Patent ID: 8794369

Claim:
A method for converting a standard foot-operated rear brake system of a motorcycle with an engine and a handlebar to a hand-operated rear-brake assist system, the method comprising: (a) mounting an air compressor on the motorcycle to produce compressed air; (b) mounting an air tank on the motorcycle for receiving and storing the compressed air from the air compressor; (c) mounting a pneumatic cylinder on the motorcycle in communication with the air tank, the pneumatic cylinder being mounted on a frame of the motorcycle in close proximity to a rear brake foot pedal of the motorcycle such that when pressurized, a piston of the pneumatic cylinder extends to depress the rear brake foot pedal and thereby apply a rear brake, and when depressurized, the piston retracts to allow the rear brake foot pedal to move upward to release the rear brake; (d) mounting a valve means on the motorcycle for controlling air flow between the air tank and the pneumatic cylinder; and (e) mounting a control means on the motorcycle for controlling the valve means, the control means including a switch mounted on the handlebar; wherein activating the switch on the handlebar causes the valve means to open, the pneumatic cylinder to be pressurized, the piston to extend, the rear brake foot pedal to be depressed, and the rear brake to be applied.