Ball missing from end of brake lever

[Jack85]

I had my silver Ride Forever course a few weeks ago and the ball at the end of my brake lever has fallen off. The instructor wasn't sure if it would pass a WOF because of that.

Does anybody know if it will fail for that?

[BMWST?]

probably, they may see it as a dangerous protusion.In the real world i am not sure how much difference the ball would make

[Oakie]

probably, they may see it as a dangerous protusion.In the real world i am not sure how much difference the ball would make

It's probably not so much that the ball is missing as how tidy the end of the lever is.

[tigertim20]

I recall a friend being failed for a WOF for it. They also have to be present on racebikes too, not that that is particularly relevent.

[russd7]

the reason for the ball is so ya don't stab a pedestrian when ya run into em, technically not up to standard if it is sharp but would depend on whether they picked it up, have had a bike fail wof for no handlebar bung

[BuzzardNZ]

An old bike of mine failed the WOF because of this.

[T.W.R]

Go spend $20 on an aftermarket replacement :facepalm: , or cut the other levers end off and file them up to nice rounded points :pinch:
Reality is a broken lever end is far less dangerous than the spiked bar-end weights & other spiked items that plenty of people put on cruisers & customs ;)

[FJRider]

That sounds like a nonsensical reason when hitting a pedestrian with the rest of the bike could kill them. I would say the reason for the ball would be to prevent your hand sliding off or not gripping properly if you have to grab the lever in a hurry and its wet.

Knobs on cocks are there to stop your hand sliding off ... (use both hands if you have this problem)

Remember ... if you hit someone with your handlebars ... hit them with the clutch lever side. Not the front brake side. More likely you will stay upright.

But hit too hard on either side and you are going down. Hitting the pedestrian square on their body (no brakes and full noise) will give you the best chance (overall) of staying upright.

And THEY will never want to try their luck again ... ever.

[admenk]

Had this on one of my bikes. I ground the end of the lever into a nice rounded profile and went through the whole LVV process with it. No one mentioned anything and it passed all ok, so assumed all was ok :yes:

[AllanB]

Remember ... if you hit someone with your handlebars ... hit them with the clutch lever side. Not the front brake side. More likely you will stay upright.




Tip of the week contender ?


Sounds like a good excuse to shout yourself some spiffy new adjustable levers. ;)

[bogan]

It all depends if the ball left with just the tip, or if some shaft went along with.


An old bike of mine failed the WOF because of this.

Same, well, it failed for something else, then when I went back with that bit fixed they refailed it on the lever (which was just as broken as for the original check they didn't pick up on it.

[FJRider]

It all depends if the ball left with just the tip, or if some shaft went along with.





Some people's taste may vary ...

Some like getting at least one ball with the entire shaft. Some don't like getting shafted at all.

Some are just happy to give (or get) a tip ...

[jellywrestler]

or cut the other levers end off and file them up to nice rounded points :pinch:

yeah and get two failing a warrant and having to be replaced

[jellywrestler]

the reason for the ball is so ya don't stab a pedestrian when ya run into em

or yourself, not a commone injury but if you get one stab you you'll be wishing you'd replaced it

[Jack85]

I should have guessed there would be a lot of euphemism! :whistle:

[Ocean1]

or yourself, not a commone injury but if you get one stab you you'll be wishing you'd replaced it

Wasn't there a death at an MX event years ago caused by a broken brake lever?

[Oakie]

I would say the reason for the ball would be to prevent your hand sliding off or not gripping properly if you have to grab the lever in a hurry and its wet.

Which is why we boys have a knob on the end of our penises (penii?). To stop our hands slipping off when we're ummm ... washing it in the shower. (It's mine and I'll wash it as fast as I like).

EDIT: oh, just noticed that FJ had already cracked that one out. Never mind. It must be true then.

[Oakie]

Wasn't there a death at an MX event years ago caused by a broken brake lever?

Did see a photo of a lever that went through a guys hand a few years ago.

[T.W.R]

yeah and get two failing a warrant and having to be replaced

least then the purse strings would be released and a new matching set would be purchased :baby:

Actually thinking about it.....it may have had mumps down one side so one ball is bigger than the other :wait:

[rastuscat]

I had my silver Ride Forever course a few weeks ago and the ball at the end of my brake lever has fallen off. The instructor wasn't sure if it would pass a WOF because of that.

Does anybody know if it will fail for that?

I think that instructor wuz me.

[AllanB]

I think that instructor wuz me.

Good grief - you check their knobs as well?

[jellywrestler]

I think that instructor wuz me.

so you're an instructor but you don't know the rules? oops, you should join MNZ and help with the racing

[jasonu]

Wasn't there a death at an MX event years ago caused by a broken brake lever?

Obviously the rider was pressured to keep up and therefore died.

[awayatc]

so you're an instructor but you don't know the rules? oops, you should join MNZ and help with the racing

Riding instructor.....

Not wof inspector!

[Crasherfromwayback]

I had my silver Ride Forever course a few weeks ago and the ball at the end of my brake lever has fallen off. The instructor wasn't sure if it would pass a WOF because of that.

Does anybody know if it will fail for that?

