Thumb brakes - anybody want one?
 

Am thinking about having some thumb operated rear brake master cylinders made and thought I would poll the board and see what interest I might get.

Just tick the box, no need to commit to anything.

6 views but a whole two of you bothered to vote - weird.

I was looking for the "if it's free I'll try it" option. :lol:

Are you the new weeksy?

400 rips?

That's 2 days with all the bells and whistles at Jerez....

just had a look at the AP item and its 800 bucks.
wow didn't realise they were that much. and im afraid even at 400 it would still be to much for me.
I don't use it enough

Sadly they are an expensive item, but I am still going to go ahead and get some costs. I mean, it's not exactly rocket science is it!

I know they are quite trick but £4--5--600+ trick as you say they'r not rocket sience.

And here's one I made earlier.........

now don't get me wrong but that looks like a standard rear brake M/C with some nice ally billet bracket.
would a simple design like that really cost around £400 ?

Nice, but better with a goldline master cylinder.....

only thing I don't like about that one is it mounts on the handlebar not the fork leg
the price is getting a bit more like it though

Don't get me wrong like...but if you're making a part that operates an "essential part of a motorcycle control system" as the police/insurance companies/litigious individuals would doubtless deem a thumb brake, aren't you opening yourself up to all sorts of liability claims if somebody binned it and blamed you?

I have thought about making one myself before now, the small brembo mastercylinder only costs £28 add a good forkleg/steering damper clamp for aound £22. make up an adapter bracket to bring the two together, then its a case os adding a lever and pivot.
All quite possible here in the workshop at work, but as I have no issues with the standard ones on the 998 or 996 which I do use at times to compensate for a lack of engine braking due to both having slipper clutches, I haven't tried to put one together.

It would be even easier if I use the other Brembo rear mastercylinder that I have as it already has a pivot point as part of the casting.

in my opinion for what they are most prices quoted are over the top

That's why companies like Brancatto Engineering pay out a lot in insurance cover each year. As Tony makes so many parts for mainly the older Ducatis he has to make sure he has liability cover as some componets like a front wheel spindle would have major consequences should it fail.

I'd be up to try one out, but not at £400, it would have to be a bit cheaper.

Whats so difficult about rocket science anyhow?

One would ask, why do you want a thumb operated brake?

Thumb brake?
 

Can you use it as a thumb-rest the same way some people use their std rear brake as a foot rest :lol:

Must admit a thumb brake would make my race bike easier to live with! Once I get myself "wedged in" on the saddle I cant move around much and it's awkward for me to get my lickle tootsies back on the footpeg if I move my foot to use the back brake pedal, so I usually ignore it completely on track!
Only ever use the back brake for slow manoeuvres/heavy traffic situations on the road. :rolleye:

One of my colleagues was giving a technical training course to a bunch of people and used the old "it's not rocket science" cliche...

One of the guys in the class replied "Well actually Harry, that's exactly what it is"

Harry had given the course so many times he'd forgotten that he was giving the course to a bunch of NASA engineers :lol::lol::lol:

I've only used the back brake on the 998 to hold it on my sloping drive while I start the engine and put my gloves on.

Mashed right ankle stops me moving that foot around too much on the bike, so once it's wedged up on the rear-sets that's where it stays!

Used to use the back brake loads on the '97 GSXR600 I had as it was top fun to back into corners, but never found the need on a Ducati - they're so stable that backing it in spoils that bit of the experience...

Giles

Iv got one on me 999, works great same as the one in your pics (brembo rear m/c) only problem was clearance the ducati clocks take up alot of space and getting it to fit is very tight.

it resticts your steering lock which ever way you d o it and you have to move the throttle and switch gear down the bar.

also on full lock the lever nearly hits the frame and needs bending out of the way...bleedings a swine too.

mine cost around £350 including everything and a few hours messing around

have you got a photo ?

i havnt but if you pm me an e-mail addy ill send one..be at the weekend tho

forgot to say, mine works inline with the rear brake so that it is retained.

just one resevoir works both m/c

OK then its not has hard as tryiong to get Cold Fusion to work (yes we have tried it here) Fission wasn't a problem and up the road at Jet they are still juggling with Fusion power. So a Thumb operated brake shouldn't be to difficult, not unless the BBC and ITV news crews are getting in the way :P

hmm I was confused before now im really done in.
we are talking about a thumb operated rear brake. so why do you have to move your throttle as it would normally sit on the left of the bike as your on it. or clutch hand

Thats a standard yamaha rear master cylinder,in the pic,made by brembo !

[Edited on 26-10-2005 by Simon Reed]

Its up to the rider where it goes ...i prefere it on the right thats all ;)

your not wrong :P

Who needs a back brake.....no matter how it would be operated?:pig:

[Edited on 26-10-2005 by andyb]

comes in handy if your about to flip the bike...thats it :frog:

The list of top flight riders is endless
Bayliss needed a new set of pads in his every race, McWilliams crashed out of a podium position in 250GP when he ran out of rear brake, Shakey was not happy about not having a rear brake in his first ride on the Camel bike. Doohan basically got thumb brakes developed after he naffed his ankle. The list goes on and on.

The 1% of the bike riding population who can control the bike sufficiently to back it into a corner and have enough brain power to use their thumb to operate the brake while the rest of their fingers are using the clutch and holding onto the bars at the same time. Whats your right foot doing while all this is going on? Sod all!

Thumb brakes were originally developed for people like Mick Doohan who couldn't use his righ leg after an accident.

With a std ducati rear disc and calliper.................yeah right!
And of course all of those list are on here, including the 1%!

Just joined this thread and am confused.

Thumb brakes? What's wrong with discs? Anyway don't your thumbs wear away:frog:

:lol::lol::lol::flame: