So, how many of you have ridden with the parking brake applied?...

... and doesn't it stink!

In my defence, I've never ridden anything with a parking brake before now as I don't drive cars and, whilst the Scarabeo 500 has many many things the Swing lacks, it doesn't have a parking brake.

I'm surprised you can move at all with it applied, shouldn't it stop all movement?

I would think everyone has done this once.

If the parking brake is correctly adjusted, as mine is , the bike will not move with the parking brake on.]

I agree with Old Limey, mine won't move with the parking brake on even down hill!

Yes but no stink, the first thing I noticed was the odometer doesn't register, the when I let off the throttle it slowed rapidly. Once, never again, the next to useless red warning light was on but it was a bright sunny day.

With my '06 when properly and snugly applied the parking brake being "on" is quite noticeable,, I cannot imagine riding more than a couple feet without noticing...

Modernman1953 wrote:

I would think everyone has done this once.

No. I can't remember ever using the parking brake. I forget it's even there!

Over the last 100,000+ Silverwing miles I've ridden I have managed to ride off with the brake still ON enough times that I kinda wish that there was an 'idiot buzzer' which would sound off when the kick stand is UP and the brake engaged.

To my defense, I do think that the brake adjustment does need frequent attention --either that or the cable stretches. The brake would stick so frequently on my 2003 S/Wing that I began carrying a long hook fashioned from stiff coat hanger wire so that I could pop the caliper lever free without coming in contact with the hot exhaust.

I refurbished the brake caliper several times to no avail, and eventually fashioned a return spring and bracket, a'la Burgman, to attach to the caliper. That solved the problem. Well the sticking caliper problem anyway, but there is still seems to be a need for that eejit light.

It's amazing how far you can ride on the Interstate before you notice that red light ON.

Everybody probably rides away with parking brake on.....but you should be able to "feel" it right away. Red Light is reminder.

I have - once.
I was riding from Caen to Avranches, a mere 70 miles or so - along some minor roads instead of the motorway - and discovered to my absolute panic that the marked petrol stations had ceased to exist.
In desperation I stopped at a garage workshop and asked for assistance.
They told me that the next petrol was only a couple of miles further on.
I was so relieved I rode off with the hand-brake on.
I rarely set off on a journey without filling up and would have been fine but for the dearth of petrol stations.

john grinsel wrote:

Everybody probably rides away with parking brake on.....but you should be able to "feel" it right away.  Red Light is reminder.

,

A newbie with it then and didn't remember setting it, when I did overall maintenance I noticed the pad was worn about half thickness compared to the new pad. RED light as a reminder is a joke in sunny weather with a flat reflective covering and sun glasses on, about as effective as the RED fuel warning light on my GL 1500, I replaced that bulb with a much brighter bulb just in case.

Old Limey wrote:

If the parking brake is correctly adjusted, as mine is , the bike will not move with the parking brake on.]

Useful to know, it's in for the annual service tomorrow, I'll get them to check it.

I did it too: with my 2005. First thing that got my attention was the smell, and I recognised that from the mechanic leaving my brake drum too tight on my VLX ! Luckily, I caught it before any serious damage was done.
Jay.

I read this post and thought I was far too clever for this ------- haha, guess what, I never use the hand brake, but just this once !!!. Disengaged it, but obviously not enough , Next ride, 20 k's later I noticed a red light I could not identify and tip toed to the next town and phoned her indoors to check my manual to find out what that red light meant , You all know the answer to that, No damage though, and no smell, just too close to the switch setting but it gave me cause for serious concern.

I did go over the manual with a little more dedication later !

I use my parking brake all the time. Mostly when parking I usually pull straight in and have to walk the SWing back to get out. Can't move it with the brake set.

I think part of this is when I first picked it up in FL from my sister we couldn't move the bike into the trailer. I didn't know it had a parking brake until my son played with all the levers and doodads etc. he could find. He found the parking brake and released it. We reset it once inside the trailer. After that I never forgot about it.

Dale, maybe your neck o' th' wood has wide streets & parking spaces, but round these congested parts the mantra is, "back in, pull out". It's actually so much safer that way.

Tim

After declaring my hand on my heart I´ve never ridden the the parking brake applied, it did happen. I was riding the Atlantic Roadin Norway and stopped. It took 3okms to me to notice too many red light showing. I must admit the start was a little sticky though. This happened another time two week ago, but I did´t ride that far. What did I learn: never say never again!

Modernman1953 wrote:

I would think everyone has done this once.

That should probably be rephrased as "I would think everyone has done
this at least once". Er... Um... Some of us may have done it on more than
one occasion...    But, if the brake was set correctly, then it should become
obvious right away and would naturally get corrected.