[rickbert]

I haven't started a "who really cares anyway" thread for a quite a while so I thought it was due. The forum has been slow lately so I thought the time might be right.

The subject:



Does anyone know of a particular reason why the caliper on single rotor brakes is on the left ?



I mean if you think about it it would have been cheaper and easier to put it on the right.....it would have used less hose which would have been a little savings to us but a huge savings to Honda on a grand scale and it wouldn't have had to be routed behind the headlight meaning much easier maintenance hence probably more people actually doing the maintenance.



So what is the reason that it is on the left ?

 

[Allan]

The subject:

Does anyone know of a particular reason why the caliper on single rotor brakes is on the left ?

The caliper is on the left because,,,,,,,



























the rotor is on the left

Now my turn,,Why is the rotor on the left??

 

[markmakeitso]

I read awhile back that traditionally the right side of the bike is considered the better looking side, perhaps because many Harleys have most of the brightwork on the right (intake, pipes, etc), and also when on the sidestand the right side is canted upwards, presenting the right side. The rare bike with a single sided swingarm generally has the "floating" side to the right. Also, chains are usually on the left, and few would consider the chain a nice looking part. Settle down, I've aware of the strange anti-chain vitriol on here. I would consider a brake caliper and rotor a "neat to look at" piece, which would, at least on some level, seem to prefer rotor on the right.



There, several lines and I haven't clarified at all.



Wild guesses, less road spray on the left side of a crowned road. Oooorrr.....tends to make the front wheel flop to the left when parked. Even I'm not sold on either of those.

 

[Blindstitch]

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't save much brake hose. But in the same standing why not mold both forks to accept calipers and then offer it as an option like current bikes do.

 

[Spring Brook Rider]

Maybe the designing engineer was left handed. Or blind in the right eye. Or maybe had a stiff neck to the left side. Or had a sore right shoulder. Or just wanted us to wonder "why in the heck did he do that." Some things just don't make sense logically.

 

[rickbert]

Why would any manufacturer of any bike/car/truck make something more difficult to get to and work on than it has to be ??



So that it will scare people into just taking the bike/car/truck to the dealer for service.



CHA CHING !!

 

[Teacher Tim]

I believe I'll have to agree with Rickbert on that one; make it a PITA,and lots of folks will just pay the dealer to deal with it!

 

[instructorpilot]

I have owned bikes that have the brake on the left or the right and of course, both. I have had the caliper in front of the fork and behind the fork. I am not such a high performance rider that it makes any difference to me. All my Asian bikes that employ a single disc have it on the left side. Which is where the bike leans when on the kickstand. Soooo if there is a fluid leak it won't contaminate the rotor. I'm really strechin' here though. I really have no Idea.

A

 

[Interstater]

I think it is a holdover from old designs. It may date back to when front brakes were cable operated drums or cable operated calipers (my old CB200T had a cable operated front disk brake). With the brake lever on the right handlebar it made sense to have the cable run down to the left side of the wheel, the bends are not as sharp so there is less stress on the cable.

 

[RAFster122s]

Having the caliper trail the forks puts the moment of inertia closer to the axis of the steering and reduces the force needed for turning.

Any shudder is minimized when it isn't out front as well.