Knowledge (XXG)

Motorcycle braking systems

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279: 395: 47:. Most systems work by converting kinetic energy into thermal energy (heat) by friction. On motorcycles, approximately 70% of the braking effort is performed by the front brake. This however can vary for individual motorcycles; longer-wheelbase types having more weight biased rearward, such as cruisers and tourers, can have a`greater effort applied by the rear brake. In contrast, sports bikes with a shorter wheelbase and more vertical fork geometry can tolerate higher front braking loads. For these reasons, motorcycles tend to have a vastly more powerful front brake compared to the rear. 192: 342:, but reverted to the standard layout. The intent was to improve wet weather performance and have a cleaner appearance. The front brake assembly with vented discs was enclosed in a vented aluminium hub and the caliper was mounted onto the hub and gripped the disc from the outside. This kept the brake assembly dry and allowed the use of cast iron ventilated discs because the shrouding covered any unsightly surface rust on the disc. The system would prove to be short lived with all successive models reverting to the standard uncovered layout thereafter. 56: 250: 351: 309: 30: 468: 422: 219: 161: 362:
of metal are stronger, but much more expensive to make so some manufacturers such as Sumitomo cast the caliper body as one piece and then machine the piston bores externally with the holes created plugged after assembly. This type of caliper design has been used extensively by Yamaha on a wide range of models from its flagship
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can overheat carbon carbon brakes as they oxidize and wear out faster. The high temperatures needed for carbon carbon brakes to be effective means that they cannot be used in the wet. For wet races the riders have to switch a conventional steel brake set-up. Aluminium lithium alloy, banned for 2015 season
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Traditionally opposing piston brake calipers are made in two halves which are then bolted together. The advantages of this method are ease and the speed of which the pieces can be made. The disadvantage is that they are less resistant to flex under load. Monobloc calipers machined from a single piece
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Early disc brake calipers were in front of the fork leg on top of the disc. This placed the caliper in an area of high air flow for better heat removal. Calipers on most modern motorcycles are mounted to the rear of the fork leg. This reduces the angular momentum of the fork assembly and improves low
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adopted a rim-mounted disc brake that was said to reduce unsprung weight in the wheel-brake system, allowing lighter wheel spokes. This style is generically termed a "perimeter brake" for its point of attachment to the wheel, and had been used in smaller numbers by other manufacturers before Buell.
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A radial brake caliper is mounted parallel to the forward direction on the braking system, making them more rigid than the traditional axial mount, and not prone to torsional flexing. The lack of slight lateral movement allows more precise braking and crisper feeling brakes. Radial calipers can make
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Carbon brakes are used in Moto GP. The friction between the carbon discs and carbon pads produces vast amounts of braking force; far greater braking force than conventional steel discs. They operate at very high operating temperatures, typically between 400 and 1000 °C. Continuous late braking
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Larger rotors can be used to increase braking force, but this also increases weight and inertia. To overcome this brake manufacturers developed calipers four, six and even eight pistons. Increasing the number of pistons increases the swept piston area, allowing for longer, narrower brake pads and
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Single action calipers have brake pistons that operate on one side only. This type has a floating pin design which allows the piston side of the caliper to push onto the disc surface and pull the other side into contact as well. Dual action, or opposed calipers, are fixed into position to reduce
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with a motor attached and did not have any braking system beyond cutting the power and waiting for the motorcycle to slow down enough to put a foot out. One of the first motorcycles to have any sort of braking mechanism was made by Steffey Motorcycles of Philadelphia in 1902. This used a
