Chinese Imitation Race Levers - Warning | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

Chinese Imitation Race Levers - Warning

what's wrong with stock levers, stop supporting china, if it isn't broke don't fix it, your wasting you money for bling. your brakes are the most important part of your bike, got it?
 
Stewart said:
what's wrong with stock levers, stop supporting china, if it isn't broke don't fix it, your wasting you money for bling. your brakes are the most important part of your bike, got it?
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How about adjustability?
 
Stewart said:
what's wrong with stock levers, stop supporting china, if it isn't broke don't fix it, your wasting you money for bling. your brakes are the most important part of your bike, got it?
Click to expand...


Stock levers are almost always long and really fugly. Plus Pazzos are made in Canada (I believe BC) =P

Chazzos on the other hand....
 
Stewart said:
what's wrong with stock levers, stop supporting china, if it isn't broke don't fix it, your wasting you money for bling. your brakes are the most important part of your bike, got it?
Click to expand...

They flex a lot, which is a price paid in lost brake feel.
 
kneedragger88 said:
I understand the mechanics behind the issue (I own a shop and work on bikes everyday) problem here is as an organizer I have to be concerned with liability. If I have a re-occurring problem thats identified and dont act on it then I assume some liability. Can they be fine ? Yes Will all riders check and confirm the proper operation? Not a chance as already proven. Its like some of the cheap Chinese bodywork some fits fine some not even close. Seen different sets from same company go both directions.
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I ain't no professional motorcycle mechanic, but couldn't you just require riders to demonstrate that both wheels can spin freely?
 
TwistedKestrel said:
I ain't no professional motorcycle mechanic, but couldn't you just require riders to demonstrate that both wheels can spin freely?
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Not really. First reason is we dont have time at tech to have both wheels lifted on stands times well over 100 bikes. Also that doesnt address a fresh wheel change nor a difference in different wheels/rotors being used. Like I said we are looking at this and will be happy to add brands to the accepted list if they are brought forward and shown to be ok. None of it is done yet however its our legal responsibility to address any known safety dysfunction. Its been proven that riders (some) will not do the appropriate testing before venturing out using questionable parts as shown in the crashes from this already. One rider is a member of this forum and crashed three times from the same thing before figuring out what went wrong.
Like I said we are discussing it and will be dealing with it shortly in a safe manor. Its no different than us implementing mandatory brake guards and sharkfins proactively addressing known issues.
My concern is our event/rider safety and our liability as a company. That said generally whats shown/implemented at SOAR does have at least some trickle down effect , for that I dont apologize.
 
Stewart said:
what's wrong with stock levers, stop supporting china, if it isn't broke don't fix it, your wasting you money for bling. your brakes are the most important part of your bike, got it?
Click to expand...

Uh, last time I checked somewhere around 99% of everything you buy is made in China. You don't want to support China? Let's see how far you get...

Yamaha bikes don't have adjustable clutch levers. And I have no interest in spending $200 just so the clutch lever can be adjusted.
 
TwistedKestrel said:
I ain't no professional motorcycle mechanic, but couldn't you just require riders to demonstrate that both wheels can spin freely?
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The issue is not that simple. The problem that was encountered on track with certain aftermarket brake levers is that when the lever is let go, it doesn't allow the piston inside the master cylinder to retract far enough to uncover the vent hole that connects the brake circuit to the reservoir when you are not applying the brake.

Then what happens ... the bike seems OK in the paddock, the rider goes out on the track, uses the brakes a few times. The heat starts soaking into the fluid at the caliper. The fluid starts expanding, but because the vent hole is blocked, the fluid has nowhere to go. So it starts applying pressure (drag) to the brake pads, slightly applying the brake even though the rider is not squeezing the lever. Applying the brake causes more heat to be generated ... which causes the fluid to try to expand more but it can't so it applies more pressure, applying the brake more, generating more heat, and I think you can see the feedback loop that has been created. If the rider is lucky, the bike will come to its uncommanded stop before the situation goes catastrophic. If the rider is not lucky, it ends with the front brake locking the front wheel and sending the rider cartwheeling down the track while everyone else wonders "Why the heck could someone crash there?"

Detecting this situation before going on the track requires taking a brake caliper off and pushing the pistons back. If they push back and the fluid goes into the reservoir, it's OK. If the pistons cannot be pushed back, there is a problem. This is not a viable exercise at tech inspection.

The rider can detect it on track if the brake lever starts feeling unusually firm with no free play before the brakes start actuating. If anyone reading this detects their brakes doing that while out on their bike then coast to a stop immediately! If you HAVE to apply the brake then do so, but be prepared for the brakes not releasing afterward!
 
Not to pick on the rider at SOAR last round that crashed, but he knew something was wrong several corners before the crash, and he kept riding hard. I know, I was right behind him the whole time until he went down. I'm sure I even have video.

It was just a practice session, should have backed off and sourced the problem.
 
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