When I posted about the 360 Brake system, your first reaction was: "Cyril, test it and tell us what you think". So, when I arrived in Daytona 10 days ago my first visit was for the booth of Baldwin-Wilson, the company creator of this revolutionary brake. Hey, the President was waiting for me with a bike ready to endure the test. First, I had to find my way riding through the bikers crowd heading to or leaving Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona. It means that during half an hour I had to front brake every 15 seconds or so. When everything was clear front of me, I didn’t twist the throttle. Instead I stopped to check by hand if the friction caused by repetitive braking was making the 360 Brake abnormally hot. After such an exercise, temperature feel was the same as with any other classic brake. Then I straddled again the bike and before I cranked I told the cops who were observing me since I stopped that I was testing a new brake. They told me: “where is it?”. I pointed to it and got afraid that they would think that I was making fun of them. So, I explained to them the brake principle. They enjoyed my technival explanations. Then, with what seemed to be their approval, I decided to go for some short distance repetitive speeding & braking with front, then with rear, then with both brakes. My immediate impression: very quick to react, progressive and intense braking (360-degree pressure at all time) without the clung noise usually heard when brake pads find their position on a rotor (a lot of rotors sold on the market are not quite perfectly flat). I repeated my speeding/braking session quite a few times before returning to the Baldwin-Wilson booth. I waited to arrive to put again my hand on the front & rear brake. My fear of an over heated brake system disappeared. It seems that the 360 Brake, with the help of slots in the housing, dissipates heat as much as any other brake. It was not a several hours test and I didn’t really torture the 360 Brake System, but I know enough to agree with magazines who gave Baldwin-Wilson awards for best/most innovative product of the year. To the President I made the following recommendation: make sure that major wheel manufacturers provide their best wheel designs already equipped with your brake. I know for sure that bikers & dealers want simplicity of installation. More info at Baldwin-Wilson.
Thanks Cyril. It’s good to know your opinion. But how does a garage builder gets wheels (front & rear) equipped with the 360 brake? I don’t do hub machining! I am sure everybody want to know. What about rear left or right side drive?
call baldwin wilson, they will bend over backwards to work with you, i am a no name builder and they are working with me on some special installs, they will help you so that the brakes will be seen on more bikes and they make the brake fit many hubs already, great company, some of the people there used to build indy race cars so brakes are easy for them.and they are nice people. any time you can make a part perform more than one function its a bonus….stop better and look better reduced unsprung weight,visually better look at your expensive wheel, at the same time you are improving it.and the cost is the same or less than a six piston and a custom rotor. all wins in my collumn
Anyone knows an approximate price to adapt a wheel to the brake?
I too am very excited about this new product. this technology that cleans up and simplifies a bike but still alows for form to follow function is well thought out executed.products like this have given me my enthusiasm about our industry back.My favorite part-no goofy tribal cut outs!
We are the first in the UK to use the 360 brake on one of our show bikes, it’s awsome we love it and our customers testing it, what a great product.
Ell done keep up the good work.
Paul
Thanks for the great responces to our “360 Brake.” It is growing in momenum and thanks to you for your advice as well Cyril. The “360 Brake is now available on M&M Billet wheels, Renegade Wheels, Xtreme Machine Wheels, Russel Marlow Custom Wheels and we also have several others currently considering it.
Well thanks again and if you need anything let me know,
Chet Burozski
Senior sales rep.
317-370-0920 Cell
317-852-7867 Office
ChetB@Baldwin-Wilson.com
Oh and the wire wheel application should be ready for the public in about a month……Thanks again….
cyril,
wondering if you are still promoting this brake. and how it worked on your builds.
john
Yes, why not?
well a few reasons.
the company is insolvent and has no product
they recommend dot 5.1 instead of the advertised dot 5 because of the high heat generated by the brake evaporates the water that doesnt mix with the 5 causing vapor lock then brake failure.
they developed a hollow piston in hopes of dispersing the heat their brake creates.
they have a secondary bleeding proceedure to evacuate air left at the piston seal. when this is actually vapor from water evaporating.
they sent out a letter stating the brake is designed for bikes with a gross weight of 700lbs. when most v-twins weigh 600 without a rider.
letter also states brake is not rated over 70 mph.
sounds to me the original testing was quite limited and with the new limitations of the brake it was sold under false pretenses.
i have front and rear so these issues i state are first hand. just wondering if you still promoting it cause i’m at my wits end with this.
thanks for your time and input,
john
i am not sure what you mean by promoting. I tested for short miles as mentioned in my post. It was breaking good. And I reported only this. I didn’t do or pretend do any technical evaluation. It’s not my job and was not my purpose. Sorry to hear this.
I am interested in the 360 brake 5″ dual set up or 6″ single set up in 40 spoke 21″ wire wheel version.
I would like to use it in my “old school” Trike project´s. How soon can I expect to be able to by this product? This year..next year..or sometime in the future?
We have been working with Andrei @ HDwheels on some wire applications. Depending on the fork style, the spoke wheel you are looking for may be available from him right now. I have had a wire wheel from him on my Softail, with a 360 Brake and it is cool, and performs well.
Give him a call @ (818) 887-9065.
Thanks for your interest,
Dale