Adjustable Hand Brake Levers

Does anyone know where to get adjustable hand brakes? My husband's BMW has them, and I'd love to put them on my S'wing.

Mandy

Emeskay wrote:

Does anyone know where to get adjustable hand brakes? My husband's BMW has them, and I'd love to put them on my S'wing.

Mandy

Mandy, I'm not sure I follow you The S'wing already has an adjustable handbrake! The lever is located on the right hand side of the fairing, underneath the wee glove box compartment thingy, and works similar to a car one.....

Bernardo wrote:

Mandy, I'm not sure I follow you The S'wing already has an adjustable handbrake! The lever is located on the right hand side of the fairing, underneath the wee glove box compartment thingy, and works similar to a car one.....

I used the wrong term. I meant the brake levers on the handlebars. I've noticed that both the Bergman and the Kymco 500 have these. Does anyone know if they can be retrofitted to the S'wing, if levers aren't available?

1 Check the handlebar diameter from the donor brand to the Honda
2 Check the flow rates between the two, if the donor brand runs 2 discs it "may" have a slightly higher flow needing a shorter throw on the lever for the same effect. It may also provide interesting results with the delayed rear front split on the left brake lever setup. Interesting concept and would like to know if anyone has done this.

on the flip side, has anone converted the "rear" brake setup to operate the rear brake only. Dragging the rear brake on a downhill or on gravel/loose surface or both without the front brake cutting in would be a definite advantage. Maybe even a selectable system ( R + F, or R) could be set up. Hydraulics anyone??

KurtPerthWA wrote:

1 Check the handlebar diameter from the donor brand to the Honda
2 Check the flow rates between the two, if the donor brand runs 2 discs it "may" have a slightly higher flow needing a shorter throw on the lever for the same effect. It may also provide interesting results with the delayed rear front split on the left brake lever setup. Interesting concept and would like to know if anyone has done this.

on the flip side, has anone converted the "rear" brake setup to operate the rear brake only. Dragging the rear brake on a downhill or on gravel/loose surface or both without the front brake cutting in would be a definite advantage. Maybe even a selectable system ( R + F, or R) could be set up. Hydraulics anyone??

I think I need your explanation in smaller words, for the feeble minded.

Hey Mandy,

If you get to that point just take it to a good dealer and ask them to put new ones on!!!

That's what I usually do. I go to an independant dealer who specializes in souping up bikes..... He always finds a way to sort out any problems I have and without all the usual honda dealership bull**** and surcharges.... Not that I'm saying all Honda dealers are bad, but in my experience they can be a bit condescending and keen to get your business for big jobs when a little one will do!

Good luck!

Emeskay, sorry to get too complicated.
Make sure you buy a new unit from a brand that has the same brake setup.
I doubt if you can buy just an adjustable lever that would fit into the standard Swing mastercyl system.

More tech BS below

You would probably need to purchase the entire brake lever assembly from one of the other brands.
This includes the master cylinder that drives the brake calipers with oil.
The front brake on a Swing is a single rotor(disc) on the left side.
The brake lever assy is designed to pump a specified amount of oil to the brake, giving you a given amount of movement in the lever... how far your fingers have to move to make the brake work.
If the new assembly is off a scoot that has 2 rotors (Burgman)your amount of finger movement will be reduced. This could make the brake come on sooner and sharper.
The rear would be more complicated due to wierd Honda setup.

I think that all she is looking for is the three part lever that several of the BMW's had. There was a little knurled wheel near the fulcrum that allowed the part of the lever covered by the hand to be moved either nearer or further from the grip. I have no idea where she can find them, but it would seem that the off road suppliers might be a good place to start looking.

joncallihan wrote:

I think that all she is looking for is the three part lever that several of the BMW's had. There was a little knurled wheel near the fulcrum that allowed the part of the lever covered by the hand to be moved either nearer or further from the grip. I have no idea where she can find them, but it would seem that the off road suppliers might be a good place to start looking.

That's exactly what I mean! :Not Worthy: Thank you for putting it much better than I did. I have very small hands, and it would be easier to brake if the brake lever was 1/2" or so closer to the handle.

Nice work (the art, I mean).

I'm not sure but the Goldwing has those. Ask the dealer if he has a set in stock and take them out to see if they will work. Or take some measurments of one on the display floor.

MaxB

Most sport bikes have them. I would check with the Honda dealer to see if they have any of the sport bike levers in stock and would they try to fit one.

Dan

I just went out to the garage to look at the levers on my SW and Goldwing. The left side levers are quite different. The right side levers are similar but the extensions that work the brake switches look different. If you wanted to go to the effort of a bit of aluminum welding they could be made to work but I doubt it otherwise. It might be easier to take the levers to a welding shop and have them cut, bend and weld them inwards a bit. Shouldn't be too expensive. A good welder could tell you whether they would be strong enough to do that.

Other than I want them - what is the reason to have adjustable brake leavers on the SilverWing?

What is the objective advantage?

The only purpose of adjustable levers is to fit your hand. Some folks with small hands find the levers out so far they can only pull them with their fingertips which is uncomfortable and doesn't provide as much gripping strength as you could get with your fingers wrapped more fully around the lever.

That makes sense.

I like it.

I can't wait to see who finds this one for the swing.

DennisB

exavid wrote:

The only purpose of adjustable levers is to fit your hand. Some folks with small hands find the levers out so far they can only pull them with their fingertips which is uncomfortable and doesn't provide as much gripping strength as you could get with your fingers wrapped more fully around the lever.

That's the reason...I have small hands, and it would be more comfortable. Thanks to all of you for checking on this for me...I haven't discovered anything yet, but will let you know when I do.


