Installing a Front Disc Brake on a Series ‘C’

[tigervinnie]

Here is a reference: http://www.vintagebrake.com/mastercylinder.htm

Hi Erik
I'm a German member too. Some yesrs ago I've fitted discs to my Vincents. No problem with TÜV! After fitting the discs I was at the TÜV and showed them everything. They were very impressed and put it into the bike papers. I'm on discs on the outfit and the solo for nearly 8 years now. Especially on the outfit it is a big improvement.
tigervinnie

 

[vibrac]

here in Germany you would not pass TÜV (mot) with your classic Vincent and disc Brakes.and you would loose insurance on the road if youwould fit it later.with the Brakes from Vincent Speet it is not Problem.@ bknighted: look in the mph Journal there is an advetisement VSM or vspeet@vsmmetaal.nl ;best regards Erik

Pass? of course not you would not want a safety protocol to improve braking would you.....

 

[oexing]

No doubt modern brakes may be a safety improvement but then I do believe that someone official with some technical background should cast an eye on the installation to approve the set. As mentioned here before there was damage to a Brampton by a powerful front brake so there is a safety aspect in the installation itself which is not a trivial mod.
As to passing the TÜV test , it seems they have got quite liberal in recent times, partly because there are some more organisations now certified for vehicle inspections. So when it comes to get disc brakes approved you will use a good strategy and find an inspector first and discuss pariculars with him before setting to work. In case you find him unwilling to discuss - just say thank you very much and find another one more open for your plans.
It is just a matter of insurance risks why you would want to get your mod approved and listed in the vehicle papers. In case of an accident the specialists from insurance companies will no doubt find out easily that a disc brake in a Vincent is not standard and without approval by TÜV or somesuch you are illegal and in consequence they will not pay out. A tls brake mod may look very standard so I guess the specialists would not get ideas. But then, that mod could be approved as well, even easier possibly.

Vic

 

[vibrac]

All in all another reason aside from Historic status loss to keep getting an MOT

 

[Chris Launders]

Using the original master cylinder for early disc set ups is not always best, often they tended to be too big in diameter, for example Triumph single disc set ups were notoriously wooden as they fitted a master cylinder capable of supplying two calipers but only fitted one. My 1980 Ducati with all Brembo system was wooden, since fitting a Kawasaki GPZ900 master cylinder it just requires two fingers to give hard braking.

 

[druridge]

Here is a reference: http://www.vintagebrake.com/mastercylinder.htm

Very many thanks Bruce for the ratios of master cylinder/caliper pistons (and rim / disc diameter). It should be compulsory reading for anyone up-grading their brakes.

 

[erik]

here in Hessen we have a Special Situation because every test of the TÜV is controlled by the government.There is a Special bureau in Marburg-Biedenkopf and if they say no, the TÜV engineer has a Problem.the result is that there is no real Chance to have things approved. Erik

 

[Black Flash]

The German TÜV differs between counties. I can only suggest to ring up the TÜV in Siegen or Mainz and hear what they have to say.
TÜV in our county Hessen is a nightmare they find problems where you never thought there are any.
Bernd

 

[oexing]

Get yourself another home address in Bavaria or so, at my place if you like. Then one of our TÜV inspectors will easily assist in getting your mods entered in the vehicle papers and later you return your bike "officially" to your town. Costs are moderate but needs a bit of organization. Federalism has its quirks in times . . . .

Vic

 

[Bill Thomas]

I find the worst thing you can do is ask, Once they have said NO your stuffed. Cheers Bill.