How is everyone adjusting their brakes on these things? I cant seem to get good power from my brakes. So far I have the "no fade" kitaco brake pads w/brake mod, ruckus brake arms, and a 50 stunt hand brake. I still cant get the back tire to lock up even with my foot. I have tried sanding the inner drum and pads with no luck either. I hate the feeling when your back brake is simpy too weak to help you recover from a loop, its pathetic.

 

Most obvious thing: you sure you've got the linkage adjusted properly? If you don't tighten down the adjuster sufficiently, then you won't have anywhere near full braking power. I'm pretty sure I've got stock brakes, and I can lock up the rear easy. The adjuster I'm talking about is #17 in this pic --
http://www.bikebandit.com/assets/sch...a/HJ020050.gif

 

the rukus arm works really good in the front,but sucks in the back IMO

 

Damm, sounds like you have all the goods. The only thing I can think of is that you might not be gettin full travel out of the brake arm or the foot pedel, and thats keepin it from lockin up. I tried the brake mod and it made my brakes not work at all. Do they work any better if you roll the bike backwards and hit um? Those Kitacos bite real good.

 

Ya, I have tried adjusting it every way I can, I pretty much run the adjuster in until the brakes are grabbing, then back it out just enough to where it'll roll with only a slight amount of resistance.

On a side note, Ryan, is there anything I can do about the brake rod in getting bent by the adaptor that connects the handbrake to the footbrake? I have nuts butted up against that plate on both sides on the brake rod that goes to the foot pedal and it has bent on both of my bikes (the rod bends upwards at the rear of the rod).

Also, I got the Ruckus brake arms because I figured they'd work like the 50 stunt peice and I figured if I like the Ruckus arms I'd buy some of the 50 stunt ones (I love how Ryan's has spots for both brakes so you dont have to run the adaptor).

Anyways, still lookin for advice, I have to pretty much bounce off of my 12 bar to get her back down without coming to a stop, my buddy can just tap the brake and come off, I'm grabbing hand brake, foot brake, and rockin the **** out of the bike to bring it down.

 

i sand my brake shoes every once in a while with 36 grit sand paper, lube the drum with white lithium, then as long as everthing is adjusted right the stock brakes are awesome. good levers never hurt in helping achieve full lock. if they still aren't working too well get 50 stunt brake arms. so ryan, why don't you sell these killer kitaco pads?