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About Chopper Motorcycle Brake Components:

Keeping your chopper motorcycle brake components in perfect operating condition is one of the most important jobs of the motorcycle enthusiast. If you are not able to stop safely and smoothly when needed, you are forcing yourself into a harmful situation and you can total your bike - what no rider wants.

There are different components to every braking system and there are different braking systems on various motorcycles. The most common configuration is a disc brake in the front which is controlled by a lever mounted by the right handlebar and a drum rear brake controlled by a foot pedal on the right side. Newer bikes have linked braking systems (LBS) which activate the brakes which prevent the brakes from locking. There are some integrated systems that allow the front brake level to control part of the rear brake but not in a fully linked system as with LBS braking.

Motorcycle disc brakes consist of several components. A disc-like object called a rotor is attached to the wheel. The caliper is mounted and on the edge of the rotor it sits. When this type of brake is activated, one or more pistons cause hydraulic pressure to compress the caliper, causing it to come in contact with the rotor. The friction created from this contact is what causes the wheel to stop turning.

Rotors can be fixed or floating. The floating rotor can move as well as expand and contract. This allows heat to dissipate quickly, improving braking performance and shortening the distance required to come to a full stop.

Some motorcycle include Anti-locking Braking Systems (ABS). You may be aware of this type of braking system because they have been used on cars for quite some time. When brakes are applied to an ABS system, a computer control steps in and prevents the brakes from locking by applying and releasing brake pressure rapidly.

Some older chopper motorcycles and even some later model trikes use drum brakes on the rear. Drum brake systems include a drum and brake shoes. The rotating drum is forced to slow when the brake shoes contact it once the brakes are activated. Because these braking systems are not nearly as efficient and require longer stopping distances, they are becoming a thing of the past for motorcycles.

Other parts or components of the motorcycle braking system, no matter whether the system is disc, ABS, LBS, or even an older drum system, are the master cylinder, brake lines and brake fluid. The master cylinder is a reservoir for brake fluid and, unlike cars, there is one for the front brake and one for the rear brake because these are separate systems on motorcycles. When pressure is applied to the brake lever or pedal, the associated master cylinder’s internal piston causes the brake fluid to create hydraulic pressure and cause the brake caliper or shoes to contact the rotor disc or drum, causing the chopper motorcycle to slow o stop.

Be sure to check your brakes and system prior to any road trip you've planned. Ensure that the brake fluid levels are correct and add fluid if necessary. Also, after any repairs that require disconnection of any brake lines, be sure to bleed your brakes so they will operate efficiently.

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