Adding handlebar brakes to a bike?

[Klutch9]

My wife has a cruising bike that has the reverse-pedal brakes only. She really wants to add handlebar brakes for the front and/or rear wheels. I see that Amazon has universal kits for like $19, but I’m assuming they are poor quality. Anyone have a recommendation for a decent handlebar brake retrofit? I admittedly have never been an avid cyclist so I have no idea which brands to look for or avoid.

 

[Oillover]

Buy her a better bike?

 

[Pablo]

You mean add discs?

 

[Klutch9]

You mean add discs?

Either discs, or adding the “clamp-style” brakes with the rubber pads on the OD of the rim like many bikes have. Whatever is feasible. I know nothing about bikes haha, but a new bike is out of the question. She likes the bike otherwise.

 

[Pablo]

Either discs, or adding the “clamp-style” brakes with the rubber pads on the OD of the rim like many bikes have. Whatever is feasible. I know nothing about bikes haha, but a new bike is out of the question. She likes the bike otherwise.

Exact make and model and or close up pictures of fork and rear drop out - thanks

I am guessing at this point not happening

 

[skyactiv]

Look on the front fork and see if it has a hole in the center above the wheel for a brake. If so, you can probably mount a front brake caliper.

 

[Pablo]

Look on the front fork and see if it has a hole in the center above the wheel for a brake. If so, you can probably mount a front brake caliper.

Even then, depends on the rim. Need vitals on bike!

 

[Taildragger]

Many 'coaster brake' bikes have rim shapes that are not compatible with 'rim brakes'. Best to take it to your Local Bike Shop.

 

[Klutch9]

Thank you all for your replies. I have learned that either style of brake requires mounting points. This bike doesn't have any on the front or rear. Looks like adding different brakes isn't possible on this model.

 

[BigJohn]

In the dirt bike world, many add a Recluse Auto Clutch, which eliminates the need for a clutch lever. They do a Clutch Lever delete and then add a left hand, rear brake lever on the handlebar. This comes in very, very handy when riding some very nasty trails, where you just can get your right foot up on the peg to use your rear brake.

 

[Escape08]

The front will work but not on the rear as in the case with mine.

 

[vavavroom]

Thank you all for your replies. I have learned that either style of brake requires mounting points. This bike doesn't have any on the front or rear. Looks like adding different brakes isn't possible on this model.

Caliper brakes require one mounting bolt through a hole in the fork crown. Cantilever and V- brakes require bosses on the forks. Disc breaks require a suitable front fork and wide enough rear fork. Maybe you could install a front wheel with a drum brake. I had a bike with a front drum brake once. A very long time ago, in a galaxy far away, they used to have single-pad "tire brakes." A brake pad would push down on the tire. Gnarly!

 

[Lubener]

You are better off either just keeping the rear coaster brake or buy another bike with a disc type brake. Hand activated caliper brakes are virtually useless when the rim gets wet.

 

[853okg]

Adding a front caliper (rim) brake should be easy to do and would be, IMO, a prudent thing. You almost certainly have a unicrown fork with a hole. A picture would be nice to confirm. You would need a side pull brake caliper and matching lever. Use good quality cable and housing. The critical measurement is the distance from the center of the hole in the fork crown to the middle of the braking track on the rim. This is the brake drop and will be measured in millimeters. This bike will have a relatively long drop to accommodate the high profile tire. If you are unsure about what you’re doing get help, but this is a simple job. High quality cable and housing and light lube will ensure light action. Deburr the housing and use good ferrules.Get a decent quality aluminum caliper. It shouldn’t be expensive.

 

[97prizm]

My wife has a cruising bike that has the reverse-pedal brakes only. She really wants to add handlebar brakes for the front and/or rear wheels. I see that Amazon has universal kits for like $19, but I’m assuming they are poor quality. Anyone have a recommendation for a decent handlebar brake retrofit? I admittedly have never been an avid cyclist so I have no idea which brands to look for or avoid.

Thete is a great YouTube channel where a guy shows how to remove the pedal brake and add handle bar lever brakes. It's focuses on kids bikes but don't see why it wouldn't apply to an adult bike.

 

[97prizm]

Either discs, or adding the “clamp-style” brakes with the rubber pads on the OD of the rim like many bikes have. Whatever is feasible. I know nothing about bikes haha, but a new bike is out of the question. She likes the bike otherwise.

If the bike didn't come with disc brakes there are hydraulic vs cable it likely wont accept them due to the wheel and fork design thats out. Unfortunately Form reading it looks like Shimano and Avid both dropped their V-brake kits 5-10 years ago, and are disc only.

 

[John105]

Buy her a better bike?

I was thinking the very same thing...because of my son. We woke up one day and I said it's 2024, he's 10, and doesn't know how to ride a bike. Had gotten him a 20" one in 2021, then 2022 (a tire burst and there is NO replacement rim as we live in a disposable society today) . Interestingly to me, my wife taught him to ride in 2 days. Well, he's too big for the 20" and once he grows 2" he's too big for a 24". Which takes us to adult XS. imho there would be no reason to modify a bike that has a coaster brake unless it's for fun and it's the tinker factor.

Apparently there are exceptions, but coaster brakes tend to be on single gear bikes. Single gear bikes are more difficult to use generally speaking imho. As mentioned above even inexpensive bikes have disc brakes today, with the nicer ones being hydraulic.

 

[853okg]

https://thebikehub.com/products/tek...khU1AUOTNnUDNv9-UtOHKHZSZ0N0uS4BoCDWEQAvD_BwE

The important number is the brake reach figure in millimeters. A sidepull brake requires no additional equipment or frame fittings.

 

[MRC01]

Sidepull brakes, including the one shown, have a long bolt that secures them to the frame just above the wheel. The frame must have a hole for that bolt.

 

[853okg]

True. But it’s rare to not have one, and drilling one is simple. The vast majority of rim brake equipped bikes are done this way. Investment cast fork crowns and rear brake bridges are a recent luxury, reserved for comparatively expensive bikes.. Many a track bike has been fitted with a front brake by drilling the crown. It’s no biggie, although I would guess there’s already a hole (which is why I said a picture would be nice).