Oh wise ones!
During my recent trip, we took a little detour along a dirt road (actually we took a lot of dirt roads, but this one was more memorable than others) :lol: .
As many here have noted, Tigers like to lie down and so did mine :roll: . I caught a rut in the road with my rear wheel and went over on my side. No harm done, no injury. I was fully loaded (3 bags) and quite heavy. The right side bag did fold out, at nearly 90º from its original position. I was quite surprised that nothing really broke, it just bent the fixing points a little.
Anyway, the point of the post is that the rear brake lever broke right off. It simply snapped the bolt that holds it in place but did remain in one piece. I would have thought that the lever itself would have broken, as it dug in to the dirt quite hard.
I managed to limp[ to the nearest town and found a good mechanic who helped take the broken bolt out. Didn't loose the thread and I just got another bolt with a little piece of tube around it that slipped in to the brake lever. It looks perfect and I wouldn't even think of fixing it BUT I am wondering if the original bolt is made to snap off, thus protecting the lever. It did snap clear off, nice and clean. I am wondering if a regular bolt would be stronger and, if this happens again, I would loose the lever.
Any thoughts?
Mine bent when the Tiger lay down on it, which was worse than breaking in a sense as it held the brake on. Fortunately I noticed it.
I think it's just making things out of the cheapest material that'll do the job.
I think its designed that way or i hope it is !! i bent my bolt a few years ago when me Tigger tryed to take a nap in a layby ( aptly named )
19 PFKL1203690 PEDAL.BRAKE £66.78
20 PFKL1214712 BOLT,SHLD,M8 X 1.25,SLV,ENC £4.75
i'd rather buy a bolt anyday :D
KK