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released in 1993 was a single sided swingarm that among other characteristics aimed to reduce diving under braking. The design only allowed for a single front disc brake so a comparatively large 330 mm disc was mated to a six-piston caliper, a world first on a production bike.
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Drum brakes have a self servo effect. The most common design is a leading-trailing design. More exotic design had four, eight or sixteen shoes. Some motorcycles used finned and/or vented housings for additional cooling, the first of which was AJS.
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Early cast wheels were not easily compatible with drum brakes. Sintered pads offer improved heat up time and better wet weather performance. Asbestos was used in the brake pads but its use declined when the negative health impact was discovered.
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Floating discs have better disc centering with a fixed caliper. A floating disc also avoids disc warping and reduces heat transfer to the wheel hub. Lambretta were the first manufacturer to use floating discs on a volume production motorcycle.
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In 1989 BMW released the first motorcycle to be equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS). The system fitted to the BMW K100 LT weighed significantly more than the light weight systems fitted to modern motorcycles.
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were first used on motorcycles in the 1920s and the basic design has not changed much. Originally used for braking both the front and rear wheels, drum brakes have largely been superseded by
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style regenerative braking system during the 2008 Valenican 125 cc Grand Prix. Although deemed in contravention of the rules, the use of a KERS system preceded its use in Formula 1.
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modifying an existing disc brake with larger rotors simpler because the entire mounting bracket does not need to be replaced, needing only a spacer between the bracket and the caliper.
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have varied throughout time, as motorcycles evolved from bicycles with an engine attached, to the 220 mph (350 km/h) prototype motorcycles seen racing in
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The traditional axial caliper mount began to be unreliable when slick tires were introduced, so motorcycles began adopting radially mounted calipers from
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Wavy discs place the mass closer to the axle for reduced inertia, better heat dissipation and lower weight. They were originally developed for
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motorcycles were available with Research Association disc brakes front and rear on their 1923 RA model, sometimes called TT model, with
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put motorcycle disc brakes into the mass market, using a hydraulically operated single piston sliding caliper with a solid front disc.
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machines are mandated to have parachutes fitted if the motorcycle is capable of exceeding 250 miles per hour (400 km/h).
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front brakes have two floating stainless steel discs with sintered pads, and radially mounted, four-piston calipers
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Wilson, Hugo. (1993) The Ultimate Motor-Cycle Book p.51 Douglas and banking sidecar. Dorling Kindersley
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Spoon front brake operated by handlebar lever and connecting rod on an 1899 Royal Riley Tricycle at the
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flex. Dual action have opposed pistons either side of the disc to greatly improve the piston area.
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announced in 1965 which had a pair of cable-actuated Campagnolo front disc brakes. The 1969
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The Lambretta TV125 Series 3 was the first modern production motorcycle with a disc brake.
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Honda RCB with a front ventilated drum brake from Italian accessories manufacturer Grimeca
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Carbon disc, radial caliper front brakes on the 2011 Suzuki MotoGP racing motorcycle
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of that type also having a passenger-operated disc brake for the sidecar wheel.
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were introduced, these used a band contracting round the outside of a drum.
