Operating front and back hydralic brakes together

[Youngwarrior]

Hi, I've seen a post/link/thread relating to this but can't find it now.
Is there a way you can operate both front and rear brakes together with only using one lever/foot pedal?

[duffy]

Yes, it's called "linked" brakes. Some bikes come with that as an OEM feature.

[Youngwarrior]

thanks

[Youngwarrior]

anyone have a link for how to achieve a linked brake setup?

[DragonLady58]

This is actually quite simple to achieve yourself if thats what you wanted. If I had a trike under me, I would consider it....But for 2 wheels, naaaa....
I've been riding all my life and there are certain instances where I've learned that use of a front brake will get you into severe trouble.
Three things when approaching intersections will get you severly hurt with front brakes.....
1. A oiled up intersection. Especially when wet!
2. Onramps, Offramps, Intersections with small to medium amount of sand present.
3. Pea-gravel....Onramps, Offramps and Intersections....
Last year, Visiting Wa., coming over the mountains....there was alot of black ice due to lack of travel because of snow....got really tricky coming down the mountains down in Oregon.
If used very, very lightly, the twin brakes are fine, or setup with a good proportioner valve.
Using the front brakes have saved my bacon on many occassions where cars pile up in front.
But that was straight line, dry, traffic up in your face typa scenario. The kinda you never ever want to repeat....

Had a good friend down in TX. hitting a offramp right outside of Dallas/Ft. Worth where some sand was present. Upon clamping down on the brakes of his Street Glide, he went for a very rough tumble. Just Sayin' front brake usage for the ones with little experience can get you into serious trouble....

[Youngwarrior]

Yeah, I'm aware of other issues with front brakes. I haven't been riding all my life but have enough experience to know about the dangers associated with front brake usage and road conditions.

My next question would have been related to a proportional setup.

The main reason why I ask is that I have plans to build and install a suicide shift/clutch. And yes, I am aware of the dangers associated with this also. And yes, other than the dangers, it may still be a stupid idea, but it wouldn't be the most stupid thing I've done thus far in my life. ..having the 2 proportionally linked would cover all bases and one less thing to think about, at least initially. If I was leaving my bike stock I would not be linking brakes.

The second reason is I have recently crushed my right hand. This has made me use front brake very very sparingly, if at all. The main of my experience is with sports bikes and since getting my 99 nomad, I am totally loving the rear break pedal in terms of my riding style. However, there has been 1 or 2 occasions where I've come into corners too hot and really needed some front brake assistance to pull the bike up before turning. My only action has been to change down gears further to help pull bike up, which has resulted in locking the rear up due to shaft drive, not ideal. (but reason 1 is the main reason)

So my question still stands, is there a link anywhere to the process of how to achieve it?

[Sabre-t]

I'm not sure, but I think linked motorcycle brakes are usually also ABS. I can't imagine it being at all safe to link them otherwise.

[Youngwarrior]

...yeah, was reading after i posted. if linked brakes fail, you're only left with BOT (boot on tarmac) braking. not cool.

[Jllm02199]

Gold wings have had it for years.

[Sabre-t]

Originally Posted by Jllm02199

Gold wings have had it for years.

You are right. I had forgotten that (it's on all GW 1800s ABS or not), but it is a very special linkage. If I remember correctly, when you activate the rear brake, only half of the pistons in the front brakes are activated. The front brake can activate all of the pistons in the rear brakes, though. Better to lock the rear than the front is the reasoning, I guess. You can't lock up the front wheel using the rear brake, so it is safer than a 100% rear to front linkage even without ABS.

[Jllm02199]

I had a 92 1500. It had integrated brakes. The hand break operated the right front and the foot break operated the rear and left front.

[Sabre-t]

Originally Posted by Jllm02199

I had a 92 1500. It had integrated brakes. The hand break operated the right front and the foot break operated the rear and left front.

OK. But again, it was not 100% linked to the front when using the rear pedal, correct?

My point is it would take a lot of modifications to make a non-linked bike link the front and rear in a safe manner. I suppose it could be done, but making the front brake control activate both front calipers 100% and linked to the rear and also making the rear activate the front only 50% would be a very difficult task. Making the brakes 100% linked front and back seems awfully dangerous to me.

[duffy]

There are proportion valves available that are 60/40 or 75-25 etc.. The problem would be figuring out exactly what you needed to stop effectively and still be safe doing it. I always thought it was just something else to go bad.

[Jllm02199]

Originally Posted by Sabre-t

OK. But again, it was not 100% linked to the front when using the rear pedal, correct?

My point is it would take a lot of modifications to make a non-linked bike link the front and rear in a safe manner. I suppose it could be done, but making the front brake control activate both front calipers 100% and linked to the rear and also making the rear activate the front only 50% would be a very difficult task. Making the brakes 100% linked front and back seems awfully dangerous to me.

You’re right. There’s a lot more to it. You have to change the master cylinders on both front and rear to match the volume of fluid pressure required to operate the brake cylinders. Change lines. Balance is critical.