Anybody Like Their Brake Pedal?

[Blackbeard]

So, I know this sounds dumb, but I can't stand the size of the brake pedal on the 1700 RoadStar. My Honda Shadow 1100 had the little 2"x2" brake lever on a drum brake, which seemed sufficient. I'm finding that I am really heavy on the rear brake without trying to be. I went into a sideways skid on Sunday leaving church as an old guy in a cadilac didn't look and pulled out in front of me. I rode the skid and recovered. Afterward, I tried to think about what had happened and I keep going back to the fact that the rear brake pedal is huge and my size 13 boot hits it hard.

Is there a modification to reduce it's sensitivity? Or, is there a smaller brake pedal that people like?

Thanks.

[roadiemort]

I don't have any feelings one way or the other about the pedal but learning how to use it is a different story. your main focus should be on the front brakes. V Star 650 pedals fit and are smaller.

[Jclevesque]

Some have used Royal star brake pedal. It is smaller.

[Shores]

You can’t and don’t want to reduce the sensitivity. Sounds like you should have used more front brake. That is critical in stopping fast without the rear breaking loose.

[Father Pobasturd]

Here's mine. looks better too IMHO. Find it on Ebay in the Hot Rod car parts. About $25, slight modification to make it work. Still, you need to learn confidence with the front brake. I was just like you once, I was lucky to have a bike with a front brake, so I just learned to ride around that little inconvenience. But the weight of these bikes and the rate at which the can build speed necessitates the need for, possession of, and a practiced hand on a good working front brake. Otherwise, you will find yourself in a bad situation real quick and you'll wished you had. Nobody here wants that.

[Doc_V]

Do you know what kind of pads you have on the rear? If they're copper colored HH sintered pads, that could contribute to the locking up.

[sprt220]

[Blackbeard]

Awesome! That's what I'm looking for. Thanks!

[Blackbeard]

I agree I should have used more front brake. But, that's also why I said that I find I'm too heavy on the rear brake without trying to be. I believe the pedal is too big. It takes up a tremendous amount of space on the floor board.

All of my previous bikes had pegs, a MUCH smaller pedal and drum rear brakes. You could also adjust the height of those pedals so they were lower. I never had a disc brake in the rear and just didn't know what kind of adjust-ability they may have. It sounds like they aren't adjustable.

I am one who uses both brakes all of the time. In this case, it was slow speed in a curve and going down hill (it's a strange parking lot). I used this as a reminder of a few things. 1. This is why we practice our skills on a routine basis. 2. People aren't looking for bikes, especially in February.

Thank you for the suggestions for the smaller pedals. I'll look into them.

I'm not sure what pads are on it, but I'll look into that too.

[Smokescreens]

those small drums will never stop as good as a big disk brake. you just need to adjust for the better bite of the disk brake. and not to beat a dead horse but i agree, you need much more front brake and a little bit of rear brake. in a panic its easy to apply to much rear brake. i know it all to well.....

[D-Fresh]

I too think it takes up a lot of space on the floorboard, i can't get a comfortable position for my foot with it in the way. I've never ridden a bike with floorboards before so not really sure how the pedal height should be adjusted?

[Jaybo]

I too did the round pedal mod FaPo did, love it and my boot doesn't get tangled up. You need to relearn braking though and firmly squeeze the front and caress the rear!

[BubbaKahuna]

I never think about my brake pedal until some asshat pulls out in front of me at speed.
Then I LOVE my brake pedal & lever. LOL

[Blackbeard]

Thanks for the inputs.

I'm new to this forum, and I'm realizing I need to choose my words more carefully when I post a thread here. After reading my initial post, I think many are keying in on the fact that I skidded. I'm not bothered by the skid. I probably never should have mentioned the skid. I knew what happened, and why, immediately. Unfortunately, locking a tire happens from time to time when you are approaching threshold braking. Believe me, I use the front brake, ALOT! I just got heavier on the rear brake than I should have. But that's what led me to ask the question.

The point of my post was simply to find out if other people got rid of this massive, brick-sized pedal and switched to something smaller that they liked. Something that might give them more space on the floorboard to move your foot. If there is a smaller pedal available, then maybe I would try to find a way to lower it some too. Money is a little tight at the moment and I just don't have the resources to sort through a bunch of pedals if I don't have to.

Sorry if I sound a little moody. It's been a long day.

[Shores]

I think the smaller pad off a V-Star 1100 works also.

[Blackbeard]

I think the smaller pad off a V-Star 1100 works also.

Cool, thanks.

[roadiemort]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-Gear-Shift-Rear-Brake-Pedal-Cover-for-Yamaha-V-Star-XVS-950-1100-1300/323676579094?hash=item4b5ca0a516:g:yrIAAOSwLF1YAKlf:rk:20:pf:0

[roadiemort]

Another cut and cover option. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brake-Pedal...Dio:rk:41:pf:0

[roadiemort]

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=brake+pedal+kuryakyn+for+v+star+650&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&ul_noapp=true&_odkw=brake+pedal+kuryakyn

[BubbaKahuna]

Same thing :: only cheaper.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202040390760

[daveto]

I also did the small round brake pedal from amazon, possibly for the same reason as you are looking. My size 13 boots didn’t fit comfortably on the floor board. I removed stock pedal pad, cut the pedal probly close to half, keeping the functional tilt portion of the pedal. Drilled a hole and installed the round pedal. Goodluck.