Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet with the UCE engine => Topic started by: nigelogston@gmail.com on April 09, 2011, 08:21:12 pm

Title: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: nigelogston@gmail.com on April 09, 2011, 08:21:12 pm
In regard to the earlier mention by Ray cited here :



r raycopper
Neophyte

Posts: 49



  Re: 5000 miles in 6 months
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2011, 06:23:00 AM » 

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Thought as much  but you may be right! Have worn about eigth of the way through my rear brake pedal. Recken a couple of weeks of tight Pyrenean hairpins may do it lots of harm

Ray

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 pedal.jpg (69.54 KB, 800x533 - viewed 17 times.)
 
« Last Edit: April 01, 2011, 06:28:48 AM by raycopper » 
 
(the picture didn't copy but it is on his thread "5000 miles in 6 months"
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QUESTION: are G 5 bikes touching down and scraping the pedal on the Right side, or is it only C 5 owners experieincing this:  The wheel diameter is 1 ' less, so the distance from the ground is 1'2 in closer on the C 5 which may be a factor.  Rather than modifying /replacing brake pedals, another poster on the Bullet Iron Barrel mentioned that putting Kenda tires on his bile in 100/90/19 size and that this seemed to raise his back end 3/4" from the stock Avons , suggesting that they may have an aspect ratio of 80 not 90---don't know as I don't see this detail on the specs page.  Anyway , if this is this the case then simply changing your C 5  18 " tire to one with a higher apsect ratio, or at least a "rounder " profile like the Kendas may fix your scraping.    Here is his post :


   
Bulleteer
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Posts: 130


Credit Card? You got it.


    Got that tire changed!
« on: April 08, 2011, 07:42:05 PM »   

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My Avon SM MKII tire has a manufacture date of 2007, but it looked like it came from 1997, with the cracking and stiffness it had.  I decided to change it out, and today FedEx delivered my Kenda K671 rear tire. 

The K671 is a 100/90 19 rear tire that's designed for 80% road and 20% dirt use.  It has deep treads, and more of a rounded profile that the original SM MKII, which is designed for either rear tire or sidecar tire use.  I've read a couple of threads on ADVRider that say the 671 is pretty OK, and one can get between 6,000 and 10,000 miles of use from it, depending on wear.

The tire installed with about 2cm of clearance on the right side and 3cm of clearance on the left side from my swingarm, on a 2009 Military in the classic frame.

It took me just exactly an hour to install after I got the old tire off.  I had just removed the old tire when the FedEx guy pulled up and tossed (seriously, this is why I hate you FedEx) me the new tire.  It probably would have taken only 30 minutes or so if I hadn't been stubborn and initially refused to make up a soapy water mixture.  I was trying to do it using only talcum powder, but I was having issues getting the last 18 inches or so of tire around the rim with the spoons.  Once I whipped up the Dawn soap mixture it only took maybe 2 minutes to finish mounting it on the rim, as everything slid around nicely. 

Once I had it mounted, aired up, and installed, I took the bike for a ride around the block.  Now, this is my first and only motorcycle, so I may not be the most qualified to give an opinion, but the handling felt very different.  The Kenda makes the rear of the bike sit up a little higher, maybe 3/4 of an inch, so I felt a little strange from the get-go.  The bike was much easier to lean over on its side for cornering, and that is just different enough to scare me a little bit.  Now, I've scraped my stock pegs down to the metal on both sides, so I'm not afraid of leaning the bike over in turns, but it's always been much more resistant in doing so before, and the ease in which I can lean it just catches me off guard.  I bet that in the end it will be a good thing, just have to adjust to the new style.

Overall I'd say it's a huge improvem



.  Here's a link to an album with some pics I took before and after the process.  For $60 total (free shipping! even if it was FedEx) I wish I would have done it a year ago.


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Cheers, Nigel   Thoughts?
PS   The "B 5 Bullet 500 is now up on the Canadian website 
Title: Re: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: r80rt on April 09, 2011, 11:03:57 pm
I've put 10,000 miles on my C5 here on these twisty Ozark mountain roads and have yet to scrape my brake pedal, I'm just not agressive enough I suppose.
Title: Re: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: olhogrider on April 09, 2011, 11:09:20 pm
I have scraped the brake plenty of times. My last ride I scraped something on the left. I can't find any evidence but I did feel it. Wonder what it was?
Title: Re: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: 2bikebill on April 10, 2011, 08:53:56 am
Something on my G5 scrapes the deck from time to time, usually on the left but I seem more inclined to hurl it around left handers on these snaky Devon roads. Sometimes the inner hooligan just gets the upper hand.... :D 8)
 I always think it's the centre stand which grounds first - no?

Title: Re: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: Tri750 on April 10, 2011, 02:28:03 pm
Seems to be a C5 thing. Make sure your shocks are adjusted for your weight and riding preference.
When the time comes to change fork oil, a bit of PVC slipped on top of your fork springs will boost the ride height a bit.

The  Avon's are so good and so sticky, they really give you the confidence to do some dog fighting in the curvies. Changing over to a taller tire that isn't similar to the Avon in abilities  in my opinion, is taking a step backwards.

The dragging of hardware once in a while just shows you're having a great ride, speed safely!
 ;)
Title: Re: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: Ducati Scotty on April 10, 2011, 09:57:19 pm
On my C5 I can and have scraped the brake pedal on the right and the footpeg on the left.  It's fairly easy to scrape hard parts on most bikes that aren't high end sport bikes.  Better designed bikes touch the peg down before anything else.  My Ducati Monster would scrape the mufflers on both sides before the pegs and lift the rear tire causing a rather exhilarating unexpected rear end slide with sparks flying out.

The best way not to scrape is good form if you're going to run aggressively.  You don't have to hang off the side and drag a knee but a little proper sport riding form helps.  Pull your inside knee off the tank and point it into the turn a little.  This gets you hips and shoulders turned into the curve and helps align your whole body properly.  Leave your butt in the seat but move your head to the inside and a little forward, look through the turn.  Your head should be around where the stock mirror is.  These techniques don't require you to hang off like a Moto GP rider but keep your weight where it should be (to the inside) and keeps the bike more upright, keeping more rubber on the ground and keeping your pegs off it.

In everyday riding I don't do this and I don't ever scrape anything.

Scott
Title: Re: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: 1 Thump on April 11, 2011, 02:23:43 am
Is brake scraping an issue after a right shift mod on the iron barrel models ?
Title: Re: Brake Pedal Scraping
Post by: Sub on April 12, 2011, 10:32:01 pm
On the right side, my aftermarket EFI exhaust hits first.. scared the hell out of me! I've only done it once.