|   V-Brake Boosters - Any good? | ss-nyc
Mar 22, 2003 8:19 AM | | How much do you really need these?
Doesn't it really just depend on the frame?
Does it depend on conditions and how much you actually use your brakes?
I figure that they are useless on "Ti" frames, probaby not much help on "Aluminium", but very helpful on "Steel" frames which have more flex.
I want all you strongest opinions! |
| re: V-Brake Boosters - Any good? | keen
Mar 22, 2003 8:31 AM | | I noticed frame/ fork flex w/ heavy static brake applications. I added a set of boosters which eliminated the flex. I didn't notice any braking advantage during actual riding as you usually don't apply the same static force vs. actual riding. I picked them up cheap and they look cool. Only downside is they can collect leaves and such in poor riding conditions. |
| Useful on any kind of frame | uber-stupid
Mar 22, 2003 9:44 AM | | Believe it or not, aluminum can flex... adn once it starts to flex, it actually gets flexier. Boosters help prevent this. And Ti actually can flex, too. It's whippier than other metals, but still flexible.
To an extent, they even help on forks that have arches built into them.
V-brakes have a massive amount of leverage, but it's leverage that first goes against the rim, adn then that becomes the pivot point that the brakes use to exert force against the frame. Which is why there's such a tendency for brakes to feel on/off-ish. They're only as strong as the frame. If the frame flexes, you get weak brake feel, until you hit the flex limit of the frame. If the frame is buttressed by a booster, there's a stronger pivot for the brake to work against, and it can deliver the forces to the intended destination: the rims.
Boosters do more than most folks think they do. You're right, it does depend on the frame, to an extent, becuase some frames are still stronger than others, but I run em on everything I can, anyway. |
| Front, Rear, or both? | ss-nyc
Mar 22, 2003 4:53 PM | | I forgot to ask earlier but I assume the information holds true so that if you are going to add them you should add to front and back.
Is this true? |
| Boosters help stop stays from flexing... | Quattro
Mar 23, 2003 5:15 AM | | As previously stated, when the brakes are applied. On Ti and some alum. rear ends you can see the stays flex. This causes a mushy feel on the brakes. I've never seen any flex on any suspension fork when applying the brakes. Not that there isn't any that can't be seen. I've
tried them in the front and they do not add any noticable performance gain. In the rear on two bikes I've owned, they lessened stay flex when applying brakes and felt "less" mushy. I took them off the front and kept the rear on.You don't need them on the front if you use them on the rear. |
| Depends on the fork | uber-stupid
Mar 24, 2003 6:52 AM | | Some forks flex more than others. I needed one for sure on my Judy C. I don't think it was absolutely necessary on my 'Zokies, but I make a habit of using them when I can, simply on general principle.
Newer forks, granted, are a lot stiffer. Arches are built in both for cantis, and for Disc brakes, since the torque placed on one side of the fork is immense, and strong arches that keep the slides from twisting are absolutely necessary. I recall hearing that early on in disc brake history, people ran brake boosters to support the fork for that reason.
If the arches are relatively flat, my guess is they'll be less stiff. That was the case with my judy. By contrast, the Zokie M arch is a monster.
If in doubt, grab yourself a handful of brake. Really grab. And look down while you do it to see if you can detect the slightest bit of flex. Sometimes you can see it, as you can on seatstays. other times... less so. |
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