specialmonkey

Does anyone know if these work on fillet-brazed Schwinns for 27" to 700c conversion? They're supposed to reach 57mm --

apparently you can use this:

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brakes/j...rsion/?geoc=US

to convert recessed to nutted.

I tried them on a friend's bike and liked the look and performance quite a bit more than Tektro 559s (which I imagine reach an extra 2mm).

Jeff Wills

Nope. You need about 70mm reach on the rear brake. I just measured the Schwinn Superior that I just finished and the rear pad is almost exactly 70mm from center bolt to center of the brake pad. I used Tektro R737 calipers and everything bolted on fine.

Brakes: https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...&category=3154
Schwinn Superior project: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ohpv/a...57642470085394

specialmonkey

Thanks, Nice looking Superior. Did you go with 27" or 700c?

I just tried a rear BR-R451 on a Sports Tourer and it doesn't even reach the 27" wheels. Oh well, to the parts bin

Are there any other dual-pivot options beyond the Tektros? I've used 559s which are fine, are the 737s any better?

It looks like the 559s have longer reach 53-73 vs. 47-59 for the 737s.

SkyDog75

Re: performance, did you ditch the stock pads on the 559's? I've generally had good luck with Tektro brakes, including 556 and 559 long reach calipers, but their stock pads leave a lot to be desired.

specialmonkey

I like Kool Stops too ... never really have given the stock Tektro pads much of a try. Even still, I thought the BR-R451s (also w/ Kool Stops) were snappier and braked better. I guess there's a bit of inherent flex when dealing with long reach calipers?

Jeff Wills

700C. The wheels are Sun CR-18 rims on XTR M900 hubs. Take a look at the whole Flickr album- I spent a few dollars getting it to that point.

Oops... I just realized I pointed at the wrong brakes. Mine are actually the R559:
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...&category=3154

As far as I know, the Tektro R559 calipers are it. They're pretty good so far, but I haven't ridden the bike very much. I'm waiting for more dry weather- it's been raining lots lately.

specialmonkey

Good to know, given that, I doubt the 737s work with a max reach of 59mm vs 73mm.

My 559s are a bit more than half to their max reach for 27" CR18s, and yours look even more extended, yet still with a bit more to go. Sweet XTR group, is that mountain bike stuff?

Do you not like the Schwinn drops? I didn't initially, but now prefer them, as long as I'm using a Schwinn Girder style stem (from taller model Continentals, Sports Tourers, and Super Sports), it adds an additional inch of height, and is more or less correct for the bike.

I also have an early Sports Tourer with a rare 22.2mm stem requirement, which allows a much greater selection, there I have a tall Nitto Technomic, it really makes the drops accessible.

icepick_trotsky 

I picked up a pair of these Alhonga calipers on eBay a while for a similar conversion. They are a lot like the Tektros (which I've used in the past), but with cheaper hardware. They were pretty inexpensive.

Jeff Wills

Yes, mountain bike stuff. A lot of what's on the bike is first-series XTR, 8-speed stuff (except for the brakes, obviously). I was going for a "what if" bike: what if the real Schwinn company had survived into the '90's and decided to build a high-end hybrid? I like it, I just need to put some miles on it.