Front Tire Width And Braking Power?
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Wait a minute...there's a front brake?
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I'll set 'em up and you knock 'em down.
Remember folks; we're here all week. Try the veal and tip your waitresses.
Remember folks; we're here all week. Try the veal and tip your waitresses.
Narrow Tire and Braking
It probably does reduce total amount of braking force, but things like weight distribution, tire construction and rubber compound probably are more important factors. I didn't think the front brakes on the 900 Custom felt all that different than the front brakes on the 900 Classic, or any other mid-sized cruiser I've ridden.
The rear-heavy weight distribution limits braking effectiveness of the front tire, so even when there's a 17-inch radial and dual four-piston calipers with floating 310mm rotors on a cruiser it still doesn't feel like a sportbike's brakes, even if it does actually brake harder than a sportbike because of increased effectiveness of the back brake.
-Gabe
It probably does reduce total amount of braking force, but things like weight distribution, tire construction and rubber compound probably are more important factors. I didn't think the front brakes on the 900 Custom felt all that different than the front brakes on the 900 Classic, or any other mid-sized cruiser I've ridden.
The rear-heavy weight distribution limits braking effectiveness of the front tire, so even when there's a 17-inch radial and dual four-piston calipers with floating 310mm rotors on a cruiser it still doesn't feel like a sportbike's brakes, even if it does actually brake harder than a sportbike because of increased effectiveness of the back brake.
-Gabe
Re: Compensating for Skinny Front Tire
An old biker trick to compensate for a skinny front tire is to mount 36-inch ape-hangers.
This makes it nearly impossible to apply any kind of leverage to the front brake lever, which helps prevent front wheel lockup.
And it looks so kewl, who cares if you can't stop?
An old biker trick to compensate for a skinny front tire is to mount 36-inch ape-hangers.
This makes it nearly impossible to apply any kind of leverage to the front brake lever, which helps prevent front wheel lockup.
And it looks so kewl, who cares if you can't stop?
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285 Posts
For many materials, you're right that the contact surface area doesn't affect how much friction is available; the coefficient of friction and normal force are the only relavent parameters.
Tires are different though, as the rubber creates "micro-grips" with the road, effectively increasing the coefficient of frictions with increasing contact surface area. At least that's how it was explained to me...I'm a rocket scientist and not a tire expert so take that for what it's worth.
Tires are different though, as the rubber creates "micro-grips" with the road, effectively increasing the coefficient of frictions with increasing contact surface area. At least that's how it was explained to me...I'm a rocket scientist and not a tire expert so take that for what it's worth.
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11,482 Posts
Re: Narrow Tire and Braking
What?!
Say it ain't so, Gabe! Say it ain't SO!!!!
What?!
Say it ain't so, Gabe! Say it ain't SO!!!!
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11,482 Posts
Well, NASA HAS had a few, shall we say "less than successful launches" in the last few years..........
;^D
;^D
Really? It ain't the tool theory.
Ok I say MO should prove that theory. i.e that a heavy cruiser with less sticky tires can stop faster than lighter sportbike with sticky tires.... Maybe the ordinary rider can't stop quicker. But ask Matt Mladin which bike he would like to use in an emergency stop. Mladin is the only racer I trust to give an honest opinion. i.e. he cares less about saying the politically correct thing. I don't see how a Honda Shadow with rear drum and hard tires can outstop a modern 600 with double disks on the front and sticky tires. The limitation is the rider not the tool..
Ok I say MO should prove that theory. i.e that a heavy cruiser with less sticky tires can stop faster than lighter sportbike with sticky tires.... Maybe the ordinary rider can't stop quicker. But ask Matt Mladin which bike he would like to use in an emergency stop. Mladin is the only racer I trust to give an honest opinion. i.e. he cares less about saying the politically correct thing. I don't see how a Honda Shadow with rear drum and hard tires can outstop a modern 600 with double disks on the front and sticky tires. The limitation is the rider not the tool..
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