Ultimate BMX Brake Hack/Tip Guide - BMX Bike Brake Check

Throughout the years I've made many tip videos about ways to improve your bmx brakes, but I've never put them all into one comprehensive video. This is that video.
A BMX brake check covering everything I do to make my brakes the best they can be.
Video Topics Covered In Order
1:24 - Snafu Astroglide Cables With Odyssey Monolever • Snafu Astroglide Cable...
1:39 - Single Cable Inner For Dual Upper Gyro Cable
• Single Inner, Dual Upp...
8:24 Lower Cable Knarp Setup - • Make Brake Cables Last...
12:12 How To Adjust BMX Brakes - • How To Adjust BMX Brakes
Learn more about bmx brakes here!
• BMX Brake Guide
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[@Tsudkyk]

Thank you for not doing pointless vlogs, your content is an excellent resource for novice bike mechanics as well as a long time shop mechanic like myself. I will probably set up a similar gyro set up as yours- I’m a straight cable guy but I’m ready to try something new.

[@Brant_Moore]

I do my best to do everything possible and hearing things like this makes it so easy to keep doing it!

[@alistairbuckle3450]

Thanks for the tips! I'm going to try this! I like the routing of the straddle cable because mine just frayed out of my new rear brake because it was sticking out. My two tips to share: I have a straddle hanger where the cable rides on a roller on a bushing so the brake force is always equalised. Not cheap but it's working really well for me: Dia-Compe Gran Compe Roller Straddle Cable Hanger. To cut a brake cable I use a lighter or kitchen blowtorch to heat the cable glowing red at the position to cut it before snipping it with cutters. Super clean cut, always!

[@Ewat69]

dude i bought that roller stradle hangar thing and it changed my life thank you so much

[@TobiasSample]

As far as the spacers go, I'd run it the same way, and I guess it's so that the pads are, by default, closer to the rim, so there's less adjustment needed in the cable or in barrel adjusters that you have to do to get the brake pads to sit closely.

[@revshawn1]

Thanks. I do a few of the same things. I really like the looping through the knarp on the brakes. I'm gonna do that.

[@Brant_Moore]

Thank you! That idea was one of the best brake epiphanies I've had yet. Let me know how it works out for you!

[@spacepodstudio]

Great tips! i love bmx brakes too man!

[@Brant_Moore]

Brakes are they best! Without them I’d lose most of my tricks. Haha Thanks for watching

[@garyburgesssr.9769]

Thanks for all your help man I can fix a car.. But don't know much about bikes and you helped me make my son's bike safe..

[@Brant_Moore]

Thats awesome to hear!!! Great that he will be safe riding. Can I ask how you found this video to help with what you needed?

[@garyburgesssr.9769]

@Brant_Moore yeah I was searching KZbin videos to make my sons back drakes the best set up

[@noelcampbell6411]

The large spacer thing you referenced at the end could be a trick I learned just this last year, and I’ve been riding since ‘87: your lower-cable-to-brake-arm coupling has the highest mechanical advantage at 90 degrees. the wider your arms rotate out from the rim, the closer to 90 that angle becomes. If you did the opposite and ran no brake pad washers and a really close pad-to-rim distance, the brake arms would be at more of an obtuse angle where they meet the cables, giving a weaker pull. Wish I’d known this earlier!

[@Brant_Moore]

You’re absolutely right it’s all leverage but I couldn’t figure out how to articulate it further than that. I think you’re explanation is just the brain food I need to make sense of it

[@stiffler107]

great video very clever stuff thanks steve

[@Brant_Moore]

You're the man Steve! Thanks for watching!

[@daynniteism]

Thanks!!

[@jakp8777]

Nice channel. Would like to see more riding videos. Your channel could be right up there with Scotty’s.

[@Brant_Moore]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that seriously. I can only hope to make it there one day. There’s actually a riding video rendering from the wheel mill this weekend that I just finished editing. It’ll be up at 4pm EST tomorrow!

[@Theaustrianpainter88]

I like the use of loops with the cable ends. I could see the need to bend the cables around the knarps at the brake arms for that solid feel. I run spokes for a straddle cable and a London mod i made to pull them. I left the nipples on the spokes for another adjustment point. I run a single cable btw. The spoke mod was the go to for years for solid brake

[@Brant_Moore]

Hmmm that’s got the gears turning. I think the way I have them is the most simple way I could do it but adding a spoke in there some how could make them even better

[@Theaustrianpainter88]

@@Brant_Moore i do like the way you ran the straddle cable through the knarps getting rid of the pinch point on the cable. I can dial brakes with a straddle cable but the spoke mod seems to simplify the adjusting while adding more adjustment. No need to stretch and kink the spokes like a straddle cable.

[@Brant_Moore]

Thanks dude. I absolutely hate the flex and sponginess of straddle cable setups. Cables seem to last just about forever with the knarp setup I use. One of my cables is frayed halfway through and has been for probably a year without breaking

[@TobiasSample]

@@Brant_Moore I googled the spoke mod the other day because the new brake I fitted is pretty spongy and one thing I saw that stood out was a fkin bike chain mod. Not a straddle cable, not a spoke, but a short length of bike chain on either side. Maybe the chain was welded, I'd have to look closer, but I think that'd be pretty solid :O

[@MrPhotodoc]

I'm a brake expert now. Haha. Thanks!

