RGM Racing Brake Lever

I have one of those (rather expensive) brake levers from RGM , not worth the money imo.
 
Peter R said:
I have one of those (rather expensive) brake levers from RGM , not worth the money imo.
Click to expand...
Just check the price of the genuine AP Lockheed race master cylinder lever, and it really won't seem so bad!

If you owned one of those cylinders with a damaged lever, it would really be a bargain find!
 
SteveA said:
Just check the price of the genuine AP Lockheed race master cylinder lever, and it really won't seem so bad!

If you owned one of those cylinders with a damaged lever, it would really be a bargain find!
Click to expand...
How much are the genuine ones?
 
Dellis said:
I’ve now been out for a few hours and here are my thoughts. Being closer to the bars the brake is more comfortable to operate. There’s more feel so the brake is more progressive, now I’m not entirely sure if this is a byproduct of the lever being closer to the bars or if the leverage is actually different to the standard lever. Anyway, due to the more progressive feel I can brake harder without a vice like grip on the lever. So for me the front brake has shown an improvement and one that makes the £35 cost seem a bit of a bargain.

Dave
Click to expand...
I suggest that many road motorcycles are made with a front brake lever which needs a strong grip. If you were to grab the lever on my Seeley 850 or my Triton 500 like that - you would DIE ! Both of the bikes have front brakes which operate by using the forefinger while the rest operate the throttle and steer the bike. The reason I sold the Triton 500 back to my old mate who built it in about 1956 - an idiot popped in front of me and grabbed a handful of discs - I got the tank-slapper and did not get my hands off quick enough. Immediately my mate took it home, I got a call from him asking what linings were in the brake. Discs are much more predictable. Drum brakes change too much as they heat up. I will never race again with a drum front brake - I can still feel the pain. I was extremely lucky. It does not make me happy.
 
Last edited:
During the early days of disc brakes on motorcycles, manufacturers fitted master cylinders with a too large bore.
This means high lever pressure to get the braking power needed which means a lack of controllability and possibility of locking. Changing to a smaller bore cylinder improves feel and control.

This chart is a useful guide http://www.vintagebrake.com/mastercylinder.htm
 
Andy Higham said:
During the early days of disc brakes on motorcycles, manufacturers fitted master cylinders with a too large bore.
This means high lever pressure to get the braking power needed which means a lack of controllability and possibility of locking. Changing to a smaller bore cylinder improves feel and control.

This chart is a useful guide http://www.vintagebrake.com/mastercylinder.htm
Click to expand...
Yes, that's good, but it ignores the subject of this thread i.e: getting better leverage through lever geometry.
It can partly make up for a less than ideal ratio (caliper:master cylinder) on your chart.
Cheers
 
For a road bike, if more pressure is required to operate the front brake might night be good. For racing, I prefer it to work effectively with one finger - changing your grip apply the front brake takes time which you might not have. My throttle is light and so is my front brake - I ride without thinking about them while listening to the motor. Often it is not possible to check the rev counter. At 7000 RPM the note you hear is the D above middle C on the piano. If it becomes an E - you lose a motor.
 
How long has it been, to me the longer lever works a treat with fully upgrade brake system and one finger operation if need to and if you riding in place where you need to use lots of brake then the longer lever will be less stress on your hand and fingers as well I ride without gloves and can feel what my brakes are doing through the lever same as I feel my whole bike through the handle bars, wearing gloved hands I don't get that feel, after 50+ years of riding I still have all my fingers and they still working lol.
 
ludwig said:
Or if you have a broken one lying around, weld 2 together and reprofile it to suit your grip:

RGM Racing Brake Lever
Click to expand...
Jan,
I have even heated the lever in my vise and was able to bend it to fit my small hands better.
Mike
 

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