Originally Posted by
J3r3m1
Hi everybody,
I am looking for informations about setting a Karasawa on my future tandem. I am at the beginning of the project and I still have not bought any equipment (I got an old frame from a friend and some other accessories).
I am now pretty decided to set drum brake system in the rear wheel of the tandem. Unfortunately there is not a lot of informations and feedbacks about the Karasawa technology.
This is almost the only one forum where I found people who share their experience and give their feedback on Karasawa. =)
My first and main question is about the type of hub it can be used with : is there a lot different hubs which would be usable with Karasawa ? I wanted to buy MAVIC A 719 but since I decided to buy drum brakes I wonder if it is the right solution... it seems that there is no thread "on the left hand side, opposite to the freewheel".
So my question is : do you know hubs (or better, wheels already mounted with this type of hubs) that I could buy on the internet ?
Thanks in advance.
Jérémy
Jeremy; Just a bit of searching will yield fact that the K brake is marketed specifically as a replacement for the now non-availabable and long out of production Arai drum brake. Thus you should order a rear hub that fits your bike (OLN) and that is threaded on the Non-Drive-Side for the ubiquitous Arai drum brake. All will be well. You will find many Shimano model HF-03 through -09 tandem-specific hubs, most all Phil Woods, most all White brand hubs, Hayden hubs, etc., available with that threading. Get the freehub/cassette versions and avoid the freewheel versions which have a weaker axle situtation. Take the opportunity to get some extra spokage on the wheel while you are buying... At least 40 spokes, 48 if you are chunky or doing loaded touring. Remember also that these are drag brakes only (look it up on google, Sheldons, and anywhere else). You still need to have cantilevers front and rear as your primary brakes.
/K