Mandy

Hi Mandy,

I was just up at RENEGADES, the local Honda Repair and parts shop here in Glenpool, and talked to the owner Dick McDonald and he let me borrow the right brake lever off a new Goldwing GL1800. I took it home and installed it on my SW....IT WORKS FOR THE RIGHT LEVER ONLY!!!

It is adjustable and is about 1 3/8" longer and when set on #5 it moves the right lever about a 1/2" closer to the throttle.

DennisB

Sorry to dig up this topic but wat about the left levers? Also, anyone ever replaced to braided hoses?

Wow! First post, no Hello Folks or anything like that, and 478 points!

The left hand lever can be fitted with a bit of filing or grinding.

Sorry for not introducing myself. I'm Fazli from Singapore. A new owner of the FJS400 '08...

Previous owner grazed something on the left side and bent the left lever. I removed it to bend it back. Doesn't have exactly the same curve, but it was not difficult to bend. Wrap the lever in a cloth, place it in a vise, and bend it to where you want it.

I would rather not do that in case I break the lever...

sharing my silverwing sw-t400 plug and play adjustable levers! check this out:

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php/225675-SBF-Silverwings-Cafe-2009-2010-JDM-Euro-400-600/page266

If I pull really hard on my brake levers they almost touch the grip. So, if I were to bend them inward (any more than they are), they would surely touch the grip during a panic stop - meaning that I may not develop maximum hydraulic pressure that may be necessary for a safe stop. I went to a dealer to feel the levers on a new SWing - and they are very close to mine. My front brake pads have 90% left and my rear has 50%. I have recently bled my brakes - no air and clean brake fluid. In summary, I would advise against 'adjustable' levers as I fear you may not stop as fast when you need to stop in a hurry. Other bikes (other than the SWing) seem to often need far less travel to work well - therefore being more suitable to an adjustable lever arrangement.

on my 3mths-old swt, my original levers can also come close to the grip when stationary. however if i were to do this on the move, then i would surely have locked up the wheel and crashed as a result.
the right lever controls the front brake only and the left lever controls both brakes with a heavier emphasis on the rear, but not as heavy as yours. that 90%-50% needs some probing into. maybe old brake hoses are to be blamed?
the correct brake technique is to apply even pressure on both levers. for me, i pump the levers, aka human ABS,hopefully to prevent the "death grip" in a panic situation.
The purpose of the adjustable levers is best explained in exavid's post. In addition, levers are foldable & extendable.

Emeskay wrote:

Does anyone know where to get adjustable hand brakes? My husband's BMW has them, and I'd love to put them on my S'wing.

Mandy

Check for DOG_LEG levers, not a brand name but how they are made.

250sgp wrote:

sharing my silverwing sw-t400 plug and play adjustable levers! check this out:

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php/225675-SBF-Silverwings-Cafe-2009-2010-JDM-Euro-400-600/page266

U know I clicked on link but couldn't find adj. levers in there.
did find these on Ebay though:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silverwing-600-foldable-adjustable-brake-Clutch-levers-/251265765200?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a809b4f50&vxp=mtr

My question is what's the difference between a 06 and a 02 lever?

I haven't tried it but it looks to me like it would be possible to adapt Goldwing 1800 levers to work with the Silverwing. The masters are much the same. They can be adapted to the 1500 Goldwing with a little bit of grinding on the clutch lever. It would be worth a try, it's often possible to get a pair of adjustable Goldwing levers on eBay at a low price to experiment with.

stanly wrote:

250sgp wrote:

sharing my silverwing sw-t400 plug and play adjustable levers! check this out:

http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php/225675-SBF-Silverwings-Cafe-2009-2010-JDM-Euro-400-600/page266

U know I clicked on link but couldn't find adj. levers in there.
did find these on Ebay though:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silverwing-600-foldable-adjustable-brake-Clutch-levers-/251265765200?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a809b4f50&vxp=mtr

My question is what's the difference between a 06 and a 02 lever?

hi, if yours are stock then they should be the same.

Well. I have a slightly different issue as in having a bit of Arthritis in my left hand, so this is also a problem for me.
I've had a close look at this, I managed quite easily to fit a VFR 800 front brake lever on the right hand/front brake side, so that is adjustable, but for some reason the left hand lever has the microswitch to work the brake light and starter lock out on small extension threaded things so a VFR Clutch lever fits, but doesn't come anywhere near operating the micro switch.

I can reach the standard lever, but it is finger tip as my hand has a bit of curvature now and getting a decent pull is an issue, for the moment I have oput some organic pads on the front with a new disc, and the bike stops well enough on the front as it is, but the pads won't last long...

So I've collected a few bits. I have a FireBlade front master cylinder, they run 4 pot calipers so this should esily have the flow I need, and I may re-link the brakes so that the front "brake" lever brings on both front and rear, and simply use the left hand lever for the single middle piston. My VFR Vtec has linked brakes, front lever operates 5 of the 6 pistons on the front and one of the three pistons on the rear so a little too much flow to use for this, the lever movement would be very minimal.. The "Blade one has a smaller bore, that's why I went that route.

Or I'm going to find a way to adapt the left hand lever so it has adjustable span and will operate the switch as well. I thought about using a VFR style Clutch master but again the bore is nowhere near large enough...

So watch this space.

Now if I could get all the brakes working on the one lever....  

Didn’t Leena recently post that she replaced her brake levers with adjustable brake levers?

Edit: I couldn’t locate her post here, but here’s a link for her FB post. https://m.facebook.com/story/graphql_permalink/?graphql_id=UzpfSTEwMDAwMTkzNDc5OTMwNzpWSzo1NjIxNjQzMTc1MjQwODU%3D

Found an old post Website Japanwe bike.net sells adjustable levers for SW. Hope that's right. ???