02-26-2017, 08:35 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 449
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Can't get over the idea of rear drum brakes
I can't seem to get over the fact that some of these bikes have rear drum brakes. From what I've read online about drums vs. discs, drums have a disadvantage of being an older technology, having less stopping power, don't work very well at all if/when they heat up, and do not work if they get wet. I mean...this list must make sense because everything is discs now, even mountain bikes.
Those with bikes that have rear drums, please tell me your experience with them. Am I over-thinking this? |
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02-26-2017, 08:48 AM | #2 | |
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Leesville SC
Posts: 835
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Quote:
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02-26-2017, 09:45 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,914
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90% of your stopping power is in the front so front disk and rear drum work just fine.
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02-26-2017, 09:51 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
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I can't imagine needing more stopping power on these 280lb (guesstimate) bikes. I have rear drum and can pull it down pretty fast. Any more ,I'd need a seat belt. Jmo. Your results will vary. Yes, a rear disk is best but not a deal breaker for me. I would say yes for a larger weight bike or for a more high performance Mx.
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02-26-2017, 10:14 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Leesville SC
Posts: 835
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Yep ^^^ true story.
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My Stable- 2022 Lifan KPX250 , 2023 Royal Enfield Himalayan, 1992 Honda GL1500 Goldwing, SSR 70 Auto, Kymco Mongoose 90, Honda Four Trax 300 |
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02-26-2017, 11:23 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Volcano, Ca
Posts: 7,112
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I have had both and have both now.
Yes, theoretically disk is superior. They weigh nothing compared to a bulky drum (less un-sprung weight is always better) and they also dump heat WAY faster than a fat, enclosed drum so they're obviously far more efficient. Do my rear disks feel better, are more sensitive and require less "foot"? Yep. That said, let's not lose sight of the fact that we're discussing a very small, light bike with a fire breathing 12-15 horsepower rearing it's ugly head between your legs. It's not like having a drum instead of a disk will make you lose the holeshot to the first corner.
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02-26-2017, 11:27 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,107
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I can get past the rear disk cylinder sticking down just where a rock could take it out.
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02-26-2017, 11:53 AM | #9 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: George West, Texas
Posts: 4,097
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It's not like having a drum instead of a disk will make you lose the holeshot to the first corner.
, we'll said
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***************************************** 2015 Bashan"Blaze" BS250GY-31 (DB-07K-250) GONE 2017 Suzuki V Strom 650 XT "We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~Benjamin Franklin~
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02-26-2017, 12:56 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: akwesasne, NY-13655
Posts: 2,220
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02-26-2017, 02:36 PM | #11 |
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Bismarck, ND
Posts: 868
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I just do a Bob Hannah full on rear brake slide when I want to stop.
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02-26-2017, 03:59 PM | #12 |
Join Date: May 2013
Location: finger lakes NY
Posts: 2,061
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i never have any issues on my kawasaki KE100... full drum front and rear... if we were talking stopping a gsxr1000, yeah i may be leary of drums, but our little bikes?
food for thought.... semi trucks still run drums all the way around... |
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02-26-2017, 04:58 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: central illinois
Posts: 362
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this is 100% true, and even in the mid 80s they were still putting rear drums on sports cars that can run 140+ mph at over 3k lbs with no troubles 25+ years later ... they are not the best, but in a non race condition, you seldom need the best to get the job done correctly ... that said, i do have rear disk on my bike, but i dont know that it stops any better than the old honda 360 xl i had
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02-26-2017, 05:14 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 269
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Ahhh....Bob Hannah, that takes me back to 1986 in high school. My friends and I would come in to the gravel parking lot at school and do that full on rear brake slide to a stop to show everyone how cool we were lol. Loved to watch Hannah and David Bailey and Jeff Ward and Broc Glover battle it out.
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02-26-2017, 06:08 PM | #15 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,914
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I have one China bike with a rear drum and one with a disk. Both work fine and I have no preference for one over the other.
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