Ball missing from end of brake lever

**Jack85** · 11th June 2017, 17:32

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?** · 11th June 2017, 17:38

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** · 11th June 2017, 17:57

Originally Posted by 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

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

**tigertim20** · 11th June 2017, 18:06

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** · 11th June 2017, 18:07

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** · 11th June 2017, 18:25

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

**T.W.R** · 11th June 2017, 18:34

Go spend $20 on an aftermarket replacement

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

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** · 11th June 2017, 18:39

Originally Posted by cassina

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** · 11th June 2017, 18:41

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

**AllanB** · 11th June 2017, 18:43

Originally Posted by FJRider

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** · 11th June 2017, 19:06

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

Originally Posted by BuzzardNZ

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** · 11th June 2017, 19:58

Originally Posted by bogan

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 ...