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I bought one of these cheap for my 10 year old for Xmas and the brake is really poor.
https://www.saracen.co.uk/bike/amplitude-wave
I know cool kids don't have brakes at all but he's not cool and I'd like to encourage him (and me to try basic things like an endo, so I want to add a front brake and if needs be I will buy a new back brake too.
Research suggests a Dia-compe Bulldog front and AD990 rear but my question is, do I just buy Koolstop Salmon pads for the back rather than a new brake?
I'm 50 so rode BMX's back when they had brakes and Skyways and if nothing else would like to re-learn the endo into riding backwards without using the kerb or my foot as a brake.
I'm going to copy what I just sent to a mate.
it's set about up. Be really fussy over the cuts of your outers, file the and get the teflon liner nicely open.
Nice cable run. Well lubed.
Clean the rims. If it is new pad rub them on a wall to ruoughen the surface / get rid of the mold release stuff
Rub the pads not the rim.
Softer in pads are more grabby but less progressive
Clear are really grippy but a bit on off. I have these on my rear.
The ones on the front of mine are orange and medium I would say
In the slot on the brake for the pad adjustment try and keep the pad higher as it closer to the pivot so better mechanical advantage.
Depending on the setup it can be worth swapping the conical washer on the pads round (there is a thick pair and a thin pair) as this can alter the mechanical advantage too.
They will still be crap in the wet at the compounds ar bias to the dry
Btw load of people still run brakes although very few run two
All rear brakes are all a bit crap so may be worth trying pads although front brakes tend to work better so with front brake fitted you will have enough braking so maybe try fitting front brake first as you want one any way and then see if you need to do anything about the rear.
I also rode BMX in same period as you (the golden age obviously 🙂 and why did they stop making ACS Z rims) and doesn't seem brakes have moved on, probably because as you say most people just got rid of them completely. At least some of the race bikes now have a rear disc
Thanks TheBrick, I think it was your advice on an old thread that I read.
So try improve what we have first, if that doesn't work then new pads.
Stick an AD990 on the back. It will be much better (and as above check cable). Don’t bother with a front, those Bulldogs are cr@p.
kerley - Z Rims were cool weren't they? My mate was a big lad and could really make his flex and they would pop back into place 🙂
For what they cost I'll order a set of pads and give them a go.
Back in the day we built quarter pipes rather than raced and while I suspect my 'aerial' days are behind me I know that dicking around on his bike can only help my skills.
My lad isn't mad about biking but his best mate got one for Xmas too so I'm hoping it will help it click...
Z Rims were cool weren’t they? My mate was a big lad and could really make his flex and they would pop back into place
Sort of although I remember always having to take a spoke key with me especially after a few deliberate 90 degree hops to see how much I could get the rim to flex.
As its a new bike id check the whole rear brake set up, AD990's have been around since the 80's and they are one of the best out there
First are the arms evenly tensioned?
Is the cable free of any kinks or binding (remove from the AD990 and check how smooth it pulls)
Are the brake blocks toe'ed in so the front of the brake block hits the rim first and are the central to the brake track on the rim?
Have the brake blocks been roughed up (this helps)
Has the rim been cleaned to get rid of any oily hand marks and any other contaminants (window cleaner works great for this)
Im a two brake BMX'er (+ 4 pegs) along with most of my bmx buddies, we all grew up riding in the 80's and early 90's before the whole brake less movement started