hand brakes for trikes

[gympy]

Chumbly. Yep you have no parking brake on your trike. It is not mandatory by provinces. It is MANDATORY by the Federal Department of Transport of Canada. Sure you have noproblems getting insurance, you live in a province that has government run insurance and they have to insure all vehicles in that province. Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec are all the same as yours for insurance. Come here to Ontario and try to pass the vehecle safety test and you will fail due to no hand brake on your trike. Also no insurance available as we have private insurance companies and they are very picky. Should you find one that will insure you, you will pay through the nose, believe me. You will find your rates really cheap in BC compared to ours.

Roger

 

[gympy]

Frank Castle. Knowing who you actually are and who you work for, I do not agree with a rubber ban around the hand brake for an emergency brake. Would not want to explain to my insurance company with these words, "Sir, but I did have a rubber band around the front brake lever to the handlebar to give me a parking brake"!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUH, DUH, DUH goes the insurance adjuster!!!!!!!!!!

It's sounds very unprofessional and really, it's "MICKEY MOUSE" in the broadest sense.

 

[Frank Castle]

Frank Castle. Knowing who you actually are and who you work for, I do not agree with a rubber ban around the hand brake for an emergency brake. Would not want to explain to my insurance company with these words, "Sir, but I did have a rubber band around the front brake lever to the handlebar to give me a parking brake"!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUH, DUH, DUH goes the insurance adjuster!!!!!!!!!!

It's sounds very unprofessional and really, it's "MICKEY MOUSE" in the broadest sense.

Well Grumpy,
IT WAS A JOKE... Surely YOU of all people can recognize a joke when you see one and know personally and inherently what one truly looks like. Given your first-hand daily experience, I'd grant you Expert status in that field.
All Hail "The Joke" ThumbUp
Demonstrating and exposing the ABSURD with even greater ABSURDITY blended with humor marinated with a healthy dose of Common Sense. Wait, Commom Sense, my bad... that being a requirement to Understanding I now completely see your difficulty in this instance grasping concepts that are quite Elementary to the rest of us. My apologies, pity and condolences,,, SIR.
A wonderful day to you and the rest of your merry Gang of Malcontents in the Back-Room Coven!


P.s. Careful, "Mickey Mouse" is a registered Trademark of the Disney Corp. They might not appreciate your nonsanctioned and nonsensical useage of their property. Take a lot of back-bacon and hand-knitted Tuques to pay off that civil suit.

 

[Bill Reber]

I would like to know if any one has factualy messed up the starter by using reverse as a parking brake or for that matter had the trike roll on down a hill with reverse used in proper fashion. I am a little new to trikes and can be miss lead , but our dealer in Sumter SC and Champion trike both say that's hog wash ????

 

[rhino 2]

I would like to know if any one has factualy messed up the starter by using reverse as a parking brake or for that matter had the trike roll on down a hill with reverse used in proper fashion. I am a little new to trikes and can be miss lead , but our dealer in Sumter SC and Champion trike both say that's hog wash ????

I have a Tri Glide, (apples to oranges??) The first and only time that i backed into a downward parking space and inadvertently turned the engine off in reverse it jammed in reverse and i had to rock the Trike back and forth by hand to free it. I always park in first gear since then.

 

[3W-lonerider]

Ontario requires a manual hand brake, separate from the hydraulic brakes. This was a concern of mine because I was considering triking there. Law applies to all trikes passing through Ontario. I had decided that it is probably cheaper to pay a fine than modify our trike.

iv'e been to london ontario on several occasions, i do not have a hand brake or parking brake on my trike. 99 valk with a motortrike kit.
i have never been stopped or questioned about it.

 

[sharpietoo]

Champion in California supply a Hand Brake for their kit. I think it will fit all convertions. I had one fitted by them to satisfy the regulations in Australia. Works very well

Good Luck

Collin Sharp

 

[Chumbly]

iv'e been to london ontario on several occasions, i do not have a hand brake or parking brake on my trike. 99 valk with a motortrike kit.
i have never been stopped or questioned about it.

