Author Topic: Who were the irst to use disc brakes? (Read 3996 times)

Tretnine · « **on:** October 03, 2009, 08:10:32 PM »

I was just watching some Leno's garage... what was the first bike to use disc brakes and the first production bike to use disc brakes?

moham · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2009, 08:17:26 PM »

Quote from: Tretnine on October 03, 2009, 08:10:32 PM

I was just watching some Leno's garage... what was the first bike to use disc brakes and the first production bike to use disc brakes?

I think the 750 was the first production bike with stock disc brake. Could be wrong...

Tretnine · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2009, 08:18:23 PM »

that's what leno was saying, I didn't want to give that away till I got a response, but I thought that was pretty fascinating.

754 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2009, 08:39:23 PM »

I think there was a disc used in the 30s on an English bike..

In the 60s the Burbank Police Dept built (or got built) a few to try out, think it was a Kelsey Hayes or Airhart caliper they used.

Also around 66 ish or around that time Rickman came out with one..

Bill/BentON Racing · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2009, 05:12:25 PM »

I believe 69 CB750K was first mass produced production bike to have a f/disc brake.Was one of it's selling pts.Bill

beveldrive · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2009, 09:21:22 AM »

Believe it or not, the Lambretta TV200 was the first production two-wheeled vehicle with a front disc brake in the world.

L.A. Nomad........ · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2009, 10:26:35 AM »

Agreed the Lambretta had the first production front disc brake, TV200! 1962... Sold around the world..

L.A. Nomad

Tretnine · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2009, 06:13:23 PM »

Cool. Thanks for the good info.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2009, 06:45:42 PM »

Didn't the Vincents have disc brakes and mono shock in the 50's.?

Mick

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2009, 06:52:36 PM »

Mono yes, discs no. They did have twin front drums, perhaps that's what was throwing you.

Sam.

Tretnine · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2009, 06:53:34 PM »

Quote from: SamCB750A on October 05, 2009, 06:52:36 PM

Mono yes, discs no. They did have twin front drums, perhaps that's what was throwing you.

Sam.

This is truth. Apparently they stopped pretty well via the brakes, instead of compression braking or fred flinstone braking.

lordmoonpie · « **Reply #11 on:** October 06, 2009, 04:49:39 AM »

No - first ever disc brake was a british bike from the 30s or slightly earlier - I just can't remember its name. It wasn't a back garden special either - properly factory produced...

Tretnine · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2009, 06:01:52 AM »

Quote from: lordmoonpie on October 06, 2009, 04:49:39 AM

No - first ever disc brake was a british bike from the 30s or slightly earlier - I just can't remember its name. It wasn't a back garden special either - properly factory produced...

I think someone mentioned a thirties bike with a disk. This lambretta is the first production model with disc brakes.

L.A. Nomad........ · « **Reply #13 on:** October 06, 2009, 10:55:52 AM »

The Lambretta TV200 1962 had mechanical disc brakes, that was cable operated. Yes this was a production made scooter. First production two-wheeler with front disc brakes!

God knows who first ever had disc brakes on a two-wheeler, probably a European race team. Maybe a factory team?

I had the SX200 Lambretta 1967, this also had a single piston mechanical front disc brake! Some vintage scooter racers, use to convert them to a hydraulic system.

Nomad.

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #14 on:** October 06, 2009, 03:29:46 PM »

Quote from: Swoop on October 06, 2009, 05:12:24 AM

I think the Vincent had double rear shocks (mounted like mono's tho')

Steve

That's correct, I was mixing two different designs up that quite often go hand in hand.

Canterleaver and Mono shock. Yamaha claimed to be the first user of the canterleaver susspension system on their TZ race bikes and RD street bikes, when in fact it was Vincent but the Vincent did have twin shocks.

The British maker that was the first in the world to use disc brakes was Douglas in the 20s.

Sam.

moham · « **Reply #15 on:** October 06, 2009, 03:55:46 PM »

So, what I'm wondering is, what happened in the span of time from the 20-30s until honda mass-produced it in 1969? Why weren't they more widespread before then? Did it just not catch on (pun intended) or was it that the drums of the era were superior?

turboguzzi · « **Reply #16 on:** October 06, 2009, 04:20:02 PM »

Leno might be a very nice guy but not necessarily a very well informed guy. (never saw his shows)

So first disc brake? I dont know if this was really the first, but it was definitely before the CB750,

the 1966 MV Agusta 600 (Italian, but not a thing of great beauty)

MCRider · « **Reply #17 on:** October 06, 2009, 04:40:03 PM »

If you make enough qualifications you can win any prize. I think the MV Agusta 600 brakes were mechanical. As well as the other examples previously given.

The CB750 had the first mass produced HYDRAULIC disc brake. OCICBW

If you scroll down you can see the cables and levers.

http://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/vintage_motorcycle_mv_agusta.html

moham · « **Reply #18 on:** October 06, 2009, 04:54:13 PM »

The 1966 500 racer on that page is pretty hot...

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #19 on:** October 06, 2009, 04:55:02 PM »

There's no two ways about it that the CB750 was not the first but to answer Mos question,

the answer is I dont know.

Some road going bikes from days gone by had small cast iron drums that would strugle to stop a modern day 125.
Then look at some of the double sided twin leading shoe aluminum and magnesim brakes of the early 60s race bikes. The only reason that I could see is that they would be lighter than two big cast iron discs.
A lot of people tried discs for racing in the 60s and reverted back to drums. The early cable operated discs were made by Campagnolia as probably were the ones fitted to the Lambretta and a lot of racers found they had to pull on the leaver for all they were worth in an efort to make them pull up.
In the mid 60s, Farhon my Sponsor of today started producing TLS racing brakes and saw off this new disc brake craze, if you didn't have one of Farhons brakes you were nobody.
Perhaps with the introduction of hydrolics the disc started to make a name for itself.
Who knows what the answer is, it's probably out there in Internet land waiting to be found.

Sam.

754 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 06, 2009, 07:33:45 PM »

There are many reasons why something tried in the 30,s 40,s or earlier did not become mainstream;
cost to make, public acceptance, materials obtainable, maching & casting processes, tooling issues, the list goes on and on..

The more you get into early bikes, the more you see this, its can be pretty interesting..

So where do you guys think the shaft driven bevel drive cams ala Ducati 2wins & singles came from..

How long in use, and who used it first.. or is credited as such?
that is the new question..

Bill/BentON Racing · « **Reply #21 on:** October 06, 2009, 08:13:51 PM »

69 Honda CB750K had the first mass produced HYDRAULIC front disc brake on a production machine.I think this is right as MC posted.Bill

lordmoonpie · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2009, 04:44:10 AM »

Quote from: Tretnine on October 03, 2009, 08:10:32 PM

I was just watching some Leno's garage... what was the first bike to use disc brakes and the first production bike to use disc brakes?

Looks like the questions was what was the first bike to use disc brakes to me....and Sam's memory is better than mine (how'd that happen with him being 40 years older then me?) and it was the Douglas motorcycle company that introduced them in 1923....as for Lambrettas - it does say "first bike"

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Author Topic: Who were the irst to use disc brakes? (Read 3996 times)