Is riding with one front disk legal?

[Tristan.]

Assuming the bike is intended to have two obviously.

Something peculiar happened to my VFR a month or so ago, the front wheel partially seized on the M5, I limped into Bristol with a fuckload of clutch slip and burnouts. When I got there I expected a seized calliper but after meticulously cleaning both at the side of the road the wheel was still seized. It turned out that the left hand disk had warped a barely percievable amount, but the clearence is so tiny that it was rubbing on the fork leg.

Anyway I took the disk off, shimmed that calliper and have been riding it like that ever since, complete with a rag tied around the calliper to stop the shim falling out, a more long term soluton would be to swap to a single line and remove the left caliper altogether, and preferably put on a more suitable m/c, but I have new disks anyway.

Braking performance has been entirely managable for these conditions, and I'm quite sure it's better than some older bikes which I've ridden from a passed MOT.

The thought crossed my mind though where do I stand legally?

Incedentally my 700 quid VFR has been fantastic other than that. I've done 10k on it so far with no other problems, in fact it hasn't even needed it's chain adjusting

[Dazbo666]

If you got stopped by plod I'd guess it could be classed as being unroadworthy (considering the bike was designed withtwin disks etc), in which case could potentially void your insurance.
In my experience plod no longer overlooks old school bodge jobs in the same way as they did years ago...

Obviously you make your own decisions, but I personally wouldn't risk riding the bike in that condition - brakes and tyres are a particularly important consideration in my eyes
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[stinkwheel]

Some bikes came from the factory with one disc on a wheel made for two.

It was reasonably common at one point where different models shared the same parts. The sportier model would have twin discs and the detuned model a single disc.

I can't remember which ones though. BMW R80 was one of them.
https://www.realclassic.co.uk/bikepix/bmw11040101.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Frost]

I've been stopped on a bike that was only running one of the discs. It had the second disc on the wheel but the caliper had the pistons right in, the pads right back and no line connected to it. The copper didn't seem to notice or care.

[bootsbiker]

I had a Divi that had 1 disc, the year after there started putting 2 discs on the Divi...

really bad breaking... I have a courier friend that says he only uses his front brake...
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https://justfuckinggoogleit.com/

[Teflon-Mike]

Call your insurance company, and enquire thier opinion of the increased policy loading, IF you permenantly modified the bike, HALVING the braking capability on the front wheel, of a 150mph machine.....

Compare price to that of a new or second hand disc!

Under current C&U regs, I dont think you have a problem LEGALLY in this country, though you might if you were somehwere like germally where I believe they dont even like tyres that aren't on the TUV approved fitment list for your bike...

But here, I think requriements are merely it must have front brake, and that it must meet MOT efficiency rating, and you can, modify almost all of a bike, provided that you dont breach points threshold for re-registration demanding VOSA inspection... which you probably cant on a bike without fitting non standard engine, suspension, brakes and possibly using an alternative steering mechanism....

Bought new front disc for the CB a year or two back, pretty sure its the same disc as a VFR750, think it was about £80 for genuine EBC.... Lad got apair of wavy's of e-bay for his RF9 lasy year, think he paid that for the pair... is it really worth the hassle for that sort of money? Even on an old budget bike?
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My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[sickpup]

[yen_powell]

https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/DSCF0759.jpg
This is my mate's Africa Twin with caliper invisibly removed. He had bent the disc so badly that it was eating into the alloy of his caliper.

He rode about 2,000 miles like this until he got back to civilisation, well Yorkshire anyway. (no Honda bike dealers in Morocco at the time)

He did it when he hit the rock at speed shown below. The previous larger rock behind ripped his left hand metal pannier off and flattened it. I'm holding it's remains in the bottom picture.
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/tonysacc1.jpg
https://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b165/yen_powell/touratech1sm.jpg
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[defblade]

[Blau Zedong]

Jesus H Christ.

Protip - Fix your fucking brakes.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[sickpup]

[salty21]

aslong as you completely remove the brake system from that side it's fine, as a brake thats not there cant be defective .

I removed one of the brakes from the front of the superfour 2 years ago as the disc was warped badly and it was far too sharp with 2 discs anyway and it's passed the last 2 m.o.t's like that with an advisory .

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/super4.jpg

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/advisory.jpg
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[c-m]

[SirToU]

In my opinion, if this bike was involved in a fatal accident and the owner survived, I would through the book at the owner.

If your in morocco and it's a get me home, fine. But as a permanent fix, I would say the brakes are not in accordance with the certificate of conformity issued to the manufacturer, as even bikes that are designed with two but only have one fitted still are tested to comply by the manufacturer.

Hey, is your life really only worth £200 ish - the cost of replacement parts.

Unfortunately, The society we live in these days is no very tolerant.

Just my 2p worth.

Neil
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Ride it like it was stolen.
2011 Motogymkhana UK Competition Winner
2012 Motogymkhana UK Series Champion

[salty21]

my bike was far more dangerous with 2 discs fitted, even with only one i can still lift the back wheel, why would i want more braking power than that?
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[daemonoid]

[sickpup]

[daemonoid]

Kinda related*:

https://psyc.queensu.ca/target/chapter07.html

reduced breaking efficiency / safety does not increase accidents.




* I say kinda, because I'd still argue that the efficiency of the op coming to a stop has not changed.
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current: ducati monster 750
past: hyosung gt250r, bajaj pulsar 180, hyosung gt 125 comet
@thomasgarrard | www.straitjkt.com | www.racingseven.com

[salty21]

[daemonoid]

[Blau Zedong]

Seriously, i cannot believe people are trying to find ways of justifying halving the stopping power of a 200kg, 150 mph behemoth.

It's just beyond retarded, even by BCF standards.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[salty21]

pretty sure it doesnt half it and in this weather its a good thing IMO

Even with only one disc it brakes better than some bikes i have ridden.

Out of interest have you ever tried riding a bike with one disc removed? I think you would be suprised
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[Blau Zedong]

[c-m]

[salty21]

it was a response to you saying its retarded to remove a disc from a bike. I was pointing out you were wrong and giving you an example but you dont seem to take being wrong very well
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr