Cable vs Hydraulic

Nickj · 24-07-2023, 10:48 PM

Might be 6 of one and half dozen of the other..

In the very late 60's honda bought out the CB750 with hydraulic brakes, it was a bit techy, a bit flash AND suddenly every bike manufacturer had to add them or they'd be seen as a bit old fashioned.
It is undoubtedly easier to set up hydraulics than a 2LS drum of even a 4LS but much more difficult to strip and rebuild a hydraulic system.

I suspect that as a good 2LS or a 4LS can be a very effective system that on road bikes it's more about style than anything else. On dirtbikes definitely more fashion, on a sandy enduro most disk pads were toast after a few short hours at a wet sandy venue the rear drums kept on working though.
Modern race bikes where the disks can be seen going a dull cherry red it's more about having a working system.

I'd blame Honda

dunf · 28-07-2023, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickj

In the very late 60's honda bought out the CB750 with hydraulic brakes, it was a bit techy, a bit flash AND suddenly every bike manufacturer had to add them or they'd be seen as a bit old fashioned.

I'd blame Honda

Pretty sure Lambretta brought out a production disc brake before Honda. I'd blame them

Luddite · 28-07-2023, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunf

Pretty sure Lambretta brought out a production disc brake before Honda. I'd blame them

If we're talking early disc brakes, how about this from 1906? It's an Imperial 500 - note the scissor type 'caliper'. Still a disc though.

24-07-2023, 10:48 PM	#1
Nickj Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Of Dean Bike: S2r Posts: 3,195	Might be 6 of one and half dozen of the other.. In the very late 60's honda bought out the CB750 with hydraulic brakes, it was a bit techy, a bit flash AND suddenly every bike manufacturer had to add them or they'd be seen as a bit old fashioned. It is undoubtedly easier to set up hydraulics than a 2LS drum of even a 4LS but much more difficult to strip and rebuild a hydraulic system. I suspect that as a good 2LS or a 4LS can be a very effective system that on road bikes it's more about style than anything else. On dirtbikes definitely more fashion, on a sandy enduro most disk pads were toast after a few short hours at a wet sandy venue the rear drums kept on working though. Modern race bikes where the disks can be seen going a dull cherry red it's more about having a working system. I'd blame Honda __________________ "The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature