Rear brake issue. | GTAMotorcycle.com

Rear brake issue.

A

AjaxRider

Well-known member
What an awesome site this is, I can't believe how much I am learning, even though I am on my 3rd bike and have been licensed since 1993.

I have a problem. I can't sit with my right foot comfortably over the brake without actually stepping on it. ESPECIALLY since I got my new boots. I am almost getting a cramp from having to hold my foot up so it isn't stepping on the brake. I am concerned about activating the brake light when my foot should be just resting on the pedal. Is there a way to adjust the brake pedal so it allows me to rest my foot comfortably on it without braking and/or activating the brake light.

2005 Kawasaki Vulcan 800, just short of 8000 miles.

Thanks in advance.
 
Can you not adjust the brake lever?
 
Wow. Doesn't seem too difficult. I'm gonna try it. I'll let you know how it works out. Thanx a bunch!
 
You shouldn't be resting your foot on the rear brake lever at all. The only reason for adjustment should be to allow you to activate the brake without contorting your foot around.

You have three options; either splay your feet so that they are off to the side of each lever, or rest the ball of your feet on the pegs rather than the sole, or get a bike with footboards.

The brake and gear levers are control mechanisms just like on a car, they are not meant for you to relax your foot on.
 
Off to the side makes sense and I tried it, but doesn't that minimize reaction time? And I am not resting my foot on the brake lever, I'm trying to rest it on the peg without doing so. I am trying to hover without pressing on it.
 
Well if you aren't going to rest your foot on the lever that's OK. As for reaction time, that's what you rest a finger on the front brake lever for. The front will do almost all the braking if you really need to slow down in a hurry.
 
Thanks Fast. Sorry for the misunderstanding, I had never intended to rest on the brake, I knew that would be improper.
Thanks again.
 
I've always adjusted the pedal so that I can cover the brake without pressing it when necessary. Riding pigeon toed can cause you to drag your toes on the ground. For reaction time I use more than 1 finger on the front brake.
I usually also rotate the levers to a comfortable position as well.
 
Probably got rear-ended because nobody could see when his brakes were on.

Fastar1 is right about putting the balls of your foot on the pegs, during normal riding. Also you want to adjust the brake so that you don't lock it easily when you depress it.

Finally, you may need to adjust the brake light switch that turns on when you depress the lever.
 
there should be a screw with a lock nut that adjusts the height at the piviot for the brake pedel, the brake light switch has an ajuster nut where the spring hooks on to the pedel, not easy to get at, but it will have to be lowered. finaly you will have to reset the nut at the end of the rod ( rear wheel ) for the point of contact.
 
fastar1 said:
Great, thanks Baggsy. Now how am I gonna feed my family???
Click to expand...


Sorry.

Teach him how to back it in in a couple of years.

Or write a book.
 
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Well I have adjusted the back brake, and it's great, I can rest my foot without interfering with the brake, and I can access the brake comfortably too. Thanks people!
 
Baggsy said:
Also you want to adjust the brake so that you don't lock it easily when you depress it.
Click to expand...
+1

I do this on all my bikes =) In a panic, I don't wanna mash the rear by accident and lock er up. Technically I should just unhook it all together, but I use it during gradual/slow stops...

Now, just gotta get use to my new +3 rear causing greater engine braking *must not roll off throttle in corners, must not roll off throttle in corners*

-Jamie M.
 
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