left hand rear brake (on bars)

salem1987 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Sep 2013 Karma :

My old rotton cd200 is almost back on the road.
Last problem is the rear brake. The original has broken at the mount on the frame with no way for repair.
It almost made me just write off the bike and sell it for parts, but then thought about the possiblity of a left hand operated rear brake.

Anyone got any experience doing this? The rear brake on the 200 is a drum brake.

Was thinking a second short lever for the clutch or brake and route a cable through to the drum, and add a mount for the cable at the drum end to hold the tension.

MOT is next and dont have a clue if this is legal or not??

(i really want this bike back for some cheap 30 miles a day commuting! My fzr1000 drinks way too much fuel for it)

caferacer · Nova Slayer Joined: 11 Aug 2012 Karma :

Whoa, calm down - don't go moving things to the other side of the bike unless you have to.

People must have made rearsets for these bikes...

I've seen this done regularly on chopped bikes:
https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y3/housecraig/Bobber%20project/DSC00851.jpg

Photo above is of a CD200 bobber project and is stolen from:
https://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/84130?page=3#.U4t3ivldWAA

Photos of the broken pedal would help?

salem1987 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Sep 2013 Karma :

im calm lol. thanks for the photos thats very interesting.

Basically the mount for the centre stand uses the same pivot for the rear brake. Which has broken off.

On that bobber, it looks like the rear brake is mounted to where to swingarm bolt would be on an original cd200. Trying to figure out where else would be a good place to mount a brake lever...

Ive got a rear brake cable from an old chinese pioneer nevada that im using for spare bits which is what inspired the extra lever on the bars idea, but its definetely a last resort.

Re welding is also an option, but i'm no welder and transporting the bike is looking difficult.

ill get some photos asap

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

The mention of a rotten frame is concerning. If the frame has rotted enough for the part that supports the rear brake lever and centre stand to break off, then it's likely that the point where the swingarm mounts isn't far behind. This is an important bit of frame.

If you want to have something vaguely safe, you should really take it down to a bare frame and have a very good look at the area, including scraping away all the rotten metal until you can see if there is any strength left in it at all.

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Glossing over any issues with the frame to answer original query have a look at (or contact) National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD). They have local groups.

They regularly adapt bikes to put both brake levers on the bars (iirc it's a dual lever thingy). The NABD will have a list of suppliers for this stuff, it is an off-the-shelf item. See from their site click here - thumb brake or twin levers for example.
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Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

Put on a speedycom thumb brake. Thumbs Up

https://www.speedycom.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=16708
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salem1987 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Sep 2013 Karma :

thanks for the advice.

On closer inspection the frame is sturdy, a bit rusty in places but plenty of thickness left all around.

The centre stand looks to have snapped off because of it being seized and rotating with the spindle, wearing the frame down on the mounts to the point it was thin enough to break away.

The disabled bikers site is very interesting.. didnt think of that! thanks.

The thumb brake is inspirational, but 424 quid is a bit too much for my poor old cd200 lol

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

salem1987 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 10 Sep 2013 Karma :

the main problem is transporting the bike to get the frame welded.
I do have access to an old moped rear drum brake cable, going to try mounting that as a second lever near the clutch.

Im not too fussed on the aesthetics, the bike is purely for rides to work in the bad weather and too save a bit on fuel!

TUG · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 May 2007 Karma :

Hugh Farking Cant · Scooby Slapper Joined: 03 Mar 2012 Karma :

Has this not been a reoccurring problem with elderly commuter Hondas from the year dot ?
Surprised Teff has not joined in here !

The c/stand and brake pivot are of poor design.
The pivot rusts and seizes in the mounts and each time the stand is used rather than turning it does a Uri Geller until the mount fails.

The frame will have next to no corrosion; only the stand/brake pivot.

What the OP regards as unrepairable; a good fabricator/welder will repair to a much better than original spec very easily and cheaply.

Using a hand operated rear brake is over complicating the repair but would be an interesting exercise in both engineering and learning new riding skills.

A hydraulic, thumb rear brake is easily operated whilst using the clutch when downshifting; a lever operated cable brake perhaps may not be so !
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