonder if they could fool with the valving to get a bit more pressure out of the system? :dontknow:

 

[TuckMiddle]

reservoir/lever mounting

Recently purchased my first Spyder from Len at Cowtown in Cuba Mo. I had the handbrake installed before I picked it up, as I have been used to riding two wheelers, and in a panic stop, I would be grabbing for the handbrake. I am very pleased with the product and the dealership. As mentioned before, it is a little too far from the bar, but still a worthwhile addition. I am 75 yrs. young, so I want all the safety things. I purchased a 2012 RT Performance AC SE5 with some mods, and very happy with it.

Boy, you old guys want everything, just like we 74 year olds do.
Glad to see seniors young enought in spirtit to keep riding.

How to go.:clap:

Tuck

 

[TuckMiddle]

Mounting of the reasevoir

I wonder if they could fool with the valving to get a bit more pressure out of the system? :dontknow:

The problem is not that the HD "kit" is not doing it's job, it's that when I, and many others, grab the lever, we don't get "over" the lever so that we have the leverage. If you hit the foot brake first, it takes the "slop" out of the Spyder system and when you pull on the hand lever you then can slide your fingers over as you pull and you have enough, at least I do, to make a normal or rapid stop. By then, the combo of both applications is way more than adequate. I have a modified lever, but it doesn't have the correct angle to it.
Another challenge for the local 4x4 mx guys to solve, we're 75% there. Think I'll ask Inspector Gadget to look at this problem, he's a real savvy, innovative gentleman. I think this problem is not on the RS models, since the handle bar mounting is different.
Like I said above, the system is superb, needs this lever or mount tweeked a bit. IMHO anyway! I'd sure buy again, if I didn't have one already!

Tuck