brakes?

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DaveA

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I've narrowed down the bike we will use for my daughters build to a Firmstrong 3 speed. Is a coaster brake along with adding a front brake sufficient enough to stop a motorized bike safely in traffic? I'm thinking of adding a caliper front brake. I've also thought about front/read disc brakes but it seems it would get a bit crowded on the back wheel, yes?

thanks Dave A
 
I got a wrecked firmstrong last year - kid bought it built on inet, then broke his arm with no brakes & parents made him sell it - for $15 I put a used front fork on it with v-brake posts.
 
so a coaster brake and a front brake is enough? My concern is the coaster brake.
 
assuming the front brake is a v-brake, old-time caliper brakes rarely have the power needed for these speeds

my GF's bike has a coaster and 2 hand brakes - she's to only hit the coaster in an emergency
 
assuming the front brake is a v-brake, old-time caliper brakes rarely have the power needed for these speeds

my GF's bike has a coaster and 2 hand brakes - she's to only hit the coaster in an emergency

You will have to forgive my total lack of bicycle terminology. What is a "v-brake"? You said your GF has two handbrakes, does that mean a "v-brake" on both the front and rear tire? Lastly why would the coaster brake be used "only in an emergency"? Yes I am a total noob at this type of build, I don't lack the skills, just the knowledge :)

I was hoping to keep the clutter on the handle bars to a minimum by not having a handbrake and clutch on the same side. Ideally this build will have just the clutch on the let side and the throttle, front handbrake on the right. Is there such a set up that would allow dual disk brakes to be operated from one handgrip?

thanks again,
Dave A
 
You will have to forgive my total lack of bicycle terminology. What is a "v-brake"? You said your GF has two handbrakes, does that mean a "v-brake" on both the front and rear tire? Lastly why would the coaster brake be used "only in an emergency"? Yes I am a total noob at this type of build, I don't lack the skills, just the knowledge :)

I was hoping to keep the clutter on the handle bars to a minimum by not having a handbrake and clutch on the same side. Ideally this build will have just the clutch on the let side and the throttle, front handbrake on the right. Is there such a set up that would allow dual disk brakes to be operated from one handgrip?

thanks again,
Dave A

They do make hand brakes that can actuate both front and rear brakes from a single handbrake.
 
why would the coaster brake be used "only in an emergency"

You probably want to avoid the coaster brake because it locks the rear wheel and will easily cause it to skid out of control and topple the rider, even at medium level speeds. A V-brake is much like a caliper brake, but operates a bit differently. wikipedia has a good article explaining these two types as well as many other brake typeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_brake. When I want to stop in a hurry, I often use both v-brakes on my bike as well as pressing the kill switch while the clutch is still engaged so i can use engine compression as a third brake. You will still have the same problem with the rear wheel skidding a bit at first, but soon stops and won't be as near as bad as a coaster brake

Is there such a set up that would allow dual disk brakes to be operated from one handgrip?

Yup, there is an exact break lever for that. This is one of several web stores that sell them, but might not be the cheapest http://www.bikeberry.com/engine-kit-parts/accessories/sunlite-alloy-dual-brake-lever.html
 
You probably want to avoid the coaster brake because it locks the rear wheel and will easily cause it to skid out of control and topple the rider, even at medium level speeds. A V-brake is much like a caliper brake, but operates a bit differently. wikipedia has a good article explaining these two types as well as many other brake typeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_brake. When I want to stop in a hurry, I often use both v-brakes on my bike as well as pressing the kill switch while the clutch is still engaged so i can use engine compression as a third brake. You will still have the same problem with the rear wheel skidding a bit at first, but soon stops and won't be as near as bad as a coaster brake



Yup, there is an exact break lever for that. This is one of several web stores that sell them, but might not be the cheapest http://www.bikeberry.com/engine-kit-parts/accessories/sunlite-alloy-dual-brake-lever.html


thanks!
 
Awesome response panmines, thanks again, It looks to me like the firmstrongs 7 speeds come with "v-brakes" check out this photo:

Bruiser-7-Matte-Black-_5_1024x1024.jpeg
 
yep those're what you need - the firmstrong 'bruiser' I worked on had only a coaster

gears & good brakes, you're ready to hit the road
 
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