Rearset/drum brake leverage

[AgentX]

Well, for practicality's sake, I'm going to try it with the stock brake actuator first. 

(I'm not gonna engage on the physics of it all but appreciate reading the discussion.)


The Royal Enfield actuator arm will be difficult to shorten and retain full function in the adjuster.  There's a built-in pass-through arrangement which allows an adjuster nut at the end of the rod to function.  Easier to leave this intact than to cut it off and try to drill the stub of the actuator arm for a clevis attachment, since then I'd need a turnbuckle-style arrangement on the  brake connector rod to offer some adjustment. 

Although that'll be the thing to do if I end up needing to shorten it.

Shortening from the top end is a no-go because the arm attaches to the mounting stud via tiny splines, so the machining needed to re-drill and fit that back up would be dumb.

-Mike

[AgentX]

Tarozzis arrived in India today!  Sweet.  They're nice-looking bits of gear.  Can't wait to get them mounted up.

Anyone have experience with these, though?  Two questions...I emailed Jim at FastfromthePast but thought I'd ask here, too.

1-Plan is to mount them against flat steel plate.  The slight protrusion of the peg shaft past the inboard edge of the shift/brake arm is what's intended to seat against the plate, correct?  (ie, leaving a hair's breadth of space for the arm to rotate without it riding directly against the flat mounting surface.)

2-The backing surface of the arm is an alloy disc with two holes in it...these are for a pin spanner (or the like) allowing you to unscrew the backing and re-set the resting position of the arm, right?  Anyone know if they're standard or reverse threads?

Edit:  Jim responded super-fast.  "yes" to #1 and "yes, use a pin spanner and the threads are standard RH" to #2.

[crazypj]

Shorter lever will require more force no matter what you do and, it will be more sensitive to smaller movement.
 You can get used to it though

[greasemonkey75]

I am just chiming in here and this is how I understand it. I will equate it to a ratchet on a nut. If I have a 2' breaker bar I will have to move it a much longer distance than a short.ratchet but with a lot of mechanical advantage.  Just like the shorter brake lever on a rear set. However if I increase the drum ARM I will return mechanical advantage, but will have to move short pedal twice as far. Am I getting this. If you are following me. I would recommend a calf workout. Lol

[crazypj]

You don't want to much rear brake on a cafe, (if you actually intend to ride it instead of 'have the look' for posing)
Front brake will be doing minimum of 75% but often 90%~100%.
 On my CB550f, I was getting around 4,000 miles to a set of front brake pads (dual disc conversion)
 I changed rears around 50,000  (106,000 miles)
Rear brake is only there to 'steady' bike, not really used for stopping

[GK]

Front brake has always been the brake of choice for us old farts PJ, but it's not being taught by our licensing authorities nowadays !
It's scary to think there are a bunch of kids hitting our roads that when in trouble are going to hit the back anchor as hard as they can, no wonder 18 to 25 year olds are the largest percentage of single vehicle accident deaths in the motorcycling statistics.
A mate just retired from his bike shop found the exact opposite was happening with pad replacement over the last few years, worn rears needing replacement  with the machining marks still present on the front discs, go figure!
Sorry to hijack the thread

[AgentX]

In India, it's common knowledge that use of the front brake will make you "fall down."   

And since most people never exceed 40mph or so, ever, the miniscule rear brakes alone seem to work for them.

[teazer]

That's true.  Just grab a big handful of front brake and you will probably fall down. Modern bikes have such powerful brakes that i suspect dealers may be advising newbs to avoid grabbing the front brake and that has been incorrectly internalized as only use the back.

[AgentX]

You don't correct bad technique by advocating worse technique.  (Edit:  Actually, many people do, hence this discussion...but it ain't right.)

And there are precisely no bikes in the Indian context which qualify as having over-powered brakes.  Tiny drums front and rear, mostly, with a smattering of crappy front discs in there.  Unless you get into the super-exotic realm, in which case you get what the rest of the world considers a normal modern bike.

[trek97]

I took the riding course last spring, here in Illinois.  And yes they were ALL ABOUT using the rear brake.  only using the front on an absolute emergency only basis. And because thats what they taught us 99% of my brake usage is rear.  my old 1980 ATC 110.  didnt have a front brake.  So using rear comes very natural. 

[teazer]

Tell me it isn't so.  Instructors are telling people that the REAR does 99% of the work. That's insane at best.

[FunJimmy]

I took the riding course last spring, here in Illinois.  And yes they were ALL ABOUT using the rear brake.  only using the front on an absolute emergency only basis. And because thats what they taught us 99% of my brake usage is rear.  my old 1980 ATC 110.  didnt have a front brake.  So using rear comes very natural. 

I would strongly suggest going back to that rider training (if you can call it training) provider and DEMANDING your money back. Training like the type you describe will have a significant impact on your life expectancy.

That’s just fcuking crazy!
FJ

[crazypj]

Tell me it isn't so.  Instructors are telling people that the REAR does 99% of the work. That's insane at best.

 Was it a Harley led instructor?
 For some reason US instructors seem to tell people all sorts of BS.
'Use rear brake and lay it down' seems to also be pretty common, when, in fact using front brake properly could possibly have avoided any accident situation

[trek97]

The course was free.  The instructors were from the DMV.  After we finished we received a card.  took it down to DMV, they took our pics and they handed us our licenses.  done.

[FunJimmy]

The course was free.  The instructors were from the DMV.  After we finished we received a card.  took it down to DMV, they took our pics and they handed us our licenses.  done.

Well here’s a perfect case for “you get what you pay for”!
Thankfully you can toss that bit of info away and get on learning the value of BOTH brakes.
70% front – 30% rear.