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Not the best day ...! |
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Careca
World Superbike Star Joined: 30 Dec 2015 Location: Sevenoaks Status: Offline Points: 269 |
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Posted: 21 May 2017 at 18:16 |
So as the weather was so nice thought I would have a little ride down the road just to make sure everything is fine and dandy after not being used for a while.
Not the best day . Had to stop sharpish and managed to snap the front brake lever ...! Has to be metal fatigue as I havent hit / banged anything and i'm not that strong . I stopped and went back to pick up the broken end . It broke right where the lever has had some material trimmed off......I guess to save weight. What has worried me is when I took the lever off , found another crack on the other end. Anyone else had this ? Is this common ? Then on the way home managed to get a great big screw in my new rear tyre ( thats done less than 100 miles ). Not really far king irritating. Anyway eventually noticed and didn't fall off. I have plugged it for now so its at least mobile. Close up a little out of focus This worries me......... Other side of the lever seems fine . I guess its better to have found out during a little shake down then when i really needed it. |
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benx
Moto3 racer Joined: 19 May 2017 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 30 |
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Wierd... the fracture at the pivot point you could almost understand, but the one at the end of the lever makes no sense at all. That part of the lever will never receive any stress under normal use.
The lever casting looks fairly rough, presumably not OEM? |
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IanG
Premium Member Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Location: N Wales Status: Offline Points: 10725 |
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Looks OEM to me
Mine had a fracture where the brass pivot for the plunger fits as well I think you can safely say that the bike has been down at some time and the lever has been over stressed The weak point nearer the ball is designed to snap there in an accident leaving you enough lever to still function so I guess that was also damaged previously |
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www.apworkshops.co.uk
www.apriliaforum.co.uk www.apriliaownersclub.co.uk Looking forward to the next track day |
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benx
Moto3 racer Joined: 19 May 2017 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 30 |
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Its makes sense now
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davidrsurfer
Premium Member Joined: 22 Feb 2011 Location: North Devon Status: Offline Points: 2511 |
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Think the notch at the outer end is so he lever snaps in a gentle drop rather than the master cylinder. I would be worried by the pivot end, that would take hands like a gorilla to break it.
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Motorcycle friendly self catering holiday apartment Acorn Studio. See us at Air bnb.
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IanG
Premium Member Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Location: N Wales Status: Offline Points: 10725 |
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It scared to cr*p out me on the Tuono as I'd just handed over the money for it
My mate came over and said " we have a bit of a problem" I'd been doing some heavy braking on the thing the previous day and he'd even tracked it with a fractured brake lever unknowingly. Fortunately we found a spare lever in his spares box and swapped it over It's now something I check for when looking bikes over |
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www.apworkshops.co.uk
www.apriliaforum.co.uk www.apriliaownersclub.co.uk Looking forward to the next track day |
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davidrsurfer
Premium Member Joined: 22 Feb 2011 Location: North Devon Status: Offline Points: 2511 |
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Sorry Ian. Just spotted you picked up the notch & replied!
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Motorcycle friendly self catering holiday apartment Acorn Studio. See us at Air bnb.
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IanG
Premium Member Joined: 04 Oct 2010 Location: N Wales Status: Offline Points: 10725 |
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It takes me ages to type Yes that notch is a deliberate weak point built in to save the expensive bits further up Also some people never think to lubricate the upper pivot point where the brass plunger bit fits. I've seen some that have worn the hole in the lever oval so it nearly breaks through the side without any impact needed to crack it |
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www.apworkshops.co.uk
www.apriliaforum.co.uk www.apriliaownersclub.co.uk Looking forward to the next track day |
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Careca
World Superbike Star Joined: 30 Dec 2015 Location: Sevenoaks Status: Offline Points: 269 |
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Thank you for the explanation about the break point. Makes some sense now.
I am certain it an OEM lever. Has the correct date stamp and it is the same as the clutch lever so unless someone replaced both I believe its genuine. It does look rough in the photo's, thats because of the close up / zoom . They don't look anywhere near as rough on the bike. I had the clutch lever out and its perfect. Guess it has an easier life. New lever + new tyre. |
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FTM
Moto GP Alien Joined: 04 Apr 2016 Location: Lovedean Status: Offline Points: 381 |
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Going by the date stamp those levers are almost 20 years old. Probably just metal fatigue from an off in the past.
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A82addict
Moto GP Alien Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Location: Greenock Status: Offline Points: 381 |
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My clutch lever did the same thing and snapped at the pivot on my first attempt getting out on it when i bought it, i was sitting first in line at a major 4 way junction, lights change, pull clutch in and snap faack.. Luckily i didn't get it into first and managed to waddle the bike across the road like a right twatt.. Had to push the bike home in full leathers...It was getting burnt when I got home..Still got it 5yrs later though..
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