Handbrake: Rear Brake Duplicator

A handbrake is a hand-operated rear brake. In stunt riding it is needed for wheelies in positions where the foot brake can't be used, for example high chair, sit stander, special K (50/50) and others. With the brake the rider controls the motorcycle «at the angle», bringing it back from a critical position. This modification is used by riders who have already mastered circle and seated wheelies, that is, not beginners. For beginners a handbrake is just 2–3 kg of extra weight. The article covers the most popular methods and setups used by riders around the world. The stunter controls the clutch with the index finger and the handbrake with the middle finger, holding the grip with the rest. So it is important that the brake can be easily controlled with one finger. This depends on the combination of master and slave cylinders. There are two ways to route the rear brake to the handlebar. They differ in price and connection layout.

Ways to route the rear brake to the handlebar

1) Tapping a banjo bolt with a fitting into the rear brake master cylinder and connecting a hand brake master cylinder to it, mounted on the left grip next to the clutch lever. This way the rear brake caliper is used for both the foot brake and the hand brake. This method was invented first, was used by all stunt riders before other solutions appeared, and is still used by many today, including the best pro riders in the world. It has one peculiarity: you can't press the foot and hand brake levers at the same time. This isn't needed in stunt riding, but it's worth noting.

On all sport bikes the stock rear calipers are two-piston. To improve braking it is advisable to replace the stock caliper with a four-piston one, which requires changing the caliper bracket. It is also advisable to replace the rear brake disc with a larger-diameter one. This upgrade makes the system more expensive.

2) Fitting a bracket for two calipers and building an independent handbrake system. In this case the foot brake stays untouched, and a separate circuit is built for the handbrake: rear caliper, brake hose, brake master cylinder. Obviously this approach is more expensive, since it needs an extra caliper, a longer brake hose and a special bracket.

How well a handbrake works doesn't depend on the connection method but on the combination of master cylinder (brake lever unit) and slave cylinder (caliper). The difference between connecting through the master cylinder and building a separate line is that in the first case you can't press the brake with your hand and foot at the same time. Plus, with a separate system you can use different calipers for the foot brake and the hand brake, for example if a rider prefers a two-piston caliper for the foot brake and one or two four-piston calipers for the handbrake.

Brake master cylinders

The choice of a specific master cylinder depends on the rider's preferences and the calipers used. Traditionally a 13 mm radial master cylinder is used for one four-piston caliper, and a 16 mm radial master cylinder for two four-piston calipers. When choosing a master cylinder, take all its characteristics into account; read more about this in a separate article.

Calipers (slave cylinder)

It is better to use calipers from front brakes, as this makes it easier to choose a master cylinder. If two front radial calipers are used, the master cylinder should have characteristics close to those of a front brake master cylinder. Fitting such calipers requires a special bracket. There are different kinds of brackets, but they don't affect the handbrake's effectiveness. For example:

Conclusions

• It doesn't matter how you routed the rear brake to the handlebar, through the master cylinder or with a separate circuit. What matters is which brake master cylinder and calipers are used.

• The cheapest option: keep the stock caliper and connect the master cylinder through the rear brake master cylinder. Such a system will brake worse than all the others, but that doesn't mean badly. Several pro riders ride with this setup and are completely happy with it. For example: Tony Carbajal and KaneOne; guys like Humberto Ribeiro and Dan Jackson won their titles with this kind of handbrake.

• It's better to fit one or two four-piston calipers. This requires a special bracket. If the stock brake disc remains, there will be problems with the pads (they won't wear evenly across their full surface).

• The ideal option is one or two four-piston calipers and a large brake disc. In this case there are no pad problems and the best braking. But the pleasure will be expensive.

A handbrake is a very expensive system, but it's better not to skimp and to fit proven solutions! If the system doesn't work, the money will have been wasted.