Well I did it.

RdKryton

Active Member
Local time
12:52 AM
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
947
Location
Southeast Pa
I finally got up the guts to go over 35mph on my Whizzer. I chickened out again at 42mph and still had more engine left. You have to understand why I am chickening out. First off I am a big guy. 300+ pounds now but the diet is working. I already lost over 30 pounds. That being said, imagine a 300lb guy on a bicycle hurtling down the road at 40mph screaming "look out". It is a scary thought especially with a coaster brake. We have all experienced the moves of oblivious drivers. I know I will not be able to stop at that speed. The second reason is I still have the scars from my youthful experiences on motorcycles. My right knee will never be the same.
On another note, I can't say enough good things about my NE upgrade from Quenton. This thing just flies. I have the rear drum brake assembly to put on but I just have not had the time yet. When I get it on then I will see what this thing can really do. Until then I will just cluck cluck along.

Jim
 
Jim, I had mine up to 35 the other day. I had to, as the traffic was bearing down on me from behind at 55mph! :eek:
It was smooth as silk at that speed though. I'll eventually try to inch it up a little more in the future...
 
Jim, What kind of drum brake are you going to use? I want to put one on my Whiz too,I don't feel too good about stopping with the coaster either.

Don B.
 
I'd be more concerned with the front drum, as 75% of your stopping power comes from the front brake. having said that, whether the coaster is up to the task might depend on the age of the brake. The later ones (Bendix-style) are quite good. Mine can almost put me over the handlebars, and I can lock it up if I so wish. Like RdKryton, I'm no lightweight rider either, and with the set-back seatpost, my weight bias is definitely oriented towards the rear. Even with all that weight above it, the newer coaster brake has enough stopping power to lock up.
 
Jim, What kind of drum brake are you going to use? I want to put one on my Whiz too,I don't feel too good about stopping with the coaster either.

Don B.

I ordered the rear drum brake assembly from WhizzerUSA. It comes with everything you need. It is not cheap though. Here is a link to the description of the kit. Try to support your local Whizzer dealer if you decide to purchase one. My dealer didn't have any in stock so I purchased it from Whizzer directly.
http://whizzermotorbike.catalog.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=706131
You can only use it if you have the autoclutch because you need the clutch lever to activate the brake. Hope this info helps.

Jim
 
Hi Jim, Thanks for the info. on rear drum brake. I did install an auto-clutch on my 2000 Whiz. Thats when I started looking into a rear drum brake. The Bendix brake I have now is #2. With only 80 mi. on Whiz. my rear brake crapped out. So I laced in a 30 yr. old used Bendix. It's OK but I wouldn't think of "locking up" rear wheel. I just bought an "Atom" drum brake at VMBC bike show in Portland Ind. this week. Hope to lace it in this winter. Would like to hear from anyone who has an "Atom" installed now. I'm retired so I'll have the time when the snow flies. I also Have a 1982 50cc Honda MB-5 that looks and runs like new. So if I want to go somewhere and know I'll make it home I take the Honda.

Don B.
 
Atom Drum rear

Hi I had some Atom rears (gone now) BUT I can tell you that when I explored using a Worksman Drum rear (about the same size) I ran into a problem that was not a bolt-on fit.

The grooves in the Whizzer Sheave clips are pre-set angles, and when you have the larger spoke flange on the drum, the angle is different and the clips will NOT work, IF you were able to force them it would result in spoke failure.

One interesting thing on my old atom, it was 5-speed derailer, and I could have made wifey's bike a lot easier to pedal start!

Mike
 
Hi Mike , Guess I should have checked this out a lot more. Bummer!! I thought the older Whizzers used the "Atom" drum brake. It sure is a well built unit, I liked it because it is aluminum and not chrome. Guess I'll have to make do with the Bendix for a while longer.

Don B.
 
Hi Don,
You can use the Atom hub, but have several options to be considered, first there are several different ways to lace a wheel, secondly you can make spacers to fit your current sheeve [you know, something to do in Dayton during the winter months]. Other options also include using the vintage sheeve [including the special setups for the Pacemaker, and Ambassador models] available in Ohio from Memory Lane classics. I have a 1947 Roadmaster [Whizzer] with the atom hub and works well.

Have fun,
Whizzer OuterBanks LTD
A North Carolina Corporation
Quenton
 
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