Parking brake

[M2102]

I was asked a few days ago if a parking brake can be added to a road smith trike. Had no ideas so thought I would ask trikers in the know. It is my understanding that Harley trikes can have one added on after the fact. Can road smith haves one added on?

 

[Gold Rush]

I was asked a few days ago if a parking brake can be added to a road smith trike. Had no ideas so thought I would ask trikers in the know. It is my understanding that Harley trikes can have one added on after the fact. Can road smith haves one added on?

Mike, it is an option for the conversion kit so I expect one might have it added after the fact. Go to their web site and download the install manual. That would give you a pretty good idea if your are contemplating such a move. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[M2102]

Thanks Jerry for jogging my mind. Don't know why I didn't think of that and I have it down loaded on my kindle.

 

[blue84]

I have one on my Roadsmith trike when I bought it. It is on the right hand side of the rear fender & it has come in handy lots of time.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

I'm interested to know too. I once had a customer tell me that he had to let the trike builder know prior to ordering his kit. But I might have his trike confused with another trike brand.

 

[Gold Rush]

Greg just might have something there.... I went and looked at my install manual and did not find anything about parking brake. That may be one of those things added during production.

Sorry if I added confusion to the thread. :xszpv: :xszpv:

 

[bikerbillone]

Parking brake came with the package with my install, sort of a freebee, if there is such a thing. I find that if you're not real careful and attentive and don't the set the hand brake full on so the trike doesn't move, you'll find a heap of trouble. When you smell 'hot' it's probably too late, I disconnected mine. So bottom line, I would not go for that option, there are better ways to keep the machine from rolling away.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

So bottom line, I would not go for that option, there are better ways to keep the machine from rolling away.

I agree ... put in 1st gear, turn ignition off, let clutch out and allow the trike to roll till is stops rolling, and then get off.

 

[bikerbillone]

Agree Greg, glad to hear you concur, respect your opinions. Damn hand brake cost me dearly, it sucks. Of course it was my momentary lapse, but now I'm sure wishing it wasn't even there.

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

Agree Greg, glad to hear you concur, respect your opinions. Damn hand brake cost me dearly, it sucks. Of course it was my momentary lapse, but now I'm sure wishing it wasn't even there.

At least RoadSmith uses one of the best designs. On the car side of things, it's known as the Corvette design. I believe there are 3 common e-brake designs used on cars with rear disc brakes. Like a Vette, RoadSmith separates the rear braking system from the e-brake and use the drum area of the rotor for the e-brake shoes. Do you remember the other design GM used ??? They had this phony racketing rear caliper piston they used for years. The ratcheting piston would mechanically ratchet the caliper pucks inwards to apply the rear disc pads against the rotor to engage the e-brake. The problem was that it never ratcheted well as age set in.

The best e-brake design on cars with rear discs is used on more expensive European or exotics. Basically, the e-brake system is again separated from the rear calipers, but this time completely. However, this design is expensive. Another set of inboard rotors are attached to the output shafts of the differential. Brackets are used to hang another set of mechanically operated calipers. The e-brake cables are attached to a cam, and when pulled, the cam rotates and squeezes the pads against the rotors. The 4-rotor caliper/disc design is best, but extremely expensive ... it also adds a lot of weight.

Corvette design



POS GM w/ratchetting rear piston



European design

 

[GoldWingrGreg]

Here is a mega costly design. In-board rear disc brakes with 2 calipers on each rotor. One caliper on each side is hydraulically operated for braking (lower), and the upper is probably mechanically operated by a cable to engage the brake.

Sorry for the double pix.

 

[bikerbillone]

Yes, your corvette design does look familiar. I can tell you, those rotors hare heavy duty, looks like they belong on a semi truck, how they could get hot enough on a trike to cause warp to a very noticeable pulsation with a soft touch on the rear brake is beyond me. I can also tell you, the EBC brake pads are required to get a 'bite' on the rotors for a decent stop. The OEMs that came on my 2012 conversion were not good at all, had to stand on the foot brake to slow the beast down. Road Smith sent me free EBC pads, but that required a trip to Daytona and labor install cost. I thought RS might cut me some slack on the install, but that didn't happen. Not complaining, it is what it is, just passing information along.

 

[M2102]

Brake

As I looked closer at a picture of a RS trike with parking brake I noticed it had aqua boards and incorporated into the board under passenger foot peg. Mite not be able to add it on unless someone with a RS without the aqua boards that has a parking brake I would like to see how it operates or at least a picture of the brake.

 

[Bronson512]

The many years I rode a motorcycle having a parking brake never crossed my mind. Within a few rides on a trike I was thinking I wish I had one. Some good info, Thanks!

