I don't like the one handle brakes all approach. Does anyone know of a kit to give the front and rear brakes their own handle?

 

I've been thinking about doing the same thing, I think you could just follow the hand brake line down to the caliber then find the line that runs to the rear and unscrew it from the master cyl then plug it on both ends. The tough part is going to be not getting any air in the lines while doing this, if you do you'll have to go throught the bleeding process.

 

I don't know about your's but my back brakes lock the back and the handle is biased to the front. This works great for some pretty crazy rock climbing, steep sand dunes and wild dirt riding. At first I wanted separate brakes but now I see the pressure is biased enough on each lever to really consider the brakes almost separate as it is.

How would you benefit with seperates?

 

Yes, that is correct my breaks react the same way; my only fear is once-in-a-while I have to roll back down a steap hill and wouldn't mind being able to apply only the front breaks.

 

I would really like to separte, I already wrote a new 800 off caused by the front locking up going down a steep incline.

If someone knows how to separate please tell me.

 

[quote]
Originally posted by: RonM
I would really like to separte, I already wrote a new 800 off caused by the front locking up going down a steep incline. [quote]



Huh?

BRP has the BEST engine braking out there. Why would you need to lock up the front brakes on any decline if you are in four low? I've gone down nearly vertical (at least it felt like it) on on my 400 Outlander Max XT and it almost stopped WITHOUT touching the brakes do to the engine braking. I've never had a front brake lockup, even in high speed emergency braking manuevers, on the dirt or on the asphalt (we can ride on the street in Az).

Do you own a BRP quad and/or have you ridden one for a day or two, or you just talking out your rear orifice?

 

[quote]
Originally posted by: azsandrider
[quote]
Originally posted by: RonM
I would really like to separte, I already wrote a new 800 off caused by the front locking up going down a steep incline. Actually I remember his thread where he flipped his 800 after hitting a deep rut going down a very steep hill. I think he bumped the throttle on the impact then flipped when he panic braked using the front brake lever. He said it was written off by his insurance. His original post was why I wanted my brakes separated when I took delivery. But now I don't see how having seperate brakes would save him as he grabbed the front lever instead of the rear.

It can happen to any of us. I peaked a hill 2 years ago on a 650 dual sport. I've been on this hill endless times as it's 1/4 mile from my house. I was moving 2 mph when I peaked it only to find out some idiot dug a 5 foot deep trench (trap) with a tractor the day before. My front fell in and I went head over heals in slow motion. The stupid thing is that I was checking the trail for hazards before riding hard and I still ate it.

 

azsandrider, you are a bit of a **** don't you think? You need to know what you are talking about first and foremost. Try riding in real mountains first before you tell me how it is.

 

OK, back to the topic.

I would not ever want to have my front brake applied with the left hand lever. I want a right hand lever to apply the front brakes, and the left lever, along with the right foot pedal to apply the rear brakes.

being able to apply the front brake only is a real advantage when backing up in even moderately steep terrain.

 

Coming from a dirt bike background I thought that separate braking was better but now I'm not so sure. With 75% of the braking force to the front and the other 25% for the rear it's like you have separate braking but with more controlled stops. The rear is foot brake is totally separate. I tried many times backing down extreme hill climbs with the hand brake only. At those sharp inclines the weight on the front wheels is way less than the rears, so you only locked up the fronts and the rears just rolled back in control. We practice quick stops for racing and time and time again the single lever braking was the best at the quickest stops.
The top GNCC guys (Penland and Kilbey) didn’t convert to separate braking, also the world trials ATV champion didn’t separate his on his Outty 400!