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› Front drum conversion... successful...
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Front drum conversion... successful... (Read 89 times)
WD
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Front drum conversion... successful...
09/16/13 at 11:10:12
Well, it worked. My 98 LS650 now runs a Suzuki T500 Titan (500cc street 2 stroke from the 70s) twin leading shoe front drum. Pics to follow later this evening or early tomorrow, have to get ready for work shortly.
Finding a wheel is the hard part. Titans are rare, Titans with the CB450 style brake stay instead of cast mounting ribs and a tanged fork even more so.
It is a perfect fit, same size axle. You need 6 5/8 i.d. washers on the right as spacers, 5 on the left. The brake stay will bend to the angles needed as you tighten the bolt and washers for it. It will rub the front of the fender just a touch, but the holes are slightly loose anyway for adjustment, you can reset the fender gaps and get it spot on perfect, even with u-channel fender edge trim.
Just need to order my new perches and levers, Brit replica for 1" bars, and my new bar (unless somebody showing up this week brought me an HD take off)...
Like I said, pics later. But it is so clean that Suzuki really missed the ball by not shipping Savages this way...
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On 2 wheels since 7/87
Black and Chrome 2003 1950s style custom
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Charon
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful...
Reply #1 -
09/16/13 at 13:54:22
Aside from appearance and the lack of a hydraulic system I fail to see how any drum brake is superior to a disk brake. But, to each his own. By the way, if drums were superior they would be used in racing. They are not.
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Eschew obfuscation.
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gizzo
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful...
Reply #2 -
09/16/13 at 17:36:52
'cause drums look way cool. People do worse things to these bikes to make them look better. Struts, hardtails, crazy apehangers. Form trumps function. I love the look of a big front drum on a café racer or brit classic. Those old Fontanas and Grimecas are works of art.
At least a Savage isn't fast enough to need a good brake....
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Face
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful...
Reply #3 -
09/16/13 at 20:30:34
Kick a$$, WD! I love crazy conversions!
Can't wait to see the pics!
Almost bought a Titan a few weeks ago.....someone else beat me to it.... Bastards
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"I have not failed. I've just found 1,000 ways that won't work."
Thomas A. Edison
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WD
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful...
Reply #4 -
09/16/13 at 21:02:04
Charon wrote
on 09/16/13 at 13:54:22:
Aside from appearance and the lack of a hydraulic system I fail to see how any drum brake is superior to a disk brake. But, to each his own. By the way, if drums were superior they would be used in racing. They are not.
In the classes I raced, Titan front wheels are the best brake allowed. But they do tend to crack under extreme side loads.
Considering my front brake never worked right from the day it was new, a tls drum is an upgrade. And on a certified scale, the drum wheel with 90/90-19 tire is 2 pounds lighter than the stock wheel and 100/90-19 tire.
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WD
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful... PICS!!!
Reply #5 -
09/16/13 at 22:31:57
Okay, got Lisa to photobucket magic them...
Yep, half moon floorboards. Yes, the excess brake stay still needs to be trimmed and the brake plate blacked out. And yes, the mirror brackets ARE in fact modified Memphis Shades windshield clamps.
I installed that tire with a medium sized flat head screwdriver as my tire iron. Amazing what a couple hours in the hot southern sun will do to make tire changes go easier...
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On 2 wheels since 7/87
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WD
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful...
Reply #6 -
09/16/13 at 22:34:19
And yes, in the third pic, those ARE Betty Paige nudes on the battery box and belt guard...
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On 2 wheels since 7/87
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Serowbot
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful...
Reply #7 -
09/17/13 at 00:13:43
Drum brakes can work just as good as disc... at least at our speeds...
... but,... I'd sure rather replace pads than shoes...
File me under lazy...
...
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Ludicrous Speed !... ...
...
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Trippah
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Re: Front drum conversion... successful...
Reply #8 -
09/17/13 at 12:04:52
I see you eliminated the side stand and troublesome relay by utilizing the tricked out cinderblock.
Do like the conversion.looking good.
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