 

[Wingrider55]

Looking at the Roadsmith order form it does not say that aqua boards are required for the parking brake so I would think you should be able to add it to your trike. I have a Roadsmith and would not be with out the parking brake. I have had the bike roll down hill using the reverse button so I would not trust that for parking and don't like leaving it in gear.

 

[bcop31]

As I have a Champion Kit on my Goldwing, I do not have a parking brake. I have a bright orange length of velcro that I use to wrap around the brake lever when I park on a hill. I do not leave it on for extended periods of time so I do not believe I am hurting the brake system when I do this. It is easy, cheap and it works. :clapping::scooter:

 

[wehrme]

I leave mine in gear and have a zip tie that I slip over the front brake lever and handle grip. $.03 cost

 

[W3JNP]

Alternatives to a parking brake:

Park it in gear.

Use Velcro strap over the handbrake.

Carry a small set of chocks which work better when someone else can pull them for you while you are already on the bike and not letting it roll away (;->

Try and be selective where you park.

If you still have your center stand on that will often hold the bike in place quite well. Getting your trike off and on it is possible once you get the hang of it. In my case I have a ride off center stand that really does a nice and easy job.

 

[Burnerboy]

I leave mine in gear and have a zip tie that I slip over the front brake lever and handle grip. $.03 cost

Aaaaaaaaaaaa man what an excellent idea, (wire zip ties) heck I have packages of them in my service truck.......:gah::gah:...........Thank you! I use them almost every single day, and never even "thought" of your idea...........

Ronnie

 

[bikerbillone]

Zip tie is a very good idea.....Much better than the foolish hand brake, just my opinion. I think maybe that hand brake puts just a little pressure on the pads even when fully in the off position, that's just my opinion as well. I know I got a warped rotor on the hand brake side, I disconnected the hand brake. Now you haven't lived until you pay to have right and left side rotors replaced. The hand brake came with the install, not as an option, as an option, I'd never have considered it.

 

[knob]

The parking brake is a great idea but I just wish I could remember to unset it. I'll bet someone could come up with a switch and light to remind guys like us that it's on. My truck does. I carry two small 2x4 blocks I cut with me to chock the rear tires when I'm concerned that it might roll.

 

[slug]

The Eurowing kit uses a separate cable operated caliper for the parking brake on each rear rotor. They mount(relocate) the side stand switch to the parking brake lever so the sidestand light comes on on the dash when the parking brake is engaged. The light being on is a helpful reminder to release the parking brake before you drive off.

 

[mhgoldwing]

IMO, the guys who say the parking brake isn't needed don't live where you need them. Two of the responders who said such live in Florida where the biggest hill is a bridge.

Live and ride in Arkansas or Colorado type states and you will understand how handy it is to have plus added a great deal more safety than wheel chocks, bungees around front brake, etc.

P.S. If you put the brake full on you will not go far if you try to drive away! I will agree that a reminder light would be nice. I've just been too lazy to add one.

 

[CrystalPistol]

So bottom line, I would not go for that option, there are better ways to keep the machine from rolling away.

I agree ... put in 1st gear, turn ignition off, let clutch out and allow the trike to roll till is stops rolling, and then get off.

Pull brake, insert wedge, bike will stay put while warming up in front of room or in driveway .... mount up, squeeze brake, wedge drops, ready to ride.

 

[BrokenBackJack]

Pull brake, insert wedge, bike will stay put while warming up in front of room or in driveway .... mount up, squeeze brake, wedge drops, ready to ride.

What did you use for a wedge?

Can you take a close up picture of it?

What are the dimensions of it?

Thanks!

 

[Ayatolla of Rockin' Rolla]

Brethren,

I have a parking brake on my Roadsmith 1500 & never had a problem riding off with it engaged. You'll know right away its on, when you go to shift from 1st to 2nd gear & have a notcicable loss in speed.

I also purchased a couple of collapsible steel wheel chocks from Harbor Freight that fold down to the size of a deck of playing cards for the unavoidable steep inclines

 

[CrystalPistol]

What did you use for a wedge?

Can you take a close up picture of it?

What are the dimensions of it?

Thanks!

 

[CrystalPistol]

Works very well. I have even used it for longer than a few minutes like where parked on grade in gear. It doesn't needa hard squeeze on the lever to stop a roll away ... as you know from just using the frt brake to hold still at a light. Usually I use it when warming up and there's a grade of any sort, like the parking lot at Park Vista Motel on the Blue Ridge Parkway .... or my back yard outside the basement. Not a steep grade but just enough that there is a tendency for the trike to move if not held stopped.

Also it let's me set the brake to check all my brake lights.

 

[hogmemberisold]

This is a good idea, so I used it to put together a short large diameter stainless steel cotter pin, held by a stainless steel bead chain.

Thanks!