Weights of various wheels / brakes
Of course, Robert, your being such a little guy would be an advantage....
I agree entirely: no one has fitted single leading shoe drum brakes to British bikes (except lightweights) since about 1970. 2LS dangerous? Bullshit: an old wives tale. I think the PV 4LS brakes are a perfect combination of looks and function. And they look as though Vincent made them: no one notices - except when you outstop them by a factor of two.
Science: a bit rough and ready, on my precision bathroom scales, but my front wheels, weighed c/w with tyre and tube are as follows, and the comments on function are subjective. The Manx brake comments are the least subjective, because all have been compared on the same circuits over many laps.
Menani electron 210mm 4ls 18" ally rim (now on the Manx) 11 kg - stop a Manx from 145 mph without fade, as good as the disc, below
Kawasaki ally 250 mm 4ls 18" rim (formerly on the Manx) 14 kg - not as good as the Menani, and faded very quickly. Looked good though...
Ceriani ally 250 mm 4ls 19" rim (from an MV) 16 kg - sold on, untried
Laverda ally 250 mm 2ls 19" rim (from a Laverda SF = super freni = Italian for "super brakes") 16.5 kg - intended for the 600cc Comet, untried.
Lockeed 210 mm iron single disc, 18" ally rim (originally on the Manx) 11 kg - stand a Manx on its nose
Vincent 20" wheel with Shadow drums and ally Lightning plates 15 kg - would easily outstop an aircraft carrier
Vincent wheel as above, Lighning plates replaced with PV (Speet) 4ls brakes 15.5 kg - see above. Not in the same league as discs, but infinitely better than what went before. And took 45 minutes to fit to my existing (Magura) lever set up.
(The only differences between modern Menani and Fontana replicas are cosmetic. Patrick Godet uses (or at least has used, because I looked) Menani 250 mm 4ls on his Eglis. Menani and Fontana were business partners back when. They're probably made from the same drawings.)
Tom
I installed a set of Speet brakes about 3 years ago. They replaced nice thick alloy plates with green linings all trued up etc, which worked quite well, however with two up and full luggage, I just wanted more stop. I have to say that despite a few naysayers going on about how any 2LS brakes are just killers etc etc, these brakes have worked very well indeed. For a demo one day I grabbed a handfull at 60 MPH and locked up the front wheel. They were not cold, but not what one would describe as"racing temperature" either, and I was solo, and as I mostly ride two up with luggage on that bike, the suspension is quite stiff. There is no sponge, after contact the handlebar lever hardly travels any further, and these are no new either, as I have put around 15,000 miles on them now.
I was out with the local"modern" sportbike club last weekend and with them and all their 4 and 6 pot floating this and that, I found I was riding (mostly) with just two fingers on the brake, and when getting rather spirited with them (Picture me leading a 1050 Sprint. a VFR800, and Aprillia Tuono, a 650 V strom, and a couple of others through some local - well known to me - twisty bits) took to all four fingers. Ya, so it won't pull a wheelie for several 100 yards, but you guys really need to learn how to keep up corner speed -- but I digress.
Bottom line is at my time and place the Speet brakes work great for ME!!
Someone needs to do a more scientific test on which ones work the best, and how much each weighs etc etc.