any ideas on removing weight from a drum brake wheel, front and rear?

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seattle##gs

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Use an aluminum rim, of course, but how about the hubs themselves? Did anyone make special hubs and brakes?
 
Magnesium construction. They are out there, and not particularly cheap new. I have no experience using one, so no recommendations.

The single cylinder racers using drum brakes would know more.
 
1/2 width hubs are lighter than full width hubs, rear BSA QD hubs are a good example
 
seattle##gs said:
Use an aluminum rim, of course, but how about the hubs themselves? Did anyone make special hubs and brakes?
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One point from another thread, make sure you don't have an Indian made cast drum!

I am a racer, I agree with the pursuit of reduced unsprung weight. Alloy rims are effective, and pretty as long as you clean them regularly. Also consider your tyre choice. Search for lcrken's thread on wheel weight comparison for info.

Assuming that this is not a racer (drum brake not a logical choice), specifically why do you want to reduce your unsprung weight?

Do you think you will notice the reduced weight?

As an example, I built my bike with alloy carriers in the discs both front and rear. The rear disc fractured, so I fitted a full cast disc as a replacement. I didn't notice any difference at all, even though the extra weight can be seen clearly with the disc on scales.

Magnesium is a very iffy material to buy when old. It needs to be properly crack tested, but in reality with any potential for exposure to salt potentially very short lived.

Half width hubs are a logical route, but there can be a lot of work in these changes, a risk of wheel misalignment, and all for very little real gain.
 
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It would be part of a program to reduce weight every where. The wheels are very heavy but I cannot figure a way to reduce the weight safely. I built a bike for a friend that has all the Steve Maney and JS parts. The overall feel of the bike is different from any other Norton, not just it's power delivery. The only thing different is weight.
 
Cool project. I'll bet it feels different from a stock Norton. Which JS cam?
 
seattle##gs said:
It would be part of a program to reduce weight every where. The wheels are very heavy but I cannot figure a way to reduce the weight safely. I built a bike for a friend that has all the Steve Maney and JS parts. The overall feel of the bike is different from any other Norton, not just it's power delivery. The only thing different is weight.
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Take the weight loss where you can get it easily.

Unless of course you aren't budget limited.

Isolastics are heavy! The cradle is heavy, the cylinder barrels are heavy, the crank is heavy. A steel tank is heavy. Standard yokes are heavy. A motor weighs 90lbs or more. The motor full of Maney and JSM parts probably still weighs 80lbs.

Did you weigh your friend's bike and direct compare with yours?

How far do you want to go with this?

Let's say a standard Commando weighs 400lb, are you looking for 350lb, or 300lb?

300lb puts you in Seeley territory. Not saying it can't be done with a Commando, but it will take a lot of time and money.

Maybe Yves can tell us what the Sunburst weighs (maybe he already did, I haven't looked)
 
I drilled out my Norton sprocket/ drum 3 holes about 2”round at the back of drum numerous other holes in rear , holes in sprocket, ( every tooth ) about 3 years ago it’s not been any problem. Saved a lot of weight, sorry haven’t got any photos . Got the idea from someone selling one similar on eBay.
 
ludwig has done some extensive mods to his commando and I think he has got the bike down to 360# or so. Might be worth picking his brains for examples.
Cheers,
Tom
 
Where does it stop, at some point not much left that is Norton.
 
worntorn said:
This one is about 2/3 Norton.
Also about 2/3 weight.
290lb in the photo. With lights, fairing and primary covers it will be 305lb, oil and battery in, no fuel.
Ludwig's bike is about 300 lbs as well.
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I think it's a good thing to get away from all Norton, if you want to have a little fun. 300lbs is light. Impressive weight loss.
 
A Norton hub and TLS brake (8" = 200 mm) weighs about 7 kg (the stiffening kit will add another 0.2 kg approximately). Next step up for a road bike would be a Ceriani 230mm 4LS hub and brake. The aluminum version weighs 8.3 kg according to MPL.
Has anybody weighed the disc brake hub, disc and caliper?

-Knut
 
Back to the iron drum rear: I had mine off yesterday and once again thought "not only does it barely work but it weighs a ton!"
You can go for the "make the engine hotter" or "this thing needs to lose some weight" or both.
Lately the lose some weight seems pretty attractive.
Oh oh....winter coming...control yourself...
 
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