Coaster brakes

Re: Coaster breaks

I had only the coaster brake for the first couple spins in the neighborhood. Scared the bejesus outa me! I added a front caliper brake to take the fear factor out of my riding. I really should add a rear caliper, as I've already got the dual pull handle --- just haven't yet.

Stopping is more important than going.

Re: Coaster breaks

Like I've said many times on the forum " it don't have to run but it HAS to stop"! At least add a front side pull brake, that's what I do. With good pads stopping from 30 mph is good.

Re: Coaster breaks

I have ridden bikes my whole life and am as competent on a bike as anyone here.
I have ridden with only a coaster, but only if I have no choice, and I make sure I keep the speeds down.
I do not feel safe with only a coaster brake on a motorized bicycle.
Adding rim brakes is too easy not to do it.

Re: Coaster breaks

This is what I have....

http://www.pistonbikes.com/product-p/jbdbl.htm

You can operate both caliper brakes with a single lever. You set it up like a motorcycle --- clutch on left, brake on right. Good luck!!

Re: Coaster breaks

I simply run three levers. Clutch and rear brake on the left, front brake on the right.
Easy once you get used to it.

Re: Coaster breaks

Yup! A coaster brake plus two rim brakes is a fine way to go. Good stopping power.

The only thing that I'd add is to watch that coaster brake and hub. Motorized bicycling seems to be harder on them than it is on a freewheel hub. No surprise, I guess. Coaster brake hubs are a bit more complex and they include a few parts that can easily get crushed.

I'd suggest you start looking right now for bikes with a single-speed hub in the garbage. So that you'll have some spare hub parts.

And take your hub apart (carefully) and put it back together (carefully). A few times, so that you'll know this stuff when you need it. Pack a bit of good grease in there while you're at it.

Carry cone wrenches and lock nut wrenches (11/16 or 17 mm, usually) in your tool kit. You don't want those cones backing off.

And you should clean and re-grease your hub often. With the change of seasons seems to be about right.

If this is new to you, then it might sound daunting. But it's not really all that hard.

And you want to be familiar with the parts inside that hub.

Re: Coaster breaks

Make sure to take the time to grease at least the wheel bearings on the bike you choose for your build.You should also grease the fork and crank bearings.

Re: Coaster breaks

maniac57 said:

I simply run three levers. Clutch and rear brake on the left, front brake on the right.
Easy once you get used to it.

Click to expand...

That dual pull brake lever is great but I would run both front and rear brakes on the dual pull on the right and clutch on the left.

Re: Coaster breaks

A pair of C brakes on a single speed coaster brake bike work well and you still have a foot activated emergency brake, but I find using a 7-speed beach cruiser to be a better base.



Dual V brakes are better than dual C's, and mounting the drive sprocket is a breeze, on the Micargi Pantera 7S the sprocket practically centers itself on the hub and there is no coaster brake arm to remove first.

This particular bike also has horizontal dropout's so you don't even need a tensioner, just move the wheel back to adjust drive chain tension.

That does leave you with a shifter on the handlebars, no problem with a 1/2 grip twist shift, I put the shifter upside down on the left after the clutch lever and then use 1/2 a grip to the handlebar end.

One last thing you will like better is having gears for pedal help, especially for starting the thing ;-}