2LS Front Brake

[reidy41]

I am not new to Guzzies but have had no experiance with the twin leading shoe front brakes.
I would like to use one on a bike but would like some honest opinions please.
How well do they stop?
How much heavier are they over a twin disk set up?

Thanks
Steve
Answers can be sent to reidy41@hotmail.com

 

[mickyvee_2010]

OK, TLS brakes. There are a few things to consider. What type of Guzzi is it going on? Are you a fast rider who often needs to slow down quickly? What type of brakes are you used to? My Falcone has a TLS front brake. The bike is heavy, and fortunately, slow. I would describe the brake as adequate, and no more. Luckily, the rear brake is very effective. Now, when I ride my friend's Grimeca TLS equipped Gold Star, I am amazed at how good the front brake is. Almost as good as a twin disc set-up. If I was going to put a TLS brake into a build, then I would fit a new Grimeca, or a Fontana. They work very well and look fantastic. If I played around with various different linings, I'm sure I could improve my Falcone. Considering the low annual mileage it does, I can live with it. Of course, even the best drum brake will fall flat when compared to a twin radial Brembo set-up!. As for the weight issue, a drum brake would be heavier than a single disc, but probably lighter than a twin. Brake fade is also an issue. As they get hot, drum brakes become less effective, in extreme cases, they hardly work at all! If you regularly ride the Stelvio Pass, I'd stick with discs! Cheers, Mick.

 

[Will]

One thing to remember about TLS brakes is that they don't work backwards so you have to remember to use the rear brake if your stopped on a hill. OK, yes this was a basic riding technique back in the days before discs, but it can catch people out if they've never had a TLS before.

 

[guzzibob]

If you are taliking about the 2LS stock brake on Guzzi Eldorados & Ambo's I would characterize them as abysmal. I traded in my Eldo for a later disc brake model because I was sure it would eventually kill me if I didn't slow down drastically or get much better brakes than it came with. No joke. The disparity in braking power vs a twin disc (or for that matter a decent single disc) is so great I couldn't care less about the weight issue.

 

[Will]

The disparity in braking power vs a twin disc (or for that matter a decent single disc) is so great I couldn't care less about the weight issue.

For me the advantage of discs over drums is it's just so much easier to set up discs to work well. A really good well set up drum brake (say 4 or even 8 leading shoe) can easily match a pair of Brembo discs as fitted to Tonti Guzzis. Years ago now a mate of mine had a Fontana on his BMW and it was amazingly good BUT it took a great deal of specialist skill to get it right. After a few months of astounding people by doing controlled 'stoppies' on the front wheel with it he reverted to discs just 'coz he was fed up with the contiual maintenance needed to keep it perfect. But of course it is no comparison to modern radial 6 pot calipers & floating discs.

An alternative to a twin leading shoe drum is the old Grimeca idea of using two single leading shoe brakes in one drum which can also be very effective.

But in these days the final nail in the coffin of ultimate state of the art drums is the expense.....my mate's old Fontana would cost about £3000 to buy second hand now!