hand brakes for trikes

[jack37]

[QUOTE=jack37;165318]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]

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.

[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..

[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..

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]

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..

[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.