Is it legal to cut the front brake line?

Muscle-Milk-KTM
Is it legal to do that? The bike obviously wouldn't pass tech inspection with no front brake, not only is it stupid to go back out there but what happens if Tomac caused an accident because of no front brake? Why isn't there a clerk of the course watching over this type of stuff?
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Andy_Greenney 2/12/2017 5:01am
2/12/2017 5:01am
Fair point, if a rider came in and changed to a non tested exhaust it would no doubt be a black flag...but cutting a brake line is ok.

Anything that happens on track I would let go, but intentional in the pits is different
cmx152
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cmx152 2/12/2017 5:09am
2/12/2017 5:09am
I think it's pretty cool to see what the professionals do to get the problems sorted in the heat of the moment and get the bike back on track. It's a tough 1, these days everybody is hell bent on preventing accidents, it's like they are more bothered about the politics around it than the actual racing
nascarnate326 2/12/2017 5:23am
2/12/2017 5:23am
What exactly was the issue with Tomacs front brake?
Motofinne
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Motofinne 2/12/2017 5:23am
2/12/2017 5:23am
That is an interesting question.

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MR. X
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MR. X 2/12/2017 5:31am
2/12/2017 5:31am
It's definitely illegal to cut someone else's front brake line.
dadofagun
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dadofagun 2/12/2017 5:47am
2/12/2017 5:47am Edited Date/Time 2/12/2017 5:49am
Muscle-Milk-KTM wrote:
Is it legal to do that? The bike obviously wouldn't pass tech inspection with no front brake, not only is it stupid to go back out...
Is it legal to do that? The bike obviously wouldn't pass tech inspection with no front brake, not only is it stupid to go back out there but what happens if Tomac caused an accident because of no front brake? Why isn't there a clerk of the course watching over this type of stuff?
I was wondering that myself..... my understanding was the motorcycle MUST have BOTH braking systems fully functional, and operational in order for the machine to be allowed on the race course. Most importantly for the safety of the rider, and the safety of other fellow riders on said course.
But what the hell do I know?.....
TriRacer27 2/12/2017 5:49am
2/12/2017 5:49am
Tomac's brakes are mearely for decoration and sponsorship anyway...

No, fair point. Its a tough call. What really boggled me though is how long it took them to cut the line and even then its like they were waiting to drain the fluid before he went back out again. They looked like they were in practice, just chatting about it.
reded
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reded 2/12/2017 6:01am
2/12/2017 6:01am
MR. X wrote:
It's definitely illegal to cut someone else's front brake line.
Grinning Grinning Grinning Grinning Grinning
jonesaustin
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jonesaustin 2/12/2017 6:20am
2/12/2017 6:20am
I thought it was a shrewd move, to cmx152's point above. Reminded me of Rocky getting his eye lid slit in that first fight. You get creative and make the most of what you have to work with; was cool to see.
Motofinne
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Motofinne 2/12/2017 6:21am
2/12/2017 6:21am
Is there anyone that actually knows the rules for a situation like that?

I think Tomac got lucky because i would not be surprised at all if it would be against the rules to come in to the pit area and remove the front brake.
Dtat720
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Dtat720 2/12/2017 6:23am
2/12/2017 6:23am
The rules state they have to be operational at the start of the race. Pretty much anything goes once the gate drops. Not really anything goes, but yes, you can cut the line in order to finish a race.
Muscle-Milk-KTM 2/12/2017 6:24am
2/12/2017 6:24am
jonesaustin wrote:
I thought it was a shrewd move, to cmx152's point above. Reminded me of Rocky getting his eye lid slit in that first fight. You get...
I thought it was a shrewd move, to cmx152's point above. Reminded me of Rocky getting his eye lid slit in that first fight. You get creative and make the most of what you have to work with; was cool to see.
Cool to see a rider get his brake line cut? Sorry I don't see it.
Moto_Geek
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Moto_Geek 2/12/2017 6:26am
2/12/2017 6:26am Edited Date/Time 2/12/2017 6:27am
Without looking at the rules, why would they be ready to cut the brake line if they new it was illegal. So my guess is it's legal. Now here's another question, rider mention the track was like ice last night? Can a rider run stud ice/snow tires?
wide open wally 2/12/2017 7:10am
2/12/2017 7:10am
It's happened a hundred times before Tomac.
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731chopper 2/12/2017 7:15am
2/12/2017 7:15am
The rules are to enter the race otherwise they'd have to seize every bike as soon as it comes off the track for a post race inspection.
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twotwosix 2/12/2017 7:15am
2/12/2017 7:15am
Has anyone confirmed that Tomac's front brake was damaged when he washed the front end and crashed on the landing of that triple? That is what it looked like to me.