[@Brant_Moore]

Haha no, thank you!!!!!

[@j.parrish]

That's a damn clever cable setup. I may try something similar to that when I run out of "regular" gyro cables. I've got a few extra I got a good deal on. Lol. I'd definitely like to get away from the "specialty" cables. I'll save the split piece off one of the top cables to cut down, I watched the video link someone posted about that in the comments of one of your other brake videos. Great video as usual! 👍

[@Brant_Moore]

Thank you! Cant wait to hear how it all works out for you and if you have any improvement ideas when you do!

[@j.parrish]

@Brant_Moore You're welcome man! I'll definitely have to figure out something a little different on the top cable because my detanglers don't have the set screws. I'll probably cruise the brake parts sections of some sites for some small knarps.

[@Brant_Moore]

Hopefully you can find a smaller knarp out there. If you do please let me know.

[@j.parrish]

@Brant_Moore Definitely will.

[@skylarsoper241]

Oh and also on my midscool 03 Hoffman condor , I love my bomb proof Betty’s

[@skylarsoper241]

I’m thinking 🤔 of using your same set up just only diff is tech 77 locking with the dual cable set up

[@adyzanahmad8565]

8:20 ... 100% help me with my straddle cable that also my U brake have no skrew on both side...

[@garyburgesssr.9769]

If you havent made a video for adjusting your cables and stock back brakes on a Mongoose it will be much appreciated..

[@Brant_Moore]

It’s tough because so many brakes are so different. If you send me a picture on Instagram I can try to help more

[@watchesidiots]

The tag end of those cables not being taped down is causing me some serious angst. IDK why it bugs but it does. Thanks for reading this

[@TobiasSample]

Nice hairstyle, man, suits you

[@Chun6us]

You're very ingenious

[@Brant_Moore]

Hey thank you!!!

[@Brant_Moore]

Did the video help you out?

[@Chun6us]

Your welcome,I love your videos very informative..you should have heaps more subscribers... I might try the looped knarp thing in the following days just seems like less of pain... thankyou brant😁

[@Brant_Moore]

Thanks so much!!! Anyone can help get the word out there just by sharing with friends! It’s definitely a lot less of a pain and you almost never break cables that way. No, Thank you!!

[@allanbuttery5297]

The Shadow Sano Gyro is still available.

[@Thescavenger]

I always hated the top cable set up. I remember thinking if I could just make it shorter it would be better. I didn’t know that there was a gyro with set screws. That sounds so much better.

[@Brant_Moore]

Yea man there has to be a better way even than what I do. The cable fraying and breaking at the gyro is a little sketchy if you don’t pay attention to it

[@grabslide]

You can find aluminium sleeves that are used for electical conections

[@Sentient6ix]

this is the setup I intend to go for with my old Mirra 540 bike. the original cables have too much slack now, which is weird because the bars are 2 inches wider than the ones it was originally equipped. It's a strange problem that I wasn't anticipating.

[@Brant_Moore]

Isn’t it amazing how the smallest differences can change a brake setup? Really cool to hear you want to use this setup though! Let me know how it all goes man

[@Sentient6ix]

@@Brant_Moore yeah, i'm just going with this setup because availability of shorter upper gyro cables is non-existent in Canada. I used to be an apprentice HD mechanic, so i am pretty confident i can do this setup with ease. I'm going to make that snafu piece out of a piece of 3/8 x 1/4 rectangular keyway and a london mod from the same keyway. it'll be an interesting build.

[@Sentient6ix]

@@Brant_Moore i'm just surprised that the cables have so much slack with wider bars. so strange.

[@Brant_Moore]

Man that sounds awesome, can you send me some pictures on Instagram when you get it all together? Would really love to see it! Keeping just a couple spare inner cables in my bag and hot having to worry at all about cables has kept many many sessions going over the past couple years

[@Sentient6ix]

@@Brant_Moore yeah, for sure. Hmu @ILoveCarsMoreThanPeople

[@jasonargyropoulos2674]

Very helpful! Can you do a little something on Headsets and Headtubes? We can see in your video how your handlebars started to rotate (1:29) freely and I can't get mine to do that without having back-and-forth play. Do you know how to check for ovalized head tubes? or how to check surfaces bearings sit on on the fork/frame? Possible solutions if head tube is ovalized? Proper use of shims? I've also tried pop can shims but haven't had much success.

[@Brant_Moore]

My bars turning during the video was so annoying! haha I've never had issues like you described before. It really does sound like theres something going on, but I dont know how you could check it other than putting your bearings into another frame and seeing if the headset tightens normally. I'm sure you've tried new bearings right? As for a solution to an ovalized head tube, ill have to do some research.

