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Morning
As subject suggests when I've been bringing the reach in I get less and less stopping power.
Is this normal?
I'm thinking that it's because the lever can travel less and the solution is to bleed the brakes at the new lever position but surely having to do that means it's not a trail side adjustment and so makes the adjustment nut pointless.
just wondering.
Technically it'll make a very slight difference, though probably not enough to notice, IF everything is working properly to start with. If you have anything that's causing a long lever travel, such as sticking caliper pistons, or air in the system, then you may well run out of lever travel before the pads fully grip the rotor.
the longer the reach, the more leverage as the master cylinder piston has more movement
have you tried setting reach to maximum and then adjusting the lateral position of the brake lever on the bars to see if you can reach the lever blade comfortably?
going from Avid Elixir to Shimano SLX was a bit odd until I realised to take the brake levers as far inboard as possible to allow a proper one finger purchase on the lever
longer the reach, the more leverage as the master cylinder piston has more movement
Sitting with a lever infrint of me i can confirm thats bollocks*
The lever reach moves independently of the piston.
The throw of the lever remains constant and the only way that would change is if you got the lever hard against the bars.
*there may be a slight difference if you measured it but no way there is enough for that to be correct.
The point of the throw adjustment is to put the lever in a position where you can use it more comfortably and optimising your finger power, that's going to outweigh any decrease in braking from the lever itself.
Does the lever touch the bar?
Moments = Force x Distance.
Use a clamp so the force stays the same on max or min. If it hits the bar, check the fitting or bleed the air out.
My SLX/XTR/LX has the same power if I adjust for reach.
From a very unscientific test sat on my couch* I would agree with Ned. At a certain point your fingers grip is strongest, move away from this point and it gradually gets weaker.
*honestly, no in private viewing was used in this experiment.
^This.Put something small in between your fore finger and your thumb muscle and squeeze it.Now put something big there and squeeze.
This is what's happening to you.
It's science you know. 😆