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can reach speeds up to 256 mph (412 km/h) over the course of the
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bikes however they have since seen use on road going motorcycles as well.
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to both slow the motorcycle down and recharge the batteries at the same.
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AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championship: BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials
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mile (400 m) race and can use disc brakes in conjunction with
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Front fork leg mounted brake caliper, also called axially mounted
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Honda tried an inboard brake design on a few models such as the
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to slow them after the timed run. The Streamliner class of
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Honda CBX550 572.5cc 1982 to 1986: Owners Workshop Manual
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brake operating on the front wheel only. Around 1909
928:"Radial-Mount Calipers: What's all the hubbub, Bub?" 586: 584: 582: 580: 578: 1076:"Perimeter Disc Rotors Installed On Spoke Wheels" 706:. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company. p. 80. 370:. Monobloc Brembo first used on the Ducati 1098. 253:Yamaha GTS1000 front swingarm and brake assembly. 689:Vintagent, 30 January 2007, Retrieved 2015-11-25 563:"Common Questions: How to Brake on a Motorcycle" 1019:"Brake Calipers Explained - Braking the Rules" 761:. American Motorcyclist Assoc. December 1992. 8: 638: 636: 634: 802: 800: 697: 695: 67:Early motorcycles which were essentially a 1032:Mackenzie, Niall; Urry, Jon (6 May 2008). 615:"Classic motorcycles: Motorcycle wheels" 459:Anti-lock braking system for motorcycles 730:The Book of the Classic MV Agusta Fours 553: 111:followed with their limited production 939: 937: 7: 884:Ken Hutchinson (10 September 2007). 842:"Knowledge for Dummies: Disc Brakes" 645:"Brake Tech: The ABC's of Stopping" 104:or are used for rear-braking only. 1034:"Road Test: Ducati 999s vs. 1098s" 1021:. Super Street Bike. 25 June 2009. 25: 1206:American Motorcyclist Association 1157:Jack Korpela (12 November 2007). 282:Sliding twin piston caliper on a 540:secretly raced a machine with a 466: 420: 217: 159: 1179:Jack Korpela (13 August 2012). 1110:Kevin Cameron (4 August 2012). 651:. American Motorcyclist Assoc. 1057:Wes Siler (October 13, 2010), 862:Basem Wasef (31 August 2012). 755:"Top Gear: Merry Motorcycling" 591:Tim Watson (8 December 2003). 113:600 cc touring motorcycle 1: 1094:"Perimeter Disc Brake Rotors" 926:Jeff Gehrs (9 October 2002). 886:"2008 Buell 1125R First Ride" 807:John Robinson (14 Mar 1994). 677:Accessed and added 2015-11-25 643:Margie Siegal (August 1995). 1074:Cyril Huze (July 15, 2010), 840:Bob Gray (30 January 2013). 593:"Motorcycle History: Brakes" 522:motorcycle land speed record 382:They can rarely be found on 130:The front suspension on the 18:Radial calipers (motorcycle) 968:Tibu, Florin (2014-07-25). 727:Ian Falloon (15 Oct 2011). 687:More vintage racing Douglas 1273: 1060:Erik Buell Racing 1190RR-B 810:Motorcycle Tuning: Chassis 456: 410: 207: 149: 92:sidecar TT-winning machine 41:Motorcycle braking systems 1112:"The Opposite of Engines" 970:"Radial Brakes Explained" 813:. Butterworth-Heinemann. 733:. Veloce Publishing Ltd. 390:Carbon carbon disc brakes 1136:"whoa my donkey- octane" 453:Anti-lock braking system 379:Buell Motorcycle Company 1222:. Crash.Net. 2009-02-04 993:Shoemark, Pete (1989). 900:"Cycle World Road Test" 504:Drag-racing motorcycles 499:Alternative new systems 413:Combined braking system 321:Radial mounted calipers 407:Combined brake systems 399: 358: 313: 287: 254: 196: 64: 37: 1247:Motorcycle technology 997:. Haynes. p. 6. 888:. Motorcycle USA.com. 864:"Car Brakes Get Wavy" 759:American Motorcyclist 702:Frank, Aaron (2003). 649:American Motorcyclist 397: 353: 311: 295:Multi piston calipers 281: 252: 194: 61:Heritage Motor Centre 58: 32: 532:regenerative braking 528:Electric motorcycles 386:wire-spoked wheels. 346:Caliper construction 274:Sliding versus fixed 1252:Motorcycle dynamics 1092:Paul Crowe (2007), 866:. Popular Mechanics 368:Yamaha FZS600 Fazer 366:to the more budget 844:. Bike Sports News 613:John Glimmerveen. 