Front brakes, drum v.s. stock disk

Just curious, I have heard the stock front disk give less than desirable performance, I have not heard alot about the earlier front drum's performance??

twinfan said:

Just curious, I have heard the stock front disk give less than desirable performance, I have not heard alot about the earlier front drum's performance??

Click to expand...

Disc can be made a lot better. Way better than the drum.

" I have not heard alot about the earlier front drum's performance??"

That's because the word "front drum" and "performance" cannot properly be used in the same sentence!

Sorry, couldn't resist...

There was a test published here a few days ago of some superbikes back in the day - you should be able to find it easily. The Norton's front drum (other bikes had discs) was clearly not up to the task and hurt it rather badly in every category where a brake was useful (everything except the 1/4 mile).

In best conditioned drum or disc brake there's a world of difference
in how much fear grip straight is required to get tire maxed out
and do it more than few times in a row.

Simplest most bang for the bux is open the tinny tiny pin hole
restriction in the big rubber cap-valve deep in master cylinder.
Then SS hose so less lever effort just expanding the rubber kind.
Then change lever pivot or try a race lever if you got normal
man size hands to open grip a bit.

After this, price and efforts go way up of incremental improvements
in various upgrades to whole new system.

hobot

The Norton TLS brake works fine for normal road use. Make sure that it is set up correctly and considder higher friction shoes (RGM ).

Greg

I had a twin leading shoe front brake on my first Commando, which was not good!

I fitted a back plate (known as a stiffening kit on Norvils site) and had special "green ferodo" (I think) shoes machined to my drum size, which was only a slight improvement with the performance being mediocre when warmed up or hot. Also, on a morning, the first touch of the brakes nearly locked up the front wheel momentarily! I then fitted a Norvil racing disc with an AP caliper with a standard master cylinder which was definitely a better more consistent brake.

I'm talking about 25 years ago and my engineering/mechanical skills were very poor then, not that they are that good even now, but maybe it is possible to get a drum brake to be good, but I couldn't achieve it then. Having said that I have never had a totally standard Norton front disc brake set up on my Norton to compare. All my disc braked Nortons have had modifications made to them.

vintage brake redid a stock drum on a friends commando (http://www.vintagebrake.com/) and it was a really sweet setup, though rather pricey, but more than adequate for street. It is comparable to my disc setup. I have an aftermarket grimica master cylinder and stock sized stainless disc - but the drum looks way cooler!

The stock front drum on a Commado was a really weak brake. But, if you only ride the bike occasionally, I would prefer a drum as it requires very little maintenance.