Shouldn't have let him on it!

[Jeriatric]

I let 2 of my sons ride mine and just told them to ride it like they stole it. They are both in their 40s. They came back and said they couldn't remember the last time they had that much fun. The one boy (a minister) couldn't stop smiling. The other son a firefighter comes by often and says he needs to unwind. yeah right.

Neat!

 

[Bob Denman]

This was about to happen to me. I took my bike to my parents house to show the family what I bought. My brother really forced the issue of him riding it, and he had dad and mom in his corner for me to let him do it. I grudgingly gave in, and he was about to take off with the parking brake engaged. Before he got 10 feet, I realized it and stopped the potential disaster.

Good catch! :2thumbs:

Isn't it just horrible how family can put you in the most awkward situations?? :shocked:

 

[Kratos]

Good catch! :2thumbs:

Isn't it just horrible how family can put you in the most awkward situations?? :shocked:

Yes, you're being "very mean" if you don't let family play with your stuff. Can be frustrating.

 

[arntufun]

go to the d i y sec. and adj. parking brake. it's very easy:thumbup:

:agree: This is no big deal at all. A simple adjustment will have him back to normal.

Unless brake fliud recirculates (I'm almost certain it doesn't) there is no need to check the brake fluid because even if it was burnt (which I'm sure it's not), you would never know it by checking the fluid in the resevour. The burnt fluid would be near the caliper and therfore there is no way to tell unless you bleed the system.

 

[Bob Denman]

Yes, you're being "very mean" if you don't let family play with your stuff. Can be frustrating.

You hate to play this card; but the, "it's coming out of my checkbook, so it's my call!", has worked for me...
But you still feel pretty crappy after you play it! :shocked:

 

[daveinva]

The parking brake on an RS is not electronic as is the one on the RT, it's kinda like a parking brake on a car where you push a lever to mechanically apply the park brake, so you can move it when it's applied just a little bit.

Dave

This. The frustrating thing about the RS brake is that it only catches at the bottom-- meaning, you may have a total of 4-5 detents but unless it's been very recently re-tightened, the brake will only catch on that last detent (the next-to-last detent will usually apply *some* brake, but not enough to keep you from rolling on an incline, and certainly not enough to prevent you from riding away with the parking brake still engaged).

I find that once I re-tighten the brake it'll last you me maybe 500 miles tops before it loosens back to that full range of detents.

I also found that picking up a parking brake extension makes life a bit easier as it allows me to get enough leverage while sitting on the bike to engage the brake once it starts getting slack. Before the extension, once the brake would get loose, I'd have a heck of a time engaging the brake while seated, and forget doing it on a major incline.

If I could design the RS all over again myself, I'd put serious consideration into having the parking brake be on the *right* side of the bike, where the foot brake is. This way you can still get off the bike and keep it stopped before engaging the parking brake. As it stands, I've lost track of the number of times I've thought I've had the parking brake engaged on an incline only to find myself struggling to keep the bike from rolling away once I hopped off, all because it's impossible to hold the foot brake in from the *left* side of the freakin' bike. :banghead:

 

[Daisyjoe]

I've only been on one RS & that was my initial test ryde back in 2010, not my cup of tea, and no offense to all y'all that are RS fans, to each their own.

My question is,

:dontknow:How the heck can you ryde it with the parking brake on? :dontknow:

:lecturef_smilie:Its a parking brake, meant to hold the byke in place, no? :hun:

I know on the RT, I can't go anywhere with the parking brake on, so why the big difference here, what am I missing?

Thanks in advance for helping to educate me:read::bowdown:

I just had my PB adjusted when I took bike in for 6000 mile maintenance. I can still push the machine with the PB on!! Go figure:dontknow:.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Thanks y'all for the education

hyea:I guess Teddy & I are a little more spoiled than I realizedhyea:

pps: Have to admit tho, it IS nice to just push that little button and to know that, even with our loaded camper, it aint go'n anywherehyea:

:lecturef_smilie:But curious, shouldn't BRP or someone do something to correct this?:helpsmilie: I know where we live its very hilly (is that a real word:dontknow and I'd hate to think a Spyder was safe parked on an incline, only to come out and possibly find it in the middle of the road:yikes:

 

[arntufun]

I just had my PB adjusted when I took bike in for 6000 mile maintenance. I can still push the machine with the PB on!! Go figure:dontknow:.

It's not adjusted correctly then. nojoke


Thats the benefit of the SM5, no need for the parking brake. I haven't used mine in two years.

 

[revjvegas]

No problem

I had my brother-n-law ask if he could have a ride on it.



I said sure ... if you don't mind ride'n bitch

 

[SpyderRx]

Ok guys, good info but I have already adjusted the Parking brake. I want more tension on the actual brake pedal. It's not nearly as stiff as it was before. This is the adjustment I am looking for.

 

[Firefly]

Unless brake fliud recirculates (I'm almost certain it doesn't) there is no need to check the brake fluid because even if it was burnt (which I'm sure it's not), you would never know it by checking the fluid in the resevour. The burnt fluid would be near the caliper and therfore there is no way to tell unless you bleed the system.

The more the pads wear, the more fluid is required to push them out.... so if you were a bit low on the brake fluid and had a bunch of wear... you could suddenly end up below low and have to press the pedal down further.. might even set off the brake failure code. It's a long shot.... but could contribute to his problem.

-------------------------

I removed the parking brake on my GS because it was a PITA. The electric version on the RT is awesome.....

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: With that puppy snapped in place; you ain't going anywhere! :thumbup:

 

[Jeriatric]

:agree: This is no big deal at all. A simple adjustment will have him back to normal.

Unless brake fliud recirculates (I'm almost certain it doesn't) there is no need to check the brake fluid because even if it was burnt (which I'm sure it's not), you would never know it by checking the fluid in the resevour. The burnt fluid would be near the caliper and therfore there is no way to tell unless you bleed the system.

You are correct. It does not recirculate. I should have been more clear when I said check the brake fluid. If it got hot enough it will smell burnt. Why check it? If in doubt it's just a smart thing to do for peace of mind.

 

[retread]

When you adjusted the parking brake, did you take the lever off and reposition it, or adjust the sleeve at the end of the cable? The sleeve gives you a "fine" adjustment, the lever gives you "coarse".

john

 

[SpyderRx]

Just adjusted the sleeve. Checked the brake fluid and everything looks good.

 

[DR Buck]

You hate to play this card; but the, "it's coming out of my checkbook, so it's my call!", has worked for me...
But you still feel pretty crappy after you play it! :shocked:

If any of my family had the :cus: to even ask that is exactly the response they would get (possibly interlaced with a few more descriptive adjectives) and what they would expect from me. :doorag:

 

[Bob Denman]

But you'''d still rather not have to say it; right?

 

[boborgera]

You hate to play this card; but the, "it's coming out of my checkbook, so it's my call!", has worked for me...
But you still feel pretty crappy after you play it! :shocked:

Like loaning [giving] money to your kids, Don't expect to get it back, And you'll feel better when you don't. In the case of your bike, don't 'Unless you know they can get it back to you in one piece. ray: