Subject: RE: 1st Ride!
Author: Bruce Giller
Date: Mar 10, 2005, 7:38 AM
Post ID: 1718522488
I agree with Jim that you need all the braking you can muster on these drum
brakes. I carefully 'arched' the front shoes and adjusted them so that both
shoes contacted the drum at the same time. Never bothered with the rear
brake but probably should. I use both brakes almost 99% of the time except
when it is slippery or riding on a gravel road.
One time while riding with a group of much faster, newer, sport and sport
touring bikes in the hills of West Virginia (our HQ was in Marlinton), I
'lost' the use of the rear brake. This occurred when the circlip holding
the brake pedal shaft in the frame fell off and the brake pedal moved
outwards till it hit the floorboards which prevented me from engaging the
rear brakes at all. It was a big difference in braking ability with just
the front brakes to the point I had to slow way down to make all the hairpin
turns.
But I really learned a lot from riding with this group in the hills of WVa
(once with a very brave passenger) and my skill level is much higher. Going
again in September.
Bruce
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Beeler [mailto:jim.b-@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 3:44 PM
To: Loopfram-@topica.com
Subject: Re: 1st Ride!
| Am I supposed to brake with the hand grip, the foot brake or both? I am sure they will tell me the end of April in my motorcycle class, but why |
| ask now. |
Keep in mind though that the MSF course is oriented towards
motorcycles that actually have brakes. The old loopframe models have
poor brakes at best so you use whatever means at your disposal to stop
the beasties including downshifting and dragging your feet.
Jim