A friend of mine was trying to tell me that Tomac damaged the front brake battling earlier and that is what caused him to tuck the front end off that triple...
Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 2/12/2017 7:15am
2/12/2017 7:15am
So did he bend his rotor somehow? Was it the brake locking that caused the crash?
C-Rock
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C-Rock 2/12/2017 7:22am
2/12/2017 7:22am
That's also the feeling I had watching him crash...

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Saye693
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Saye693 2/12/2017 7:38am
2/12/2017 7:38am
My guess is probably bent the rotor and mounts. I hit a track marker with my lever at the Thunder Valley national and bent my rotor, caliper mount, and mounts on the fork tube without even crashing. The wheel still rolled but would grab and stop in the air, and the brake no longer worked.

It is also legal to cut the line, but not legal to remove anything. A few years back at High Point I believe they cut the line and removed the caliper from Reeds bike before being told he couldn't go back out after removing parts. Cutting the line relieves the pressure but lets them finish the race.
rompin87
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rompin87 2/12/2017 7:54am
2/12/2017 7:54am
wide open wally wrote:
It's happened a hundred times before Tomac.
Yes. I've seen it during a race before, Barcia at the MXdN at lommel rings a bell, but I may be wrong.
machine
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machine 2/12/2017 7:57am
2/12/2017 7:57am
Think about it folks, they do tech inspections so that teams cant GAIN an advantage in the race. Obviously not having a,front brake will not gain an advantage.
jj welks
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jj welks 2/12/2017 7:58am
2/12/2017 7:58am Edited Date/Time 2/12/2017 7:58am
Ah yes the vital crisis of the day. Can't wait to see what nobody figures out.
agn5009
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agn5009 2/12/2017 8:00am
2/12/2017 8:00am
You can cut the brake after gate drops. Do you think that if you crash and damage your front brakes and they don't work anymore they'd make you pull off?
kzizok
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kzizok 2/12/2017 8:01am
2/12/2017 8:01am
That has been happening for quite some time
mx836
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mx836 2/12/2017 8:02am
2/12/2017 8:02am
Been happening since the beginning of disc brakes. Pretty sure Eli Tomac who is one of the best riders in the world can safely navigate without a front brake. Not an issue whatsoever. I'm more concerned about why Webb doubled an entire rhythm section under a red cross flag and nothing has happened.
BobPA
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BobPA 2/12/2017 8:05am
2/12/2017 8:05am
mx836 wrote:
Been happening since the beginning of disc brakes. Pretty sure Eli Tomac who is one of the best riders in the world can safely navigate without...
Been happening since the beginning of disc brakes. Pretty sure Eli Tomac who is one of the best riders in the world can safely navigate without a front brake. Not an issue whatsoever. I'm more concerned about why Webb doubled an entire rhythm section under a red cross flag and nothing has happened.
He has a big green claw on the side of his bike protecting him
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FGR01 2/12/2017 8:13am
2/12/2017 8:13am
I think it is hilarious to watch these guys bumble around trying to cut the line when it would accomplish the same thing and be a lot easier to just open or remove the bleed valve or crack open the banjo bolt. But that wouldn't have the same dramatic effect and start drama threads on Vital.
newmann
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newmann 2/12/2017 8:17am
2/12/2017 8:17am
FGR01 wrote:
I think it is hilarious to watch these guys bumble around trying to cut the line when it would accomplish the same thing and be a...
I think it is hilarious to watch these guys bumble around trying to cut the line when it would accomplish the same thing and be a lot easier to just open or remove the bleed valve or crack open the banjo bolt. But that wouldn't have the same dramatic effect and start drama threads on Vital.
Professional mechanics being professional. Besides, fanny pack only holds a pair of side cutters. Laughing Laughing
KirkChandler
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KirkChandler 2/12/2017 9:08am
2/12/2017 9:08am
Out here in California the EPA would have been all over them for dripping brake fluid onto the dirt. Good thing happened in Texas.
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FahQ 2/12/2017 9:37am
2/12/2017 9:37am
FGR01 wrote:
I think it is hilarious to watch these guys bumble around trying to cut the line when it would accomplish the same thing and be a...
I think it is hilarious to watch these guys bumble around trying to cut the line when it would accomplish the same thing and be a lot easier to just open or remove the bleed valve or crack open the banjo bolt. But that wouldn't have the same dramatic effect and start drama threads on Vital.
I thought the same, just crack it. Who would know

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