Warning LED when trailing the brake pedal. Ideas???

[robroy]

I have 02 1150GS.

I can't believe I'm the only numpty with the bad habit of intermittently resting my foot on the back brake pedal, resulting in a) confusion for following drivers, b) probably an impact on fuel efficiency, and c) back brake pads wearing away at an alarming rate (and worse. Don't ask me how I know )

I plan to rotate the rear brake pedal one notch lower (is this a bad idea???), but I'm also considering wiring a LED indicator to the brake circuit so I know immediately when I'm transgressing.

First simplistic thought is to use a 5 or 8mm panel-mounted LED and wire it via a resistor in parallel with the rear brake light. I'm not sure where I'll mount the LED yet as my bike is in the shop having rear brakes repaired.

Does this sound feasible to you experts out there? Is there a better place to wire it in? Wiring it to the rear brake switch only would be better to reduce the "false positives" that could become annoying in traffic.

All ideas considered.

Thanks guys,

Rob

 

[Wrigsby1]

When I instructing I got into the habit of putting my foot at an angle to the side of the lever. It did the trick.

 

[John Armstrong]

Rest the ball of your right foot on the footrest? Can't apply the brake unless you move it?

 

[robroy]

Advice about foot placement is useful, thanks, but the problem is remembering to move my foot from the current, habitual placement to the new and improved placement. A bit of chicken and egg really.

I'd like a visual warning to help me build the new habit.

 

[Slowdown]

Maplin sell 12v LED's - get one, a length of 2 core wire (from Maplin) and stick it somewhere you can see it. Wire the other end with the correct polarity across the rear brake light.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=12v led&source=15

You'd need a bit of sleeving and perhaps some heatshrink tube and a pile of cable ties


Simples......

 

[TLSgazza]

whats a rear brake

never actually use mine on the GS or my TL1000s, but i do tend to ride on the balls of my feet as said above

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Ride with the ball of your foot on the pegs...................job solved - just like the others have said

Riding with your right foot on the rear brake is just plain lazy..............how many other bad riding habits have you got

 

[robroy]

Thanks for all the comments. JohnnyBoxer, I've probably got as many "bad habits" as the next bloke - at least I'm trying to do something about them

I'd dispute the assumption that my riding style is "just plain lazy". I already ride on the balls of my feet on the open road or motorway and in lighter traffic, but when commuting in heavy London peak-hour traffic, filtering for miles on end, I have tended to keep the foot "poised" so I can adjust speed and respond to cars more quickly. It's the "poising" that turns into a trailing. I guess I need to trust my reactions more.

I'll try using the front brake and engine braking more for speed regulation, and keep the ball of my foot on the peg more.

Rob