Use front brake as a handbrake

DanijelTodic

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He guys!

I was wondering how you feel about ziptieing your front brake to prevent the bike from rolling of the centerstand..? The bike rolls forward quite easily and when it's really windy I lock up the front brakes to prevent her falling over.

Does it hurt or damage seals in the master cylinder / caliper when keeping it under slight pressure?

Greetings,

Danijel
 

Mak10

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On other vehicles I own,(Snowmobiles) they have a parking brake, on the brake lever that holds the lever.

it has a warning that the pressure may bleed off if left on for an extended period of time. Thus no braking. I haven’t ever had a problem, but only use it for a short time on the trailer or on a hill. If you forget and leave it on, it’s easy to smoke a $150 belt.
 

DanijelTodic

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Seems like a bit of overthinking to me. Put bike on centrestand, lock, take key out, forget.
I am not overthinking it. Just wondering if the brake system could get damaged with long lasting pressure.

Put your bike on the centerstand and push it from the back to the front...rolls of really easy. Now try it with the front brake applied. There is no way she can roll off. Seems to be a pretty good idea when it's stormy weather.
 

lddave

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On the old Honda ST1100 mailing list someone made a parking brake using the front brake . Do not remember much about it since I live on the golf coast my bike had little or no chance to need one.
 

RCinNC

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I can't say if it would damage the brakes over time, but I can guess that it wasn't designed for continuous pressure over hours. Whether that would cause any long term damage would be an educated guess, but why bother with it? If I was concerned about the bike rolling forward when it's on the center stand, I'd opt for the ancient technology of a small wheel chock in front of the front wheel. Your situation is what wheel chocks were designed for, and they don't require using a system on the bike in a way it wasn't meant to be used.
 

DanijelTodic

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I can't say if it would damage the brakes over time, but I can guess that it wasn't designed for continuous pressure over hours. Whether that would cause any long term damage would be an educated guess, but why bother with it? If I was concerned about the bike rolling forward when it's on the center stand, I'd opt for the ancient technology of a small wheel chock in front of the front wheel. Your situation is what wheel chocks were designed for, and they don't require using a system on the bike in a way it wasn't meant to be used.
I honestly have not even thought of a wheel chock. That is a really good idea! I am going to DIY one now.
 

patrickg450

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or turn the bike around.....

if the front tire is pointed downhill, do a 180° turn and now the back tire is down hill thus putting "tension" onto the center stand. No braking or chalking needed
 

yoyo

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or turn the bike around.....

if the front tire is pointed downhill, do a 180° turn and now the back tire is down hill thus putting "tension" onto the center stand. No braking or chalking needed
That's what I would do but I'd be really surprised if a bike would roll off a centre stand and leaving it in gear is enough to stop it rolling off the side stand.

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
 

jeckyll

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Lotusland
If you're on a hill, leave it in gear and use the side stand. If not on a hill, I've never had a bike come off a centerstand. Mine takes a bit of effort to push forward, I don't see that happen by accident.

The idea of using a wheel chuck after locking the bike seems to be good too.
 

Highwayman

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Not on this bike, but on my HDs theres no helmet lock. I use a pair of hand cuffs to lock the front brake lever to grip and other end to helmet D rings.

No issues.
 

Highwayman

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Why do have handcuffs?

Why not?

I have a few pairs and about as secure as you can get. Not gonna get past em easily. What else would I use? Zip ties? Serves double duty security as helmet lock and brake lock for me on those bikes.

Not so much a suggestion to OP, just a mention Ive never had an issues with an extended locked brake.
 
Last edited:

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
Patrick "bruced" me. I always park facing uphill. Who wants to push a bike backwards uphill. Leave it in gear on the side stand. It's also easier to get the bike on the center stand when facing up hill also. Or, get something like this.

brake lock.jpg
 

patrickg450

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Not on this bike, but on my HDs theres no helmet lock. I use a pair of hand cuffs to lock the front brake lever to grip and other end to helmet D rings.

No issues.

Why do have handcuffs?

the answer is right there if front of you.....he is a Harley guy.
1. can be used for brass knuckles during a beer brawl but not "illegal" to be carried on the perp.
2. keeps the women close by, they typically wan to run away, the beer and BO makes for a deadly combination.......
3. when the cops show up to break up the fun, they typically run out of cuffs, a good cop carries a second or third, but never a 20th or 25th pair. this typically puts the arresting LEO in a better mood. "here man use mine on me just make sure I get them back".
4. how else would one learn to pick a set of cuffs without a proper practice set?














all said in good fun, for those that do not know me..........
 
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