xs weak front brakes but good flow?

[cywelchjr]

Are you maybe expecting it to act like a modern bike? These brakes are a bit hard to pull. They will come right to the edge of skidding the front tire on clean dry pavement, but it takes the whole hand and some pretty good pressure to get there. Braided stainless lines will help, as part of it is the lines swelling slightly, but the pads you have on there will make a difference as well. I find that organic pads give the best stopping power, and sintered copper give the least, with organic lasting the shortest time and sintered lasting the longest. I have not been able to find any ceramic ones, but I hear they are supposed to be kinda the best of both worlds. I found that with sintered pads, I had to squeeze a LOT harder, and if the organics are glazed, or even have EVER had a hint of oil on them you will never get good stopping power.

That said, in my experience these brakes have a stiff lever under the best of conditions.