About those linked brakes

[Pete Rock]

I was wondering how the linked brakes on the Varadero work, how do they distribute power when you brake on the right hand, and what happens differently when you use the foot lever? Is the difference very noticeable?

I am wondering this because after test riding a VFR and not really liking it, I got to wonder how the Varadero works on dirtroads, meaning, can you brake almost only with the rear wheel? And can you lock the rear wheel under braking?

Feels so comfy, maybe more than a Caponord I sat on a week ago, and since there might be a new one coming up next year the price on the current Varaderos is about the same than the ones of the Strom, which I honestly dislike to look at.

This may be just an affair, and the Transalp may remain for a long time, or not.

[Shep]

the linked brakes are very good on the road, i dont know about offroad

Works something like this hit the front brake and it works and activates 1 of the rear pistons. Hit the back brake and it works but activates 1 of the front pistons. Hit both brakes and it works all the pistons.

The Vardero has not got as much engine braking as the Africa so needs good brakes, i like the system very much

You are right the Vardero is a comfy old bike which is good and bad. Good becuase you enjoy using the bike, bad becuase what was 50 miles on my sportsbike is now 200 miles on the Varadero !!!! costs a small fortune on petrol !!!!! mine gets about 43mpg a carb version the injected versions are 45+ so pretty good really

[africajim]

Ok, the linked brakes are set up exactly the same as the VFR. Front handle in the dry, foot pedal in the wet, safest braking I've ever seen on a bike! The thing with linked brakes is you either love em or hate em! I love em!

That's on tar though, Redmarcus said doing the Stella Alpina he wasn't impressed with the linked brakes offroad. If I went back down the Vara road again I'd make up a switched valve to turn off the link for offroad and more controlled riding. But for general riding I'd keep them linked.

Just my humble opinion guys.

[Chad]

just out of curiousity could you not just take the linked breaks out and fit a conventional system in or is that not possible

[Shep]

It would not be easy Chad, there are pipes and valves all over the place

I guess it could be done, but i really like it on the road

[Pete Rock]

I guess it´s very good on the road, I rode a VFR with it but the bike was so different to my Transalp that I really can´t comment on how the linked brakes work, everyone that rides on the road says it´s very good.

The only thing holding me back from wanting that system for now is that I´m not so confident on how it copes with the light offroad I do, obviously a Varadero wouldn´t be so "Throwable" as my TA, therefore creating a need for a thumper.

The thing is, there´s the Varadero, which I kind of like, is comfy as hell, and has a nice enough price before the 2007 model comes up, they´re currently asking 5000€ plus my bike, which in it´s turn is also dropping in value on account of the 2007 Transalp lurking round the corner.

So the Varadero is now the price of a Strom, it´s also heavier and slower, but I can´t look at the Strom and not feel my bowells starting to rumble, it´s that ugly.

The nearest Triumph dealer is in deep Porto area, and I don´t want to go there for a service, too much trouble.

The Caponord is very nice, the prettiest of all of them, only it´s actually more expensive than the Varadero/Strom and apparently uses a bit more fuel.

I think I don´t trust the KTM, it´s also expensive, as is the BMW, none of which I would buy without a 2 year warranty, so used is not really an option with these two bikes as far as I´m concerned.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Having ridden a Vara off-road, the key phrase above is "light offroad". Frankly, handling the sheer mass of the thing - and its high gearing - make a little thing like linked brakes a side issue. On gravel and dry dirt you'll be fine even with linked brakes; in slimy conditions you won't.

Maybe with offroad-oriented tyres a strong, experienced rider could begin to throw the thing around a bit. Only then might the linked brakes become noticeable. At the same time you'd realise that you can't lock the rear wheel up anyway on ABS versions because it isn't switchable!

The BMWs have a better arrangement for the linked system. The hand lever operates mostly on the front and partly on the rear, just like the Honda. However, the foot lever operates only on the rear. Also, the ABS is switchable on the GS. What a pity it's servo assisted (thus vulnerable to a multitude of gremlins).

[Pete Rock]

quick question to you Varadero guys, how many rpms are you doing at 80mph, in sixth, in an FI bike?

[Dee Duble Yuh]

About 4500 rpm at an indicated 80 mph. What's that got to do with linked brakes??

[Pete Rock]

About 4500 rpm at an indicated 80 mph. What's that got to do with linked brakes??

Nothing at all, just a couple of doubts that came up while I´m flirting with it on the dealer´s showroom