The Dupetruyn's contracture in my right hand has gotten worse in the past few years. This is fully stretched open.
I have to twist my hand thumb down 45 degrees to pick up a glass.
It had gotten to the point where I haven't be able to use my middle finger effectively enough when braking to give me high confidence. I had adjusted the levers down a bit and gotten some shorty cammed levers for my CNW Brembo kit, and that worked for a number of years.
So, I started using mainly my index and ring fingers to brake. But with the setup I had I found I just wasn't getting enough bite quickly enough, even though I had good EPFA pads.
After going down to this year's NOCNZ rally, I was fairly consigned to having to sell my bike and quit riding after 45 years and having had a Commando since 1986.
But, on the way back I was riding alone all day and got to thinking about how the MotoGP guys were using thumb brakes for the rear and maybe I could make that work for the front.
When I got back, I did some investigations, and it turns out they wouldn't work as they were all for the left side, and designed for a radial MC. Bugger.
But wait, a radial MC.... more digging.
Et voila - enter the Brembo 15 RCS. A 15mm radial with a built in microswitch for the brake. Perfectly mated for the Brembo P4 3430 that comes with the CNW kit. Tons of adjustment on the lever to adjust the pull force/distance.
I took it for its break in ride today, and it has so much more force and very good modulation/feel. When just using one finger can do normal stops with ease. With my index and ring fingers it brakes so well I bet I could do a stoppy.
This was only the first ride, and I only went 15kms or so (with a brand-new rear tire that needs to be scrubbed in fully), but the first impressions are very promising.
It may be the only Commando around with a radial MC, but if that buys me a couple more years - all good.
