GL1500 trike parking brake
- agedbikeman
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:41 pm
- Location: Bruay la Buissiere, France
- Motorcycle: 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with Insta trike
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT(sold, glad to see the back of it)
GL1500 trike parking brake
Parking brake temporary stop brake, call it what you will.
I have an insta trike fitted, ( very pleased with it), but there are no brakes on the trike wheels, so how do you stop it running away if you want to leave the engine running
Crystal Pistol started me on this one, using a wedge in the brake lever while you closed garage doors or wanted to get off the bike without turning off the engine.
It worked a treat but being a gadgitaholic I couldn't leave it at that, so I ordered a miniature spring loaded solenoid from ebay, mega cheap incase it didn't work.
using a double sided sticker, I stuck it to the rubber boot around the brake lever switch then secured it with a cable tie. wired the solenoid to a momentary push switch, now I pull the brake lever, push the button, let go the brake lever then let go the button. Now the solenoid is jammed in the brake lever until you pull the lever again then the spring in the solenoid pulls it out from the lever.
Current is only drawn for a brief moment while I push the button. The nut on the end of the rod just fits between the two lever switch buttons ie. brake light and cc.
Thanks to Crystal Pistol for the basic idea
I have an insta trike fitted, ( very pleased with it), but there are no brakes on the trike wheels, so how do you stop it running away if you want to leave the engine running
Crystal Pistol started me on this one, using a wedge in the brake lever while you closed garage doors or wanted to get off the bike without turning off the engine.
It worked a treat but being a gadgitaholic I couldn't leave it at that, so I ordered a miniature spring loaded solenoid from ebay, mega cheap incase it didn't work.
using a double sided sticker, I stuck it to the rubber boot around the brake lever switch then secured it with a cable tie. wired the solenoid to a momentary push switch, now I pull the brake lever, push the button, let go the brake lever then let go the button. Now the solenoid is jammed in the brake lever until you pull the lever again then the spring in the solenoid pulls it out from the lever.
Current is only drawn for a brief moment while I push the button. The nut on the end of the rod just fits between the two lever switch buttons ie. brake light and cc.
Thanks to Crystal Pistol for the basic idea
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
Love it, what a unique idea! It would be great to see a quick video of it in action...
- agedbikeman
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:41 pm
- Location: Bruay la Buissiere, France
- Motorcycle: 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with Insta trike
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT(sold, glad to see the back of it)
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
I took a video of it but couldn't find out how to upload it, if you can tell me I'll do it, I'll also put a link to the exact part I used, I couldn't believe how well it worked, the whole thing cost less than $10
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 21808
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
We don't have the ability to post videos directly on the site (it would take far too much space), but you can post it on Vimeo or YouTube and link it here.agedbikeman wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2020 3:34 am I took a video of it but couldn't find out how to upload it, if you can tell me I'll do it, I'll also put a link to the exact part I used, I couldn't believe how well it worked, the whole thing cost less than $10
- CrystalPistol
- Posts: 1419
- Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:07 pm
- Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500SE/'98 Lehman Trike
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
Looks good here too! 
Watching for details, etc …. nice going!

Watching for details, etc …. nice going!
Make Courtesy your "Code of the Road" …
… & Have a Safe Trip!
… & Have a Safe Trip!

- agedbikeman
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:41 pm
- Location: Bruay la Buissiere, France
- Motorcycle: 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with Insta trike
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT(sold, glad to see the back of it)
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
Ok guys, as requested, here is a video of it in action
I connected it to an unswitched permanent live as, imagine defeating it and while fumbling for your keys the bike rolls into the vehicle in front or over your foot
Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
Happy to answer any questions
Enjoy
Alex
I connected it to an unswitched permanent live as, imagine defeating it and while fumbling for your keys the bike rolls into the vehicle in front or over your foot
Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
Happy to answer any questions
Enjoy
Alex
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 21808
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
OK, having watched that video, I'm going to reiterate: what a clever idea!
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:26 am
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500 with sidecar
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
I just want to say thank you for this great idea! I'm in the middle of doing all the maintenance on my "new to me" GL1500 with a sidecar. One of my gripes is no e-brake on the rig and I'd have to shut it off everytime to get off. I just did the mod last night and it worked like a charm!!!! THANKS!
-Jim
-Jim
- CrystalPistol
- Posts: 1419
- Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:07 pm
- Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500SE/'98 Lehman Trike
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
Well, thinking that maybe you still have a link to the "miniature spring loaded solenoid from ebay" in your ebay history. Looks great!agedbikeman wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 10:55 am Ok guys, as requested, here is a video of it in action
I connected it to an unswitched permanent live as, imagine defeating it and while fumbling for your keys the bike rolls into the vehicle in front or over your foot
Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
Happy to answer any questions
Enjoy
Alex
Maybe this is it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Spring-Loaded- ... Sw~V9ZzZcO
Thank You.
Make Courtesy your "Code of the Road" …
… & Have a Safe Trip!
… & Have a Safe Trip!

