Anyone used a coaster brake?

Thinking of building up my old frame (originally a MTB frame) with just a rear coaster brake, I have a spare 26" front wheel, so thinking of building up a rear hoop with coaster brake, 26" again and put some tubby dirtjumping type rubber on them (something with a small block pattern, not too knobbly and about 2" wide DMR moto or similar). Has anyone used a coaster brake and care to comment? I'm only looking at building a basic bike to nip down to the shops on, no epic rides or serious down hill stuff, I want something I can ride in any old shoes though, no messing around with straps or SPDs etc.

I used an old one in Germany once where they seem more common. Was OK for a ride-to-the-pub bike, but I wouldn't want to do a long commute on one every day.

I've got on on my amsterdam bike. It works really well and must be ancient. I don't mess about with skids or anything, and it took a bit of getting used to with setting your feet but yeah t's okay.

(front end is all new now)

grew up near an american air force base in oxfordshire so there was loads in our town. great for skids when we were kids. would think they would be pretty decent for a pub bike

^ I agree.
I had an old postie bike in Oz, with a coaster and it was mint.
Perfect as pub bike.

Yeah, I'm basically building a pub bike I guess, sounds like a plan then :)

Couriered on one for a year. It was ok, better off fixed.

Just for the shops, should be sweet.

You get this sloppy spot between the drive and the brake. Sometimes it feels like when a crank is about to fall off.

I have a fixed bike I commute on, a decent hardtail MTB but want a simple shop/hack/pub bike from my old fixed frame that I can just jump on in any footwear without messing with clips/straps etc. Its literally to just nip down to the pub or local shop not any serious riding.

I'd say go for it. Coaster brakes are loads of fun.

used one for commuting on my old bmx (skyway) for a few years, just a bit sketchy jumping got to remember not to pedal back on landing......

Got one on my cruiser and its fine. Nice if you're not doing strenuous rides. Not sure about maintaining it though?

this has a coaster brake its fun...lots of fun

Anyone actually have any actual long term experience with putting a coaster brake on a MTB (for moderate use)? What the most durable (and usable, but durable first) coaster brake?

Shimano vs S-A, I guess.

I think @m_v has a coaster braked MTB?

Yeah I have 3 coasters.

2 Shimano cb e110 and a Velosteel.

The Velosteel is pretty horrible but the Shimano ones are great.

I have one on a mtb and one on a Genesis Flyer.

The one on my mtb I bought brand new, the other, used.

The used one is more troublesome in terms of adjustment, servicing etc.

They are not fit and forget items. Be prepared to get well acquainted with the internals and how it all works and also, start buying grease in bulk. Cones need a tweak every other ride (the used one needs this more than the new one).

Power, in my experience, there is no more powerful a brake.

There are mods you can do to the brake shoes to increase power and decrease fade but I’ve never felt it necessary.

One mod you almost certainly will need to do if you’re putting it on mtb is to fit a longer axle.

This is dead easy on a Shimano hub as the axle is just a standard threaded bar. Geared coaster hubs and (I think) some singlespeed ones have proprietary axles. Get a decent axle. Factor in about £15 or so for this. Fitting it will introduce you to the inside of the hub so it’s no bad thing that you have to do it.

And you get to cook bacon on them while riding, DBAD plus point perhaps :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NWtjczKi5k

Sadly, as much as I'd like to say a Mone heatsink was a neccesry purchase, in my experience we don't have the weather or terrain to warrant it.

Heading to the trails tomorrow on coaster only for the first time. Wish me luck.

M_V ride video (ok thats a lie, it's not actually M_V :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-alBdN41p9U

So which Shimano hub specifically?

Durrr
.....cb e110

Missed that.

I didn't die. Woo!

@bright yeah cb e110. There was someone selling them on ebay for £16 shipped. I grabbed one just incase I need spares ever.

I'll see if I can find the seller...

@bright, here you go,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHIMANO-COASTER-HUB-BACK-PEDAL-BRAKE-SYSTEM-SUIT-BMX-OR-CARRIER-BIKE-36-H-NOS/273055425825?hash=item3f935f2521:g:qUAAAOSwQiRUqStd

Just bear in mind, that comes without a cog or the snap ring or a chainstay clip or most importantly perhaps, nuts. The ones in your spares box or kicking about your garage etc will most likely not fit as the axle thread is 3/8 x 24tpi.