478:. You can help by 432:. You can help by 400: 359: 314: 288: 255: 197: 171:. You can help by 65: 38: 1257:Motorcycle safety 930:. Motorcycle.com. 704:Honda Motorcycles 496: 495: 450: 449: 384:custom motorcycle 247: 246: 189: 188: 63:, Gaydon, England 16:(Redirected from 1264: 1231: 1230: 1228: 1227: 1216: 1210: 1209: 1198: 1192: 1191: 1189: 1188: 1176: 1170: 1169: 1167: 1166: 1154: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1143: 1132: 1126: 1125: 1123: 1122: 1107: 1101: 1100: 1089: 1083: 1082: 1071: 1065: 1064: 1054: 1048: 1047: 1045: 1044: 1029: 1023: 1022: 1015: 1009: 1008: 990: 984: 983: 981: 980: 965: 959: 958: 956: 955: 941: 932: 931: 923: 917: 916: 914: 913: 896: 890: 889: 881: 875: 874: 872: 871: 859: 853: 852: 850: 849: 837: 831: 830: 828: 827: 804: 795: 794: 792: 791: 777: 771: 770: 751: 745: 744: 724: 718: 717: 699: 690: 684: 678: 667: 661: 660: 640: 629: 628: 626: 625: 610: 604: 603: 601: 600: 588: 573: 572: 570: 569: 558: 515: 514: 510: 491: 488: 470: 463: 445: 442: 424: 417: 374:Perimeter brakes 317:speed handling. 304:Caliper mounting 242: 239: 221: 214: 184: 181: 163: 156: 21: 1272: 1271: 1267: 1266: 1265: 1263: 1262: 1261: 1237: 1236: 1235: 1234: 1225: 1223: 1218: 1217: 1213: 1200: 1199: 1195: 1186: 1184: 1178: 1177: 1173: 1164: 1162: 1156: 1155: 1151: 1141: 1139: 1134: 1133: 1129: 1120: 1118: 1109: 1108: 1104: 1091: 1090: 1086: 1080:Cyril Huze Post 1073: 1072: 1068: 1056: 1055: 1051: 1042: 1040: 1031: 1030: 1026: 1017: 1016: 1012: 1005: 992: 991: 987: 978: 976: 967: 966: 962: 953: 951: 943: 942: 935: 925: 924: 920: 911: 909: 898: 897: 893: 883: 882: 878: 869: 867: 861: 860: 856: 847: 845: 839: 838: 834: 825: 823: 821: 806: 805: 798: 789: 787: 779: 778: 774: 753: 752: 748: 741: 726: 725: 721: 714: 701: 700: 693: 685: 681: 668: 664: 642: 641: 632: 623: 621: 612: 611: 607: 598: 596: 590: 589: 576: 567: 565: 560: 559: 555: 550: 512: 508: 507: 501: 492: 486: 483: 476:needs expansion 461: 455: 446: 440: 437: 430:needs expansion 415: 409: 392: 376: 348: 332: 323: 306: 300:smaller discs. 297: 276: 260: 243: 237: 234: 227:needs expansion 212: 206: 185: 179: 176: 169:needs expansion 154: 148: 53: 34:Aprilia Tuono R 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1270: 1268: 1260: 1259: 1254: 1249: 1239: 1238: 1233: 1232: 1211: 1193: 1171: 1149: 1127: 1102: 1098:The Kneeslider 1084: 1066: 1049: 1024: 1010: 1003: 985: 960: 933: 918: 891: 876: 854: 832: 820:978-0750618403 819: 796: 772: 746: 740:978-1845842031 739: 719: 712: 691: 679: 662: 630: 605: 574: 552: 551: 549: 546: 500: 497: 494: 493: 487:September 2019 473: 471: 457:Main article: 454: 451: 448: 447: 441:September 2019 427: 425: 411:Main article: 408: 405: 391: 388: 375: 372: 355:Yamaha FJR1300 347: 344: 331: 330:Inboard brakes 328: 322: 319: 305: 302: 296: 293: 275: 272: 259: 256: 245: 244: 238:September 2019 224: 222: 208:Main article: 205: 202: 187: 186: 180:September 2019 166: 164: 150:Main article: 147: 144: 132:Yamaha GTS1000 52: 49: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1269: 1258: 1255: 1253: 1250: 1248: 1245: 1244: 1242: 1221: 1215: 1212: 1207: 1203: 1197: 1194: 1182: 1175: 1172: 1160: 1153: 1150: 1137: 1131: 1128: 1117: 1113: 1106: 1103: 1099: 1095: 1088: 1085: 1081: 1077: 1070: 1067: 1062: 1061: 1053: 1050: 1039: 1035: 1028: 1025: 1020: 1014: 1011: 1006: 1000: 996: 989: 986: 975: 974:autoevolution 971: 964: 961: 950: 946: 940: 938: 934: 929: 922: 919: 907: 906: 901: 895: 892: 887: 880: 877: 865: 858: 855: 843: 836: 833: 822: 816: 812: 811: 803: 801: 797: 786: 782: 776: 773: 768: 764: 760: 756: 750: 747: 742: 736: 732: 731: 723: 720: 715: 713:0-7603-1077-7 709: 705: 698: 696: 692: 688: 683: 680: 676: 672: 666: 663: 658: 654: 650: 646: 639: 637: 635: 631: 620: 616: 609: 606: 594: 587: 585: 583: 581: 579: 575: 564: 561:Basem Wasef. 557: 554: 547: 545: 543: 539: 535: 533: 529: 525: 523: 519: 505: 498: 490: 481: 477: 474:This section 472: 469: 465: 464: 460: 452: 444: 435: 431: 428:This section 426: 423: 419: 418: 414: 406: 404: 396: 389: 387: 385: 380: 373: 371: 369: 365: 364:Yamaha YZF-R1 356: 352: 345: 343: 341: 337: 329: 327: 320: 318: 310: 303: 301: 294: 292: 286:, axial mount 285: 284:Honda CB400NC 280: 273: 271: 269: 264: 257: 251: 241: 232: 228: 225:This section 223: 220: 216: 215: 211: 203: 201: 193: 183: 174: 170: 167:This section 165: 162: 158: 157: 153: 145: 143: 141: 136: 133: 128: 124: 120: 118: 114: 110: 105: 103: 99: 95: 93: 89: 88:Freddie Dixon 85: 81: 79: 75: 70: 62: 57: 50: 48: 46: 42: 35: 31: 27: 19: 1224:. 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Index

Radial calipers (motorcycle)

Aprilia Tuono R
MotoGP

Heritage Motor Centre
bicycle
spoon
band brakes
Douglas
Freddie Dixon
sidecar TT-winning machine
Drum brakes
disc brakes
MV Agusta
600 cc touring motorcycle
Honda CB750
Yamaha GTS1000
Formula One
Drum brake

adding to it
Grimeca ventilated drum brake on a Honda RCB endurance race bike
Disc brake

adding to it

Motocross
Gold reverse Comstar front wheel from a Honda CB400NC with twin piston brake caliper
Honda CB400NC

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