Linked Brakes

Just out of interest, does anyone here have any experience of bikes with linked brakes?

Given that I like to dab the back brake to turn it round tight spaces in town, I'd hate to have them, but I read recently about 'sports-linked brakes' (think it was on one of the bmw sports-tourers) whereby, the front brake also engages the rear, but the back one doesn't engage the front. Sounds a lot better: I hardly use the back brake in an emergency anymore, due to having locked up the rear wheel from stamping on it on more than one occassion and just think that a linked brake that works as described above might be the answer (not that I'd be looking to get it fitted to my SV- more something to bear in mind for my next bike).

Also, linked brakes generally seem unpopular, why do they come as standard (as ABS is becoming) on quite a few Hondas?

Originally Posted by leesimons

I've not used a bike with linked brakes but I wouldn't like to own one, for the same reason I wouldn't want an automatic car.

I used an automatic car for the first time a couple of months back. Really disliked it, you could feel it change gears and suddenly surge forwards (only a bit) or apply engine braking. Hardly severe enough to cause an accident (you shouldn't be tailgating anyway, I suppose), but just the feeling of not being in complete control that it gave was unsettling. On a bike I imagine I'd find it (automatic gears) extremely unnerving.

[sv4me]

My dads Varadero has the linked braking system. Wouldnt like it myself but he says it settles the bike down and helps cornering. Hes not exactly what id call rossi round corners though :P

His V*lvo is an automatic and ive driven that, great car to drive very smooth and responsive. Some automatics work and some dont

there was a test in superbikes mag ( i think) a while back
ABS vs Standard

under normal conditions the ABS felt more sturdy braking
but under emergency stops, the standard brake setup was able to stop quicker than the ABS.

i wouldnt like a bike with linked brakes,
and i have a feeling that ABS and linked brakes will make riders alot more lazier.

I have the pleasure of having both the Honda(VFR) and the BMW (GS ADV) system and a standard braking bike as well at the moment. .

FWIW all comments about reducing "rider control" etc are pretty well un founded, unless you are a demi god and ride to 100% (see other thread for your own judgements of your riding ability) you will not even notice the linked braking on either, however your braking will be better balanced and more effective.

Claims that the Honda rear brake will cause you to come off if you use it in slow manouvering, for stability are again unfounded, the front is not applied when using the rear brake until just before maximum braking so does not get applied in these circumstances.

The BMW system is excellent too and I also have the benefit of ABS on that bike. Once you have needed to use ABS you'll be glad you had it and you will never buy a bike without it again. Yes the mags have done controlled testing where they have "proved" that an non ABS bike stops in an emergency quicker than an ABS equipped one, well it takes a hell of a lot longer to stop when the bike is sliding down the road because of a front wheel lock up, your emergency braking will not be controlled and likely grabbing a handful on a non ABS bike will result in you going down.

ABS and linked brakes get a massive thumbs up from me.

I wouldn't like linked brakes too. If you understand how your brakes work and what happens with weight transfer over hard braking then linked brakes only make things more complicated. After a many "difficult" moments (mostly inside town avoiding accidents) I have come to using the following technique: Get used to always use as much back brake as to not lock the rear under full front braking. Always. This means only a bit, which is useful not so much as to kill speed as to settle the bike and make it easier to save a possible front lock. All real stopping is done with the front brake. By using this technique the rear never locks and the question always is how much to front brake without locking it. Mind, roads in towns down here are so slippery you wouldn't believe it.
It has saved my a** at least once, meaning that if I didn't use it I would surely have been a victim of some driver's "awarenes and responsibility"...

Originally Posted by Patch

ABS and linked brakes get a massive thumbs up from me.

He's right you know I've limited experience but I absolutely love the linked system (although I guess for a real comparison you'd have to compare with and without on the same bike).

And yes Damoulianos, some of the roads I had the fortune to ride on in Crete were smooth as glass and like ice when damp

I think what alot of people forget when they read articles comparing ABS or Linked systems with normal is that most of the tests are done in controlled situations.
How many of you skidded during the e-stop in your test? Not many I suspect. Now how many skid occasionally if they have to slam on the anchors in an actual emergency? Most people, at some point or another.
The simple fact is that ABS just gives you less stuff to have to worry about in an emergency.

There is the problem on how it affects rider skill development and laziness, combined with the volvo effect (increased safety =~ decreased hazard perception)

Originally Posted by Patch

Once you have needed to use ABS you'll be glad you had it and you will never buy a bike without it again. .

That's the problem. If you forget how to brake without an ABS you don't want to go back, and you won't want to ride otherwise excellent bikes. I want to be able to ride them all...

Originally Posted by Patch

Yes the mags have done controlled testing where they have "proved" that an non ABS bike stops in an emergency quicker than an ABS equipped one, well it takes a hell of a lot longer to stop when the bike is sliding down the road because of a front wheel lock up, your emergency braking will not be controlled and likely grabbing a handful on a non ABS bike will result in you going down.
.

This is an overstatement. An experienced rider is able to near-lock the front without locking it. In the event I described previously, I braked so hard that for fractions of a second the front locked but I expcected that and released the lever a bit to allow the front to find traction again. This happened twice That happened while also turning, to avoid getting early in the path of the car. Acoording to what you said I would have been down undoubtedly, and surely I would if I panicked and just squeezed the brakes as much as possible. instead of giving money for ABS why not give money for riding lessons that will teach you panic control? Would be useful in a lot other situations too...

Anyone know if insurance companies give out insurance discounts for ABS/linked brakes on bikes (in the same way that they used to for cages, before car drivers started driving more recklessly to 'compensate' for ABS)?