[@jasonargyropoulos2674]

I'm convinced it's the frame as I got it used and I've tried a new headset and a couple used ones as well as a new fork. I cant justify buying a new frame just because my bars don't turn smoothly but I do wonder if there are any other places where frames show their age.

[@Brant_Moore]

It very well could be the frame. That’s unfortunate though if it is. Usually I’ve heard that you really only want to ride hard on a frame for a year though. But at the same time I’ve ridden older frames for several years at a time

[@jasonargyropoulos2674]

Well I'm just a novice so I don't think i'm capable of riding hard enough to have caused the damage but as far as I can tell, it's a Aaron Ross pro model that's baby blue and I think those came out in 2013 so it might just be time. Been looking really hard at the Soundwave but I'm afraid I'll be hesitant to throw it around and hurt it as I try to learn and practice grinds

[@dustinrouse4130]

Does the chain guard affect any of it. Maybe that's what I am missing

[@Brant_Moore]

Shoot, yes. I forgot that part in there. Helps for maximum cable tensile strength.

[@the_viking_whale359]

I've never used a londan mod. What's the advantages of it?

[@Brant_Moore]

You need the london mod to use a dual lower cable. Using a dual lower cable eliminates the straddle cable which makes for a more direct pull and more solid brakes. The straddle cable is a point of flex and sponginess in most setups that have them.

[@jamiebales8394]

Legit.

[@Brant_Moore]

Good to have you back in the comments! Thank you

[@jamiebales8394]

Did you miss me?

[@Brant_Moore]

Of course! Wondered where ya went!

[@jamiebales8394]

I was still watching, lol.

[@anhthonyy]

I just go a new se big flyer and brakes already squeaking, you have any tips to fix it?

[@Brant_Moore]

Squeaking brakes usually means that they’re working. You can try different pads if you don’t like it

[@anhthonyy]

@Brant_Moore I don’t know I’m scared because I just got the bike brand new and it already squeaking

[@Brant_Moore]

That means they’re working.

[@loonylinn8824]

why the rear caliper brakes is installed in the opposite side? What if your bike is going backwards, does it hold?

[@Brant_Moore]

Yes, this is the location of 99% of BMX bike brake mounts these days.

[@loonylinn8824]

@Brant_Moore i tried that before and sorry to tell you it won’t hold compared to the usual place of mounting caliper brakes. big difference. less bite

[@Brant_Moore]

These aren't caliper brakes. They're U-Brakes. Every single BMX manufacture out there today makes mounts on this side, so I don't think they all have it wrong after 50 years of BMX being around. There's a reason no one uses caliper brakes anymore.

[@Invigoratingforce]

@@Brant_Moore then wtf is my bmx cause the back brake holes are face downward

[@grabslide]

V brakes?

[@stephen0stills]

just got a goldfinger XD

[@Brant_Moore]

Thats too rad. I had one of those for about a day until trading it for a dirty harry

[@ostabilast]

theres alot of sharp wire-ends that would scare the shit out of me

[@NGKGMR]

Is it bad to use 2 brakes on a bmx?

[@anoutdoorsman6457]

What? What do you mean "bad"? If you mean unpopular, or not trendy, then maybe. But you're not supposed to set your bike up to look like everyone else's. You're supposed to set your bike up the way you like it, for your riding style. If you're going to not run certain parts that you like, because someone says it's not "cool", then go ride a scooter. They all look the same, you'll fit right in.

[@NGKGMR]

@@anoutdoorsman6457 i run front and back brakes on one of my bikes and many people tell me to remove the front brake because it's useless

[@anoutdoorsman6457]

@@NGKGMR do you use your front brake for tricks and stuff? If the answer is yes, leave it on and tell them to fuck off and mind their own bike. Run your bike to suit your style and fuck everyone else is my point. Sorry if I'm coming across like a dick. I just always see people telling others how they should set their bike up and it drives me nuts. The only person who knows what you need on your bike is you. It never used to matter man. I've never asked anyone else for an opinion on my bike setup.

[@NGKGMR]

@@anoutdoorsman6457 you're right. Thanks. I used it sometimes to endo or fakie. (I have stopped bmx because of school and Coronavirus) but many people were saying that i was cheating on game of bikes because i had a front brake. I have 2 bikes and my main bike doesn't have a front brake but my other one has

[@anoutdoorsman6457]

@@NGKGMR ask them how its cheating to have your bike setup for doing tricks lol. If they feel you have an advantage because of brakes then it just proves they shouldn't be fuckin brakeless lol. So many people taking their brakes off just to look cool, then cant ride their bike worth a shit because they cant stop lol. I've got a bunch of ramps and jumps on my property, any brakeless rider that hits another person in my yard is gone until they put their brakes back on.

[@jakekaim03]

I have nothing but respect for brakes. But this is exactly why I ride brakeless. I just want to be able to ride my bike and not have to worry about all that cable stuff and cleaning and the costs.

[@Brant_Moore]

Odyssey Springfield then man. They’re so simple and you don’t have to worry about any of this

[@jakekaim03]

@@Brant_Moore thanks! I'll check it out.

[@pash55]

What are brakes?