Thumb brake
The thumb brake on the motorcycle is a development from road racing. The thumb brake lever is located on the left side of the handlebar, below the handle. The thumb of the left hand exerts pressure on the brake lever, which activates the rear wheel brake via a thumb brake cylinder. A 3-way valve makes it possible to combine the foot brake with a thumb brake. So it is possible to retrofit a thumb brake on every motorcycle without having to do without the foot brake cylinder.
The thumb brake was first used in the 1980s by the US motorcycle racer Freddie Spencer . It became known through the five-time 500cc world champion Mick Doohan , who was unable to use his right foot to operate the rear brake due to an injury and has since operated it with his thumb.
Normally, the rear brake is operated with the foot brake pedal on every motorcycle. A thumb brake has the advantage that you always have constant conditions in right and left turns. With the conventionally operated rear brake, you have little space in right-hand bends and especially when the motorcycle is leaning to use your foot to brake. You can brake the rear wheel with your thumb at any time, allowing the racer to slide the motorcycle into the curve. The advantages of a thumb brake are not only given in road racing. Motocross riders can use the thumb brake in the hairpin to lock the rear wheel in order to turn the motorcycle. The right foot can now be used to support in right turns.
So far, the thumb brake design has only benefited drivers on the racetrack, as it either replaced the foot brake entirely or could only be used as an emergency brake via a mechanical brake cable . The thumb brake was manufactured for the first time for road traffic in Germany by the company Procon Design by hydraulically combining it with the foot brake prescribed in accordance with the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). Thus, both systems are equally available to the motorcyclist as a full-fledged brake. The road-ready thumb brake also enables motorcycling with physical disabilities on the right foot or leg. However, there are no production motorcycles with thumb brakes (as of February 2010).
Individual evidence
- ↑ SPIEGLER brake technology: Function of the thumb brake ( Memento from February 16, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Michael Doohan, ( Memento of the original from August 17, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved February 12, 2010
- ↑ 50 years of Honda Racing ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 12, 2010
- ↑ Motobike Schmidt ( Memento of the original from December 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 14, 2010
- ↑ Thumb brake by Procon Design , accessed on February 13, 2010