You don't want to be riding a bike without the ball on your levers. I found out why as a kid when my RV125 landed on my foot and speared my foot to the ground with it's ball less clutch lever.

[jellywrestler]

Riding instructor.....

Not wof inspector!

yip, but they should still have a knowledge on bike set up and safety issues in my mind.

[Honest Andy]

yip, but they should still have a knowledge on bike set up and safety issues in my mind.

I thought he did? He brought it to the riders attention, he can't overrule the wof inspector... Pretty helpful I thought :)
Message to op: you might fail a wof sometime in the future if an inspector notices it. In the meantime understand that it is a minor safety concern so get a replacement next time you're at the wrecker :yes:

[PistonBlown]

...have had a bike fail wof for no handlebar bung

I have a round scar on my lower back from a handlebar without a bung so can understand that. Mind you down a bit and to the left would have been worse.

[HenryDorsetCase]

That sounds like a nonsensical reason when hitting a pedestrian with the rest of the bike could kill them. I would say the reason for the ball would be to prevent your hand sliding off or not gripping properly if you have to grab the lever in a hurry and its wet.

has anyone said that is why a penis has a knob on the end of it yet? (so your hand doesnt slip off the end whenst pissing) If not can I be the first?

[HenryDorsetCase]

You don't want to be riding a bike without the ball on your levers. I found out why as a kid when my RV125 landed on my foot and speared my foot to the ground with it's ball less clutch lever.

ow, fuck!. Hopefully you were riding in jeans and sandshoes and no helmet. and what is it with Suzuki RV's? the very first motorbike I ever rode - a mates RV90: He said go and ride up that pile of shingle and stop at the top (it was about three feet high). Me: yeah sweet, wrung the things neck, got it airborne and fell off. All my mates run over to the bike to see if its OK.....

[HenryDorsetCase]

Good grief - you check their knobs as well?

do they have to pay extra or is that part of the cost? Asking for a, uh, friend.

[Crasherfromwayback]

ow, fuck!. Hopefully you were riding in jeans and sandshoes and no helmet. and what is it with Suzuki RV's? the very first motorbike I ever rode - a mates RV90: He said go and ride up that pile of shingle and stop at the top (it was about three feet high). Me: yeah sweet, wrung the things neck, got it airborne and fell off. All my mates run over to the bike to see if its OK.....

Jeans and gumboots mate. Was only ten at the time. Have a pretty mean scar on me foot from it. My neighbors had an RV90, it's what I wanted, as the fatter front tyre was better at the beach which is where mine lived.

[jellywrestler]

I thought he did? He brought it to the riders attention, he can't overrule the wof inspector... Pretty helpful I thought :)
Message to op: you might fail a wof sometime in the future if an inspector notices it. In the meantime understand that it is a minor safety concern so get a replacement next time you're at the wrecker :yes:

we're talking about two different instructors here if you check the thread, one knew about it one didn't

[jellywrestler]

next time you're at the wrecker :yes:

what are they these days?

[russd7]

That sounds like a nonsensical reason when hitting a pedestrian with the rest of the bike could kill them. I would say the reason for the ball would be to prevent your hand sliding off or not gripping properly if you have to grab the lever in a hurry and its wet.

yeah, except i dont grip my brake lever, my hand tends to grip the handlebar.

ohhhh crap sucked in again. :motu:

[russd7]

, he can't overrule the wof inspector

i used to run a thursday evening ride locally, we had a young guy turn up, pretty new L plate on his old honda 250, nice brand new wof, pretty proud was that young fella until i pointed out the fork oil caked in grime down his front lower forks and told him to ride nice an quietly home. how the hell a wof inspector missed that is beyond me.

question for rastus, if ya had a bike turn up on your bronze course (or any course) would you let it ride even if it had just got the wof that day

[rastuscat]

question for rastus, if ya had a bike turn up on your bronze course (or any course) would you let it ride even if it had just got the wof that day

I've had to turn very few away since I started a couple of years back.

I'm no mechanic, so I don't delve into fine detail. Lights have to work. Brakes have to work. Generally looking safe, works for me.

If a bike isn't licenced, I get them to do it online on their phone and show me the email confirmation, or it's no go. Not many turn up on an unlicensed bike. It's still illegal to ride without the label displayed, but I'll live with evidence of licencing.

No WoF, no course. We have bikes folk can use, at a cost. Their choice.

I knocked a 16 year old back once. Motard which had been on the track (Ruapuna) the previous day. Bald front tyre. Really? Would you turn up on a course with a slick?

One interesting thing that is happening is people turning up on a LAMS bike bigger than 250 with modifications making them.lighter or more powerful. Those things void the LAMS approval, but we've been told to not argue, to just take them out.

The situation arises at the start of CBTA assessments too. I've refused to take one guy out on his test, he turned up on a mates total puss box. As stated, I'm no mechanic, but this thing looked like it was off the set of Mad Max. Wiring had the potential to set the bike alight at short notice. Indicators didn't work. Horn didn't work.

Not really a big problem. People generally know we have to play by the rules.

[jellywrestler]

he turned up on a mates total puss box.

you spelt Harley wrong