Progressive Regenerative Brake Operation

[motovita]

 Can anyone here elaborate on the operation of the PRBR? Specifically I'm wondering if it could serve as the sole rear brake, my disability makes a right foot brake useless for me. I've found a couple of online reports of experienced riders removing their clutch levers and using the PRBR lever from the non clutch model and in at least one case removing the rear brake pedal.

 I really can't imagine riding a dirt bike without a clutch but i have no significant experience with electric bikes.

[trapezeartist]

I'm fairly new to the PRBR and have only done about 3 trials with it. Having previously had a FRB, I am still teaching my finger to use it in a progressive manner. Sometimes I just give it a small pull and expect the full effect, and other times I seem to pull it all the way back whatever. It's just a matter of getting used to it, I hope.

I've also found the PRBR lever a bit difficult to reach at times. I had a rather alarming descent at the last trial when I missed the PRBR lever, then grabbed for anything in a hurry and got the clutch. More "getting used to" required.

I don't use the clutch but I wouldn't remove it. I did consider replacing the clutch with the rear brake for a better feel, but I do want to learn to use the clutch someday.

I don't think the PRBR totally replaces the rear brake either. Sometimes you need to lock the back wheel and only the friction brake will do that except in extreme conditions. You also have to learn that you can't feather from brake to throttle with the PRBR (or FRB) so sometimes you need to release the PRBR near the bottom of something and use a tiny bit of rear brake as you are transitioning to the throttle. If you open the throttle while the PRBR is on, nothing happens, so you give some more throttle, and then you get a bit of a surprise when you do come off the PRBR!

I wish they had given the thing a better name too. It's such a mouthful.

[konrad]

The problem with relying solely on regeneration for braking is that the battery's state of charge influences how much regeneration can be performed.  You can't put any energy into a fully-charged battery.  

Theoretically, it would be possible to use energy to actively decelerate the bike when the battery is in a high state of charge.  But that's not really the point of regenerative braking.

Have you looked at Clake for a solution to your disability? https://www.clake.com.au/clake-two-dual-standard-control/

This might be a less expensive option if it would fit with the existing clutch master cylinder: https://www.clake.com.au/slr/

Edited 2 hours ago by konrad

[motovita]

5 hours ago, konrad said:

The problem with relying solely on regeneration for braking is that the battery's state of charge influences how much regeneration can be performed.  You can't put any energy into a fully-charged battery.  

Theoretically, it would be possible to use energy to actively decelerate the bike when the battery is in a high state of charge.  But that's not really the point of regenerative braking.

Have you looked at Clake for a solution to your disability? https://www.clake.com.au/clake-two-dual-standard-control/

This might be a less expensive option if it would fit with the existing clutch master cylinder: https://www.clake.com.au/slr/

 Thanks guys, I had assumed  that the regenerative load would be constant and just wasted in the case of a fully charged battery. In your description the PRBR would have little to no braking effect if the battery was fully charged, that would make it useless as a stand alone brake, I assume that would also be the case with the FRB.

 I'm currently running a Rekluse left rear brake with the stock clutch (on an enduro bike), which is a compromise, one of the Clake products might be an improvement on that. Now I'm wondering if I could ride an e bike with no clutch and a left rear brake, I really can't fathom how to control a dirt bike without a clutch, although I know there are those who do it.

 I have no illusions of riding Trials competitions, I just want to ride.

Edited 32 minutes ago by motovita