I need to get serious about re-thinking the rear brake. I had been using an actuating rod, the method used by both the Pursang (frame) and GS450T (rear brake). Unfortunately, my brake rod is attached so far away from the swingarm pivot that my initial setup could have caused “bump braking” — inconsistent brake pressure as the suspension compresses and changes the brake rod anglem and perhaps even unintended application of the rear brake.
Obviously, that’s no bueno. I have always dreamt of this bike as being fully functional and rideable, not a showpiece. I am committed to engineering it as intelligently as my amateur, under-educated brain can manage, not just going with “probably okay.”
There are to usual methods for dealing with this issue—
- Utilize a bellcrank closely aligned to the swingarm pivot, connecting with two rods to the brake and the pedal:
- Or convert the rear brake to cable actuation:
A custom cable conversion kit is available from Dime City Cycles, but I don’t think the brackets as provided would work for me. It is probably not worth the cost because I already have a couple of NOS brake cables to experiment with: a Suzuki cable (#58500-1100, for ’60s–’70s Suzuki 200/250/305 street bikes), and an Aermacchi cable for ’73–’74 Harley 350s. The Aermacchi has a rather clunky, integral, in-line brake light switch, which could be an asset or a drawback.
It’s time to go down to the workshop, stare, and ponder.
