Riding my Yamaha YZ250F electric conversion is a blast! I wrote a blog that you can find on this board about the YZ-EMX conversion using a kit from Electro and Co. My son has a Talaria and I really like the rear hand brake because it eliminates the need to reposition my foot for braking. Something that is relatively automatic, but annoying, particularly on tight trails. So I decided to install a rear hand brake on my YZ conversion. After all, the Varg offers this option, so why not give it a try?

Speaking of Stark, that was my first stop. I heard that Stark carries a good inventory of replacement parts, so I figured that is good place to begin. I found a Brembo rear hand brake on the Varg parts store for about $130. Seemed like a good deal so I ordered that along with a banjo bolt and new compression washers. Warning: Varg sells everything in singles! So when I got my order I received the brake master cylinder, one banjo bolt and just one compression washer! Fortunately, I had some spare 10 mm compression washers in my tool box and all was good.

I searched around trying to get info on what brake line to use for this conversion and finally settled on ordering one from Varg. Both bikes have similar dimensions, so that seemed like a good bet, and it turned out to be nearly perfect. I say nearly because the stock Yamaha brake line has something like a 120-degree fitting at the caliper side and the Varg line has a 90-degree fittings. That forced me to add a small notch on the caliper cover, but otherwise fine and exactly the correct length (see photo).

Did I say I hate bleeding brakes? Well, I do! Fortunately, I had a power bleeder that applies vacuum at the caliper bleeder nipple and draws fluid into the line from the master cylinder reservoir. Just have to keep filling the reservoir and not let air reenter the system. Once I got mostly brake fluid coming out, I switched to using a Motion Pro Mini Bleeder (8 mm) and finished the job with that.

I have a couple of rides on the bike with the hand brake and absolutely love it. Makes riding a lot easier and more fun. I can keep the ball of my foot over the peg and no need to change position to hit the brakes. Also makes it a lot easier to drag the rear brake in controlled manner when desired. All in all, a great upgrade.