If you have out-of-province plates on your trike, I can't see law enforcement ever bothering you... unless they are totally different there than every other place in Canada.

 

[SMSgt]

I have posted before about the mico lock that is an electric switch you mount wherever you choose and an inline valve that locks on the brake pressure when you flip the switch. Added benifit theft deterrent.

This is really a good idea. It would cost $365.00 or so to buy the Mico Brake parts if you wanted the electric version. They also make a mechanical version that cost a few bucks more.

As far as putting a shutoff switch on the park brake that would be rather easy provided you could find a place to mount your micro shut off switch. You could use the stock shut off circuit and just relocate the switch.

The Velcro strap is an excellent idea. It is inexpensive, reliable and easy to use.

I just don't like the idea of a park brake that you can't release from the seat. Seems to be self defeating if you have to release it then get in the saddle. The thing just might run off when you let it loose.

And as an emergency brake it is useless. As has already been stated.

 

[Tinbasher]

In the UK it is a requirement that any vehicle has at least two separate braking systems. One of these can be a parking brake as well but if it is then it cannot be hydraulic, if this is the case locking off a lever on a hydraulic system isn't legal and you won't pass the annual inspection (MOT).

My current trike has combined front and rear brakes on the right hand lever (hydraulic) and a parking / emergency brake (mechanical) operating on the drive shaft. Parking / emergency brakes must "act on all wheels on the axle to which they are fitted" so if its acting on the rear axle it has to lock both wheels but it can be on the front acting on the single wheel. Home builders often utilise an older cable operated calliper on the front as a handbrake.

Here endith the lesson

 

[jack37]

hi in new south wales australia you have to have a mechanical hand brake no hydralica systems and it has to be ratchet type.i had a hand control my trike the handle bars and the enginner knocked it back because it only had 1 ratchet on it.it was only 1 wheel braked which they will pass it. a lot of the import trikes do not come out with one they must know that in our country we have to do this for inspection thanks jack37

 

[jack37]

hi in new south wales australia you have to have a mechanical hand brake no hydralica systems and it has to be ratchet type.i had a hand control my trike the handle bars and the enginner knocked it back because it only had 1 ratchet on it.it was only 1 wheel braked which they will pass it. a lot of the import trikes do not come out with one they must know that in our country we have to do this for inspection thanks jack37

 

[michbiker1]

Hand brake? Oh, you mean that velcro strap wrapped around the front brake. Works great! And cheap, mine was free. (I used an old Army blousing band.) The best part is that there's never any confusion or doubt that you left the brake on.

Sounds like a great idea. I think I will try it on my new Trike when I get it.

 

[Tony WH]

Which side

Hi. Can you or anyone suggest the best side to mount the parking brake. I've allmost finished fabricating a trike using a motoguzzi california 3 & reliant diff. But can't decide the best side to put the hand brake .on the clutch side or throttle side. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Tony. UK. Cornwall .

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Try to keep it as far away from the exhaust and possible rider and passenger interference. :clapping:

 

[rhino 2]

Hi. Can you or anyone suggest the best side to mount the parking brake. I've allmost finished fabricating a trike using a motoguzzi california 3 & reliant diff. But can't decide the best side to put the hand brake .on the clutch side or throttle side. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Tony. UK. Cornwall .

Welcome to Trike-Talk...Cant help on the parking brake..

But wondering is your clutch on the right. And the throttle on the left in the UK..I ask because my buddy back in 73 had a 60's Triumph bike and the controls were reverse...Not to mention the odd size spanners..

Whitworth's..:gah:

 

[mhgoldwing]

Hand brake? Oh, you mean that velcro strap wrapped around the front brake. Works great! And cheap, mine was free. (I used an old Army blousing band.) The best part is that there's never any confusion or doubt that you left the brake on.

Until the pressure bleeds for whatever reason and/or the rubber hoses swell from the constant pressure; which they were not designed to do. YMMV.

