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The RKM Pedal's footboard is constructed with the same geometry and is hinged like the great pedals of the 60's and 70's.
Whaaat!?
The lever that holds the beater should be set so that upon impact with the head, the beater shaft is parallel to the bass drum head.
Im out. My beater shaft is never parallel to the head, always forward. Anything parallel, or throne side has gravity working against you and beater. I want most of my effort in the stroke (or as much as I can get) to be applied fwd of the pedal's shaft, going downhill.
This results in the optimum rebound, because unlike most pedals where the beater shaft upon impact is at a forward angle, the shaft does not have to travel in an upward arc in order to rebound from the head.
Brilliant observation, tho that's the springs job, along with help from any head rebound this part of the stroke is easily handled/covered by the spring.
Now if you apply that thinking in the other direction, 'fwd angle' is the same as 'rearward angle' they both have to overcome gravity, c'ept on the rearward/throne side its the drummer who's responsible for the effort, not the spring. Its easier to push downhill so to speak.
Unlike other adjustable devices where the cam is hinged at only one end, the entire arc of the RKM Pedal's drive cam becomes a larger radius as the lever moves outward towards the head. As the lever is moved outwards towards the drumhead, the leverage increases exponentially. The power lever can be adjusted to the point where the cam almost touches the bass drum head, for exceptional power with little effort, or it can be adjusted rearward to give more speed...the possibilities are endless.
Not really fixing anything. With all modern day footboard angle adjustments you also affect leverage, so its not 'independent' by any means other than the beater angle isn't affected at the same time as cam angle.
I've got my leverage where I like it (cam position/angle), I want to change my footboard height, can't do it 'independently' with this and modern day designs.
Independent footboard angle would mean leverage isn't affected- the cam stays in position when the footboard height is adjusted. The only way to achieve this is by lengthening/shorting the connector (chain, strap, direct drive piece). All companies need to do is supply a longer chain, the excess would be contained under the footboard. If you lower the cam while lowering the footboard, its not an independent adjustment, well... that's what everyones calling it anyways, b/c they're using it as a marketing scam, but its not true.
This pedal was designed by a working drummer, who, for decades noted what was wrong with most pedal designs, and was determined to make a better product.
Except footboard angle/height is not independently adjustable from cam position on any pedal...yet*.
Like everyone else, this working drummer/designer dude fails to see there's a difference between cam angle and footboard height. They can be made to go together (as the industry is doing), or they can be separated for truly 'independent' adjustability. if you have a comfortable leverage (cam position), you can't keep it and adjust the footboard independently up, or down.
Now some of you will counter with saying you can drop the chain on a DW 5k independent of cam angle, which is true, but by doing so you change the pull position on the cam. The obvious place to lengthen/shorten a chain to affect foot board height is from the bottom at the footboard. Pull should remain at the same place on the cam.
*The DRUMNETICS magnet driven pedal does (did?) have an adjustable direct drive connector (which I have praised).