-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:26 am
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500 with sidecar
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
That will work and is the same one I used.CrystalPistol wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:56 pmWell, thinking that maybe you still have a link to the "miniature spring loaded solenoid from ebay" in your ebay history. Looks great!agedbikeman wrote: ↑Sat Feb 01, 2020 10:55 am Ok guys, as requested, here is a video of it in action
I connected it to an unswitched permanent live as, imagine defeating it and while fumbling for your keys the bike rolls into the vehicle in front or over your foot
Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!
Happy to answer any questions
Enjoy
Alex
Maybe this is it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Spring-Loaded- ... Sw~V9ZzZcO
Thank You.
- agedbikeman
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:41 pm
- Location: Bruay la Buissiere, France
- Motorcycle: 1995 GL1500 Aspencade with Insta trike
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT(sold, glad to see the back of it)
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
Hi Jim
Pleased you used my idea, but don't trust it on a steep hill, it really is just a "while I shut the garage door device". I'm working on a MKII version.
If you have your bike in bits, also consider my "starter motor warning light", will stay on if your solenoid jams shut as mine did, cost me 100€ towing fee, if I'd have known the cause could have fixed it at the roadside. Towing 100€, warning light 5€, no contest.
Alex
Pleased you used my idea, but don't trust it on a steep hill, it really is just a "while I shut the garage door device". I'm working on a MKII version.
If you have your bike in bits, also consider my "starter motor warning light", will stay on if your solenoid jams shut as mine did, cost me 100€ towing fee, if I'd have known the cause could have fixed it at the roadside. Towing 100€, warning light 5€, no contest.
Alex
- CrystalPistol
- Posts: 1419
- Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:07 pm
- Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500SE/'98 Lehman Trike
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
I am gonna add the small LED light for sure, but I likely will stay with my wedge for the brake, I can adjust it in use and I'm "used to it", but if not for that, I like the solenoid idea, I know many will go with it. I might revise the wedge though, might even try a rubber one if I can find a hard rubber block and cut it on my bandsaw (1956 era ShopSmith MkV with Magna 11" bandsaw, SS put a new motor on it in '92)? Of course, I'd test it for a clean release though.agedbikeman wrote: ↑Fri Apr 10, 2020 3:09 am Hi Jim
Pleased you used my idea, but don't trust it on a steep hill, it really is just a "while I shut the garage door device". I'm working on a MKII version.
If you have your bike in bits, also consider my "starter motor warning light", will stay on if your solenoid jams shut as mine did, cost me 100€ towing fee, if I'd have known the cause could have fixed it at the roadside. Towing 100€, warning light 5€, no contest.
Alex
Just putting a picture here if anyone maybe is looking for a manual labor type solution:
Last edited by CrystalPistol on Fri Apr 10, 2020 1:49 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Make Courtesy your "Code of the Road" …
… & Have a Safe Trip!
… & Have a Safe Trip!

- CrystalPistol
- Posts: 1419
- Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:07 pm
- Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500SE/'98 Lehman Trike
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
Again …. Thank You!Damnut wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 11:55 pmThat will work and is the same one I used.CrystalPistol wrote: ↑Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:56 pm
Well, thinking that maybe you still have a link to the "miniature spring loaded solenoid from ebay" in your ebay history. Looks great!
Maybe this is it?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Spring-Loaded- ... Sw~V9ZzZcO
Thank You.
Make Courtesy your "Code of the Road" …
… & Have a Safe Trip!
… & Have a Safe Trip!

- CrystalPistol
- Posts: 1419
- Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2010 9:07 pm
- Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
- Motorcycle: 1997 GL1500SE/'98 Lehman Trike
Re: GL1500 trike parking brake
I revised mine yesterday evening, made a new one and added a counter sunk screw with cap nut to make for easier handling with gloves on. I also cut it from 1/4" aluminum and added a shallow bevel on the end … I was just playing.
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Make Courtesy your "Code of the Road" …
… & Have a Safe Trip!
… & Have a Safe Trip!
