F5 Dave
11th September 2014, 09:21
Hi guys
First & foremost I don’t want anyone to take this post the wrong way. This is not a smear against anyone’s name or whatever, this is purely in the interest of safety.
This is my brake lever, you will notice it’s the 2 piece variety. I didn’t. fortunately Koba was in the garage one night & spotted it fractured. It came apart while I was removing it. How it survived the meeting I used it I don’t know. There are no marks on the end, it was never crashed on that side.
Last meeting someone else in the pits had the same break on his brake lever. I know another bike that has a welded one where it broke.
The later versions seem to have more meat around them I think. Whether that is enough to stop them fracturing I don’t know.
Just check your brake levers if you are running this radial brake setup.
Have a good look for fractures & if you have the earlier levers I would recommend you revise your brake setup. It would particularly unfunny to come to the corner & find the lever gives up resistance.
I’ve since changed to a dirtbike master cylinder (avoid kids size 80s). With a braided line an 11mm bore gives a good level of power & movement if it is in good condition.
While we are about it, be wary of aluminium brake line fittings, they have been known to fracture & aren’t road legal in some countries for that reason. I have a couple of broken ones myself I have taken off bikes.
First & foremost I don’t want anyone to take this post the wrong way. This is not a smear against anyone’s name or whatever, this is purely in the interest of safety.
This is my brake lever, you will notice it’s the 2 piece variety. I didn’t. fortunately Koba was in the garage one night & spotted it fractured. It came apart while I was removing it. How it survived the meeting I used it I don’t know. There are no marks on the end, it was never crashed on that side.
Last meeting someone else in the pits had the same break on his brake lever. I know another bike that has a welded one where it broke.
The later versions seem to have more meat around them I think. Whether that is enough to stop them fracturing I don’t know.
Just check your brake levers if you are running this radial brake setup.
Have a good look for fractures & if you have the earlier levers I would recommend you revise your brake setup. It would particularly unfunny to come to the corner & find the lever gives up resistance.
I’ve since changed to a dirtbike master cylinder (avoid kids size 80s). With a braided line an 11mm bore gives a good level of power & movement if it is in good condition.
While we are about it, be wary of aluminium brake line fittings, they have been known to fracture & aren’t road legal in some countries for that reason. I have a couple of broken ones myself I have taken off bikes.