Hitchcocks Forum

I understand this is an age old problem and that the design is such that it's a problem but is there anyway to improve the situation? Big puddles and water crossings with my green lane Enfield result in long stretches where the brake is literally rendered useless. Is it best to pump the brake to clear water or to hold the brake on whilst maintaining power? What did the off road riders of the 50's do? Just live with it? Drilled drums maybe? (That would let things in as well as out though... like mud.) Like I said. I understand the issue but I wanted to just make sure there's nothing simple that I'm missing that will improve my ride outs, like neoprene seals or something? (Another thing to mention whilst talking about water, I wear Gortex walking boots, waterproof trousers that fit over the top of the boots and then tight waterproof canvas gaiters when I ride in the mud and still get wet ankles sometimes. When I hit water at speed it somehow sprays up inside the gaiters and the runs back down into my boot... Damn annoying. Any solutions for that?

The big snag with water and motorbikes, Matt, is that they don't mix! Regarding drum brakes getting wet I don't think there's a lot you can do to solve the problem (in fact discs can be even worse). Drilling holes etc simply lets more water in. Applying the brake immediately after getting it wet is about the only way to dry it out and get it working again. Regarding wet feet - I've found gaiters seem to make it worse, so I've got quite high gortex walking boots and wear gortex leggings over the top. Seems to work for me. I once had a Yamaha 650 twin and the plugs sat right next to my knees, and when it rained the spark used to short out to my knees. Not only was I soaking wet with no brakes but had to suffer regular electric shocks into the deal!!. Great pics by the way. Tony.

Matt, sounds like you're too young to remember the old days and wet disc brakes. It took the japs until well into the 80's before they learned to copy the Italians and fit nice rusty cast iron discs that worked in the wet. The 70's jap stainless ones were lethal, one learned very quickly to take the bus instead of the kawayamahonduki if there was even a chance of wet stuff. Triumph, bless' em, even fitted a chrome plated disc to their '77 jubilee Bonnie. This is probably why there are none about.

Hello again, MATT----------- go onto E-bay and put in "Derri Boots", scroll down and look for their Motorcycle Boots. They have been making these for some time now and are GUARANTEED waterproof.

Derri boots? Cor, that's a blast from the past, that is! They were waterproof, but just tough wellies with a liner that always came out with your feet. And mine always stank, but that may just be me! Didn't know you could still get them.
Steve

Hi guys---------yes,Derri Boots are still out there. As MATT is only doing the green lane stuff and not competitive riding I thought these might fit the bill ??

hi all just to add fuel to this discussion ,i bought a pair of derry boots from my local gentlemens outfitters last year,and just to let you know they are superb for winter riding with a good pair of thick thermal socks ,they always got a good report in ride magazine being a best buy for years ,the other thing is they look like leather but are really like wellies as i say superb mine will be on my plates of meat in the following months atb paul.

I've made A extra large mud flap on which I put on the front mud guard which made out of a old thick rubber mat works well and keeps me feet dry of road splash all winter as I use me old work Bullet all year round. If me brake shoes get wet I normally just hold the front brake on very slightly until they dry out a little but I do notice the Hitchcocks improved shoes don't seem too suffer in the wet as much as originals do in the wet so must be better linings help.

As far as the 1950's trials bikes re concerned, they used the 6" front brake. The performance of these brakes is not greatly affected by water as they don't work very well even when dry.