4 ms·

If I'm going 50km/h on something, I would at least like it to have proper disk brakes like mid-range and higher bicycles do. Going at those speeds may be fun a

If I'm going 50km/h on something, I would at least like it to have proper disk brakes like mid-range and higher bicycles do. Going at those speeds may be fun and all, but you're 1 careless driver away from the hospital, unless you ride on abandoned roads.

jakecopp 9y ago
I agree, but disk brakes won't help you stay on the board!
loeg 9y ago
Yeah, lack of brakes on a 50 km/h vehicle is a problem. And in the case of skateboards, lack of handlebars too. That said, disks aren't essential for good bicycle stopping performance. Good rim brakes (like most mid or high end road bicycles) stop just as quickly as disk brakes in dry conditions. Rim brakes are not really an option for long boards, though.
- grogenaut 9y ago
  Why not rim brakes, or disc brakes for that matter? Other than lock up which you can control. And why do you need that over e brakes?
  - loeg 9y ago
    > Why not rim brakes, or disc brakes for that matter I don't know how you'd mount a rim brake on a tiny longboard wheel. Disk brakes seem feasible. I'm not a long board person, I don't know what the state of the art is here.
    - grogenaut 9y ago
      Like you would on an old wagon, something that pushes down on the wheel top.
- stinos 9y ago
  lack of brakes Sliding/skidding (where the board is manoeuvred in the direction perpendicular to the movement) will make you loose speed pretty quickly. Apart from that motor can be used to brake. Not sure what exactly is needed for it, but a DIY board I rode once had a dual trigger on the remote, one direction for moving forward, the other one for braking. Pretty convenient though won't stop you as quick as some friction brake. lack of handlebars too. That is only a problem if you either don't know how to steer with the board, or are trying to take sharp turns at too high speed. Both conditions which are equally true for other vehicles, main difference being some vehicles will be able to turn sharper than others given the same speed. And some are easier to control than others. But enough skill can deal with that.
  - loeg 9y ago
    > Sliding/skidding (where the board is manoeuvred in the direction perpendicular to the movement) will make you loose speed pretty quickly. Yeah, but it has the disadvantage of wearing out the wheel surface and requiring some technique. Any asshole can pretty a brake lever, and brake pads are cheaper than wheels. > Apart from that motor can be used to brake. It can be iff the controller is configured to. I thought I saw another comment mentioning this article's device is only rigged to go forward. I agree with you that an electric motor might be a sufficient brake for this application (at least, better than nothing). > Pretty convenient though won't stop you as quick as some friction brake. Yeah, it's hard to beat the mechanical simplicity. > [lack of handlebars] is only a problem if you either don't know how to steer with the board, or are trying to take sharp turns at too high speed I was talking about braking performance, actually. Handlebars help you throw your weight back and keep it in the right place for rapid braking.
jacquesm 9y ago
> I would at least like it to have proper disk brakes like mid-range and higher bicycles do. Instant flying lesson.

jakecopp 9y ago

I agree, but disk brakes won't help you stay on the board!

loeg 9y ago

Yeah, lack of brakes on a 50 km/h vehicle is a problem. And in the case of skateboards, lack of handlebars too. That said, disks aren't essential for good bicycle stopping performance. Good rim brakes (like most mid or high end road bicycles) stop just as quickly as disk brakes in dry conditions. Rim brakes are not really an option for long boards, though.

grogenaut 9y ago
Why not rim brakes, or disc brakes for that matter? Other than lock up which you can control. And why do you need that over e brakes?
- loeg 9y ago
  > Why not rim brakes, or disc brakes for that matter I don't know how you'd mount a rim brake on a tiny longboard wheel. Disk brakes seem feasible. I'm not a long board person, I don't know what the state of the art is here.
  - grogenaut 9y ago
    Like you would on an old wagon, something that pushes down on the wheel top.
stinos 9y ago
lack of brakes Sliding/skidding (where the board is manoeuvred in the direction perpendicular to the movement) will make you loose speed pretty quickly. Apart from that motor can be used to brake. Not sure what exactly is needed for it, but a DIY board I rode once had a dual trigger on the remote, one direction for moving forward, the other one for braking. Pretty convenient though won't stop you as quick as some friction brake. lack of handlebars too. That is only a problem if you either don't know how to steer with the board, or are trying to take sharp turns at too high speed. Both conditions which are equally true for other vehicles, main difference being some vehicles will be able to turn sharper than others given the same speed. And some are easier to control than others. But enough skill can deal with that.
- loeg 9y ago
  > Sliding/skidding (where the board is manoeuvred in the direction perpendicular to the movement) will make you loose speed pretty quickly. Yeah, but it has the disadvantage of wearing out the wheel surface and requiring some technique. Any asshole can pretty a brake lever, and brake pads are cheaper than wheels. > Apart from that motor can be used to brake. It can be iff the controller is configured to. I thought I saw another comment mentioning this article's device is only rigged to go forward. I agree with you that an electric motor might be a sufficient brake for this application (at least, better than nothing). > Pretty convenient though won't stop you as quick as some friction brake. Yeah, it's hard to beat the mechanical simplicity. > [lack of handlebars] is only a problem if you either don't know how to steer with the board, or are trying to take sharp turns at too high speed I was talking about braking performance, actually. Handlebars help you throw your weight back and keep it in the right place for rapid braking.

jacquesm 9y ago

> I would at least like it to have proper disk brakes like mid-range and higher bicycles do. Instant flying lesson.