Brake Poll -- Because sometimes you have to stop the fun!

[andyinchville1]

Hi All,

With all the cold weather outside, I've been getting restless and trying to think up some possible new new products for our bikes (Motorized or not)....(Yes, I know I should be installing my Shifter Kit ;-))....

I was thinking, with all the emphasis on speed enhancing products, I would take a stab at the other side of the equation....Slow enhancing products....OK, simply know as better braking ;-)

With this in mind, I have an idea for a new product (and I know there are many out there that would love to stop better under both dry AND wet conditions).....So, to see which system I will try to upgrade first, I figured I would see what everybody has out there in terms of brakes....

I figure I will try to upgrade the most popular brakes first....

Thanks for your input!

Andrew

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

"The Iron Dragon" has vee brakes with premium pads to bring the bike to a halt.

"The Dragon Lady" has front vee brakes on suspension fork and coaster brake rear. I'm about to hang side-pull brakes on the rear.

Both bikes have extreme power and I ride with traffic in the middle of the road.

Both bikes also have foot brakes.

 

[Large Filipino]

Here's a brainstorm. How good would a universal disc brake be if the disc was installed on the spokes like the common sprocket is installed on a wheel?
This would really make it a universal fit and would be perfect for my buggy bike up front.
But it would also have to be perfectly straight and wobble free.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Here's a brainstorm. How good would a universal disc brake be if the disc was installed on the spokes like the common sprocket is installed on a wheel?
This would really make it a universal fit and would be perfect for my buggy bike up front.
But it would also have to be perfectly straight and wobble free.

Here's another brainstorm:

Use the common sprocket as the disc and install the caliper right over it.

That's what the old-style mini bikes have as a brake option.

 

[SirJakesus]

Disc brakes are by far the best in all weather conditions but they would be hard to make universal and they seem to me to be the most difficult to adjust. The adjustment part may just be that I have the least experience with them.
The next best I've found are the cantilever brakes. My mid 90's raleigh MTB has them and they can stop me fast enough to lock up the wheels with very little throw in the brake levers. They're very touchy and they've sent me and my brother over the handles more than once.
Side pull or linear pull seem to require lots of lever throw, they seem to have the least stopping power and unfortunately since they're cheap thats what all the dept store bikes have on them. They also seem to need more adjustment than cantilever with one pad always finding a way to drag on the rim. Better than nuttin though I guess, just get good pads if you have this type or find a way to upgrade them to cantilever.

 

[bluegoatwoods]

I actually prefer side-pulls because of ease of adjustment.

But I also tend to ride on the slow side, so I don't need much.

Improving brakes for these things is a good idea.

Can I suggest another while you're thinking about it? How about "weighting" the wheels a bit? Done right (ie: good balance) it ought to make these bikes safer at high speeds.

 

[BSA]

I would most prefers a cheep pre built drum brake wheel.

BSA

 

[Mountainman]

stop you with one finger

How good would a universal disc brake be if the disc was installed on the spokes like the common sprocket is installed on a wheel?

not to sure Large Motor Bike Man
if one could keep it perfectly straight
as you know they have to be pretty darn straight so as not to rub



I do so enjoy these disc brakes on my motorized mountain bike
stop you with one finger
been kind of wondering how long the pads last ?
still on my first set

must be able to stop as we ride those THINGS

 

[azbill]

I use cool stop pads on my read v-brakes (all weather premium style pads)
a sturmey-archer x-fd hub on the front
from my towing days, I realized it is more important to stop than it is to go
if you can't go, it is irritating and/or inconvenient
if you can't stop...it's gonna hurt someone/something

 

[spunout]

always used coaster brakes.
dont know why, exactly. just the way it be.