Left Hand Rear Brake Setups

I would like to run a left hand rear brake setup on my Rekluse autoclutch equipped FE501E (2003).

I have had mixed advise as to the suitability or othtewise of the existing clutch master cylinder/lever for use a a brake lever. I was told that by all that was needed was to have a braided line made up and to flush and fill system with silicon brake fluid. Has anyone else tried this or can advise me as to what required to get a good working bar mounted rear brake setup.

Cheers
Horto

P.S:- Has anyone used the system that rekluse are now selling.

Her's a twist to the left hand rear brake.

Some guys are leaving the clutch lever so they can over ride the autoclutch, AND installing a left hand brake that splices into the rear brake line, AND leaving the foot brake intact.

I don't know whether the hand brake is on top or how they arraign everything to fit, but on KtmTalk, some guys were discussing the advantages. Kind of like having your cake and eat it too.

Lots of guys with autoclutches on KtmTalk.

The brake fluid compatible Magura clutch master cylinder (# 0020455) works very well for left handed rear brake setups. I connected it directly to the rear brake calipers on my RevLoc equipped '04 KTM 525 EXC. It is easy to modulate and is easily capable of locking up the rear tire on pavement with two fingers. Cost for the complete unit (including lever) was less than $70 with a 15% discount through my local Honda shop (ordered directly through Magura USA). After a while you don't even miss the foot brake. To connect, I flushed out the stock hydraulic clutch line with brake cleaning spray and used this line to connect the new master cylinder to the existing rear brake line after disconnecting it from the stock rear master cylinder. You end up with one long line from two shorter ones. To connect the two lines. I used a "connecter" from a street bike. This "connecter" is used in many street bikes that have dual front disc brakes to connect the dual discs to a single line from the front brake master cylinder. This one to two inch tube accepts banjo bolts at both ends to connect two brake lines. They are readily available and cheap from any motorcycle salvage yard. After all the connections were made, I used a large syringe and a short length of tubing to back bleed brake fluid through the rear brake bleed valve until the master cylinder reservoir was full.

I was also curious whether or not the stock mineral oil master cylinder could be converted for rear brake use using DOT 5.0 silicone based brake fluid. I subsequently have heard that the seals, etc are indeed compatible with silicone based brake fluid, but only after the mineral oil is completely flushed out. Try it and let us know how it works out.

Horto,
I helped an older rider set up a "Non Rekluse" 02 400 Berg with a hand operated rear brake. The guy was in his late 60's and struggled on knarly downhills using his two able legs to paddle the bike down that he did not have a foot on the pegs for the rear brake. In his words, "If i cant get a hand operated rear brake then i will have to retire from trail riding".
In the end i used a generic Honda clutch lever with a made up cable that ran to the rear brake. It ended up being a pain in the butt to do and the effect of the rear brake was reasonable but it has kept him riding and two years on he is still riding so i consider it a huge success.

Bahnsy