Me, I like my hand brake on my RS.

 

[CrystalPistol]

The pressure applied by Velcro is not likely near what you'll apply with a handful of lever at 60 mph when the sudden need arises. The slight pressure applied by a Velcro strap in those few cases it's needed isn't gonna hurt those lines .... and you wouldn't have need to apply the Velcro long term like when stored.

In my case, I use a small wedge with serrations I made from aluminum, hung from a ball chain. In use I give the lever a squeeze and insert it. Not a tight squeeze, a gentle squeeze is enough when needed. I use it maybe once or twice a year where I have desire to let the engine warm up a minute or two and be assured the trike does not roll away ..... like while I wipe the dew off the fenders and fold the half cover in front of a motel room.

I dare say I've set at long stop lights holding a brake with greater hand pressure for longer periods.

And then there's small plastic tire chocks on a cord.

 

[Gorilla]

I would say which ever side is your strong hand. welcome aboard. most are on the right because most are right handed.

 

[Pegasus1300]

Welcome to Trike-Talk...Cant help on the parking brake..
But wondering is your clutch on the right. And the throttle on the left in the UK..I ask because my buddy back in 73 had a 60's Triumph bike and the controls were reverse...Not to mention the odd size spanners..
Whitworth's..:gah:

Unless they changed it for some reason bikes in Britain have right hand throttles and left hand clutches. The only reason the controls on your buddy's 60's Triumph were reversed is because back then Brit Bikes shifted on the right and foot braked on the left but no other controls were reversed. Indian in the US did that. Shift on right,throttle on left. One reason of legend was that they sold so many machines to police departments and the cops wanted to be able to shoot with the right hand and still hold the throttle open with the left. Another legend is that it kept Indian riders riding Indians and Harley riders riding Harleys.

 

[eckslax]

Parking Brake

I believe that a parking brake is only required if you live in Canada where it is required

 

[CrystalPistol]

Unless they changed it for some reason bikes in Britain have right hand throttles and left hand clutches. The only reason the controls on your buddy's 60's Triumph were reversed is because back then Brit Bikes shifted on the right and foot braked on the left but no other controls were reversed.

Yep, right up through 1974 model year.

I still have a '74 and it's not an issue even when I just got off the GL.

 

[slug]

Eurowing trikes do use the sidestand switch on the parking brake. If the parking brake is on the sidestand switch lights up. This is for the goldwings.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

I believe that a parking brake is only required if you live in Canada where it is required

A parking brake is required on any NEW motor vehicle manufactured in the US with three or more wheels. That is why Harley-Davidson has them on the TRIGLIDE and prior to the introduction that were installing them on the SIDECAR RIGS too.

TRIKE CONVERSIONS are currently exempt in the US but not exempt in CANADA.

 

[paid4c4]

It's apparent to me that Triking Trikes doesn't want my business.

Bill

 

[tfdeputydawg]

It's apparent to me that Triking Trikes doesn't want my business. Bill

That brand was quickly taken off my list of possibilities, back when I was deciding on which conversion to buy!

 

[rhino 2]

I believe that a parking brake is only required if you live in Canada where it is required

Hey Todd..... I don't think you got a welcome.... So Welcome to Trike-Talk..

:welcome:

 

[Ozarkryder]

Hi. Can you or anyone suggest the best side to mount the parking brake. I've allmost finished fabricating a trike using a motoguzzi california 3 & reliant diff. But can't decide the best side to put the hand brake .on the clutch side or throttle side. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Tony. UK. Cornwall .

I know this question came from 2016, but I see that nobody directly answered it.

It would be best to mount the hand brake on the throttle side.

In emergency brake mode this leaves the clutch hand to steer and engage the clutch so you can downshift or just disengage the engine from the drive wheels. It also forces you to let go of the throttle, cutting power to the motor.

In parking brake form it makes it easier to keep the brake on as you are leaning to the foot brake side to reach down and pull the lever.