Surface 604 - Brakes System Operation

OWNERS MANUAL
15
WARNING:
!
Riding with an improperly adjusted brakes or
worn brake pads is dangerous and can result in serious injury. Check
to ensure your brakes are working properly before every ride.
WARNING:
!
The motor in the rear wheel also becomes a
generator when using the rear brake. Please note that the
generative mode does not replace the existing brakes, but increases
considerably the braking quality and will help you slow down when
needed. It activates as soon as the rear brake lever is activated.
BRAKES
Your Surface604 comes equipped with a front and rear hydraulic disc
brake system. Braking systems today are very eective in providing
responsive braking power.
• Applying brakes too hard or too suddenly can lock up a wheel,
which can cause you to lose control and fall. Sudden or excessive
application of the front brake may pitch the rider over the
handlebars, which may result in serious injury.
• Your hydraulic disc braking system, when properly set up and
maintained, is extremely powerful. Take extra care in becoming
familiar with these brakes and exercise particular care when using
them.
• Always apply your rear brake (RH lever) rst.
• Disc brakes can get extremely hot with extended use. Be careful
not to touch a disc brake until it has had time to cool.
• It is very important for your safety that you learn how the brake
system works and which brake levers engage the front and back
brakes on your bike.
The braking action on your bicycle is a function of the friction between
the brake surface – the disc – and the brake pad. To ensure you have
maximum friction available, keep the disc and caliper clean and free of
lubricants, waxes or polishes.
Make sure the brake levers are positioned correctly by testing to see
that your hands can reach and squeeze the brake levers comfortably.
The lever reach can be adjusted to suit your hand.
When you apply one or both brakes, the bike begins to slow, but your
body wants to continue at the speed at which it was going. This causes
a transfer of weight to the front wheel (or, under heavy braking, around
the front wheel hub, which could send you ying over the handlebars).
A wheel with more weight on it will accept greater brake pressure be-
fore lockup; a wheel with less weight will lock up with less brake pres-
sure. So, as you apply brakes and your weight is transferred forward,
you need to shift your body toward the rear of the bike, to transfer
weight back on to the rear wheel and at the same time, you need to
both decrease rear braking and increase front braking force.
This is even more important on descents, because descents shift
weight forward. Two keys to eective speed control and safe stopping
are controlling wheel lockup and weight transfer. This weight transfer
is even more pronounced with having a front suspension fork on your
Surface604 bicycle.
Front suspension “dips” or “travels” under braking, increasing the
weight transfer. Everything changes when you ride on loose surfaces
or in wet weather. Tire adhesion is reduced, so the wheels have less
cornering and braking traction and can lock up with less brake force.
Moisture or dirt on the brake discs reduces their ability to grip. To main-
tain control on loose or wet surfaces it is wise to go more slowly.