I really don't think the magazines are biased towards one make or another. These people are on all sorts of machines all of the time. They get pretty jaded about any particular manufacturer. I base this thought on my friends who are editors of 4-wheel drive magazines. Marketing usually drives the build-up of a project, but the reviews are generally un-biased. The editors and writers hate having marketing people try to tell them to lean a review towards one manufacturer or another - they feel like prostitutes.

 

Walexa,
thanks for posting and setting the story STRAIGHT on the drum brake vs disk brake issue.I back you up 100% on your findings between the two differant style brakes.Im glad 'YOU'' posted it this time,im really getting tired of repeating myself to the drum lovers.====Bill

 

I guess my 97 300 FourTrax is a "one in a million". My brakes have been replaced once and otherwise, just needed adustment. My disc brakes on my GMC truck have been replaced twice and the drums looked like new at 50,000 miles. The truck is used in the mud often. Rooster has both disc and drum brakes and his drums stopped better. I don't know why, but he has better performance from the drum than the disc.
I know the seal on the drum is critical and I really wonder, knowing how people don't follow directions or follow rules, how many people are doing their own service and having seal problems. I now people want to save money and only shoes and not replace anything else, even when the manual says it is needed. If the seal needs to be replaced and you re-use the old one, then you cannot complain when it does not work properly.
I am sure you will see discs on Honda's utility bikes in the future, but they aren't on them yet. It was not a selling point for me. I don't have any complaints now and when they change over it won't be a big deal then. Just another change.

 

Well, all true being told, you can't compare the drums and disk on the truck. On vehicles, the front brakes do more work then the rear ones. I just replaced the pads on my front disk brakes, and the shoes on the rear are still almost perfect.
But here again, this is why you find disk brakes on the front of vehicles, and drums on the rear, because the fronts get used more. Then you have Chevy and GM, they went to disk at all 4 corners on the new trucks.

 

Rancher, you bring up some good points here... You've got me thinking about this disk brake thing. I'll be back...
Chuck, Suzuki KQ 300, GPS & lunch...

 

If you wish to know how efficient drum brakes are try this. Get up to about 50 mph in your car and if you have a hand emergency brake, push the button in while pulling the brake handle. This uses only the rear drums. Now try the same thing again using the brake pedal. This uses the front and rear brakes. You should notice a great difference. The front brakes on a vehicle provide about 70% of braking power. Also to stop a 747 from a landing speed of 160 knots, and 500,000 Lbs disc brakes are used.

 

On the braking issue, I don't see a whole lot of people leaving a quad with disc brakes to get one with drum brakes on account of that feature. I've had three with drums, including two old yamahas with front mechanical drums (no hydraulics), and they don't hold a candle to the discs on my AC in either stopping power or holding on steep hills. This machine weighs about 700 lbs with all the accessories now, and none of the others weighed over 450lbs. Far more quads have at least front discs than drums only. That has to stand for something. Honda is stupid for making all new quads with all drums I think. Why? For what reason I'm asking. Is it cheaper or what. I would have figure the Rancher and Rubicon especially would at least have them in the front. One trip to the mud with my 300 honda, and the brakes are worthless. the parking brake won't hold on any incline, no matter how tight you adjust it, and the fronts absolutely suck. Drums are great when they are new, but after a few years, they are crap. Unless you trade every few years, I would have to have discs.

 

Andy,
I totally agree with you,in fact,I dont care how bad as$ a quad is ,if it comes equipped with drum brakes,I will TOTALLY shy away from it.I've just seen far to many of the drum style brake quads fill up the drums with debree.They are a real pain in the a$$.====Bill

 

The drum brake issue.

Why is it when drums are on a honda they are great. But, the brakes on a blaster, Drums in front, they are junk.

I could never lock up my blaster fronts solidly without grabbing that handle for i was worth....

Just my 1/2 cent..

 

motorhead, I wouldn't ever buy an atv with drum brakes due to their sloppy and inconsistant feel. I have all around hydraulic discs on my quadracer. Wether they get hot, cold, dry, or wet, I get the same powerful stop. I rode my cousin's Blaster, and hated it. I mean, it was a pure torture ride. Anyways, no matter what kind of braking system you have under the plastic, the key to a successful stop is your tire tread. If you have almost bald tires, plan on sliding quite aways. If you have a good, aggressive tread, you just may end up sitting on the handlebars. lol. anyways, to each their own.

1986 LT250R Quadracer