Monday, January 29, 2007
Great idea, or the worst idea in modern motorcyledom?
This part was installed on a custom bike I saw on display at the Oklahoma City Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet a few weekends ago. It's a combination brake/sprocket. At first I thought, "Wow! What a great idea!" It would save weight, and allow for a cleaner looking rear end.
Seconds later, I pondered the reason that bike manufacturers and MotoGP teams could possibly have for not installing them as standard equipment: Chains need lube. Lube/gunk accumulates on sprocket. What's usually a non-issue for most chain-driven bikes could possibly become a slippery, unsafe mess when it meets a disc brake surface. Given that a lot of chopper folks seem to like the clean look of a bike with no front brake, it seems to me that this part could contribute to a catastrophe under the right conditions. I predict that you'll be able to spot the bikers that install these from the well-ground heels of their boots. ¶ 7:03 PM
This part was installed on a custom bike I saw on display at the Oklahoma City Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet a few weekends ago. It's a combination brake/sprocket. At first I thought, "Wow! What a great idea!" It would save weight, and allow for a cleaner looking rear end.
Seconds later, I pondered the reason that bike manufacturers and MotoGP teams could possibly have for not installing them as standard equipment: Chains need lube. Lube/gunk accumulates on sprocket. What's usually a non-issue for most chain-driven bikes could possibly become a slippery, unsafe mess when it meets a disc brake surface. Given that a lot of chopper folks seem to like the clean look of a bike with no front brake, it seems to me that this part could contribute to a catastrophe under the right conditions. I predict that you'll be able to spot the bikers that install these from the well-ground heels of their boots. ¶ 7:03 PM
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Well you already got my comments on it.
I will say that on my Norton, the rear sprocket is cast as part of the outside of the brake drum. So, it's not really a new idea.
Amazing how often stuff comes back around. Harley finally put anti-vibration mounts on their sportsters and dyna-glides. Norton did it first in 1967.
I will say that on my Norton, the rear sprocket is cast as part of the outside of the brake drum. So, it's not really a new idea.
Amazing how often stuff comes back around. Harley finally put anti-vibration mounts on their sportsters and dyna-glides. Norton did it first in 1967.
H-D is working to dampen vibes? What's next? Fuel injection? Overhead cam engines? (Yawn)welcome to the 1990's.
Does your Norton have wire wheels? If so, it sounds like an expensive proposition to change the "sprocket."
Does your Norton have wire wheels? If so, it sounds like an expensive proposition to change the "sprocket."
I think you're missing part of the deal here. The rims are spoked to the hub. The sprocket/brake drum is bolted to the hub. It's not any different than changing a sprocket on any other wheel really.
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