That’s impressive.
Most people never use a road bike in anger, so probably never get a drum brake hot enough to find out what it does. When you really use a drum brake, as it heats up it usually changes. Depending on the linings, it can fade, or the linings can go the other way and suddenly give you more grip. The worst situation a normal road rider might encounter would be riding down winding mountain roads. If the leading shoe become sticky, it can suddenly grab and throw you. If both shoes fade, you simply tend to more slowly run out of road - not such a big problem. Disc brakes are totally different - they can be set up wrong and give very little stopping power, but you usually recognise the problem early, otherwise they are extremely reliable. The never grab and throw you, unless you do it to yourself.
When you start riding with it, always leave plenty of room in front of you when braking. Don't do long hard braking into hairpin bends.
Then why answer as if it were a question about racing???
Fortunately or not - it is no longer the 1950s. Modern motorcycles have probably created a false sense of security. I was brought up riding old shit, so what is normal for me is probably not normal.
Modern motorcycles were developed through racing. A Norton Commando is not a modern motorcycle otherwise it would not have a drum front brake. Disc brakes on a motorcycle greatly increase their speeds. When you get a fright on a motorcycle, you probably believe you are chicken-shit. A motorcycle usually tells you when you are going to crash. If it is light in the front in a high speed corner, it will cause you to go slower.
