gsxr brake upgrades

[750Y]

well i put on some clear coated, stainless steel braided, teflon hoses made by Galfer. the effect on my gsxr is barely noticeable except at higher speed. I noticed the exact same thing on my last gsxr. sure maybe at the track it will reduce fade, but in day to day commuting, I would estimate a less than 20% benefit. the lever feels more solid tho, once you pull them on. Once i get out on some backroads & give it a bit i'll report back my honest findings.
Next the race pads will go on & I'll add to this thread with the result.
I am expecting(from prior experience) that the pads will make more of a difference than the lines, but we'll see.... at the end of the day any braking improvement is worthwhile, particularly if it reduces my stopping distance, it may just save my ass.

[White trash]

$500 for a radial master cylinder upgrade.

That's my first change.

[riffer]

$500 for a radial master cylinder upgrade.

That's my first change.


How do you fit radial mount brakes on a swingarm Jimmy?

You certainly won't be using them on the front will ya.... ;)

[White trash]

a radial master cylinder upgrade.

.


How do you fit radial mount brakes on a swingarm Jimmy?

You certainly won't be using them on the front will ya.... ;)

Read closer sonny!

[vifferman]

The braided lines won't make much of difference, except to improve feel.

I fitted them on the VTR, and they made a significant difference, but that was because the OEM lines were too flexible, and very hard to bleed effectively due to a 'hump' in the line above the front mudguard. When I changed the pads as well, that made another noticeable improvement, partly due to different pad material, and partly due to the pistons being right back in the calipers.

[sedge]

Talk to Kerryg about what he did to his GSXR that had spongy brakes... Fitting a ZXR750 Master cyl sorted out the probs... Haven't heard from him for a while tho so he's probably on holiday.

Sedge.

[750Y]

$500 for a radial master cylinder upgrade.

That's my first change.
can pick em up for around $200USD on ebay new with brakelight switch. that's 19x18 Brembo. that is my next move once i get some spare cash...

I'm purposely doing it in stages so I can gauge the effectiveness of each change so I know for next time.

[White trash]

can pick em up for around $200USD on ebay new with brakelight switch. that's 19x18 Brembo. that is my next move once i get some spare cash...

I'm purposely doing it in stages so I can gauge the effectiveness of each change so I know for next time.

There shouldn't be a next time from now. All new sports bikes will have radial this and that next year. If Triumph and Buell fit braided lines to all new models, why the hell can't the Japs.

[750Y]

...If Triumph and Buell fit braided lines to all new models, why the hell can't the Japs.

that would reduce their burgeoning replacement parts market

[Kickaha]

$500 for a radial master cylinder upgrade.

That's my first change.


Why is the radial master cylinder more effective than a standard one the same bore diameter?

[sedge]

It allows the lever to work the cylinder directly... Jeez I dunno... It's a fashion thing... If you want really good brakes fit a longer lever :)

$500 is a bit steep, ZXR ones are about $150

Sedge.

[Coldkiwi]

I'm interested in your progress Dave. I popped those EBC HH pads in last service and I still don't have the initial bite back that I got when the bike was brand new (only lasted for a few weeks too).
Silly suzuki's!

[750Y]

I'm interested in your progress Dave. I popped those EBC HH pads in last service and I still don't have the initial bite back that I got when the bike was brand new (only lasted for a few weeks too).
Silly suzuki's!

I can now report that the braided lines feel more solid and give more confidence. The ebc HH 'kit pads'(which are different than the std. EBC HH pads) will go on soon(now I am happy with the effect the lines have had).

CK: FYI. I ran standard EBC HH on the 750 and they were better than the stockers ESPECIALLY with initial bite. You should DEFINITELY notice an improvement. I went over the handlebars they were that good(& i wasn't).
maybe the 02 600 had a better stock pad compound than the 00 750, but to me something sounds not right eg brakes bled properly, discs clean(no greasy film etc), pads bedded in 'properly'(not glazed or anything)?

[Sensei]

You should try Ferado brake pad .They are excellent, had them in my GSXR1100 . Also try "Braking " pad's is another www.braking.com These where great to
SENSEI

[DEATH_INC.]

I've put 'hh'pads in my 750 (6 pot calipers)......initially they felt real strong,but seem to have lost their edge rather quickly,at least when cold,they seem to take a lot longer to heat up now and cool a lot quicker than you want for the road.Though once up to temp do stop excellently.....
I put braided lines on mine too,much firmer/better feel from the lever,but it almost seems to make the brake feel weaker,but only because you loose the spongyness and can actually feel the amount of pressure being applied.

[gsxr750]

fitted H E L brake lines, found they needed a second bleeding after a couple hundred K's. but now feel heaps better and i'm stopping faster than on the stock lines. This has been with the same pads, will soon swap the pads for Vesrah "sintered metal" pads been told these are good. let you know how they work out. Have tryed Ferado pads on a previos bike and found them great. hope to get the same out of these Vesrah.
Nick

[750Y]

yeah, i tried ferodo pads in the past and they were good.
I fitted the ebc's lastnight and am in the process of running them in, takes 400 kms in the instructions so will bleed lines again after that. hopefully they will make a nice improvement.

[Cajun]

Hey 750

Do you Galfer brake lines have any writing don the other sleve, i am trying to get hold of a set which i know i can get wofs here with.

[750Y]

they don't say anything on the sleeve about standards etc except that the galfer web site states the lines adhere to a bunch of standards. i'll just try my luck. i might have to find a sympathetic wof guy who knows the difference between safety & beauracracy. anyone know one PM me the details, i'm not gonna reduce my safety margin for any idiot. if it fails i'll simply take them off, put the old ones back on & get the recheck, then swap again after. only takes like 15mins. at the price i paid i'm happy to do this. no doubt someone anal will spout off about this but idgaf.

[Two Smoker]

You should try Ferado brake pad .They are excellent, had them in my GSXR1100 . Also try "Braking " pad's is another www.braking.com (http://www.braking.com/) These where great to
SENSEI

Not a big fan of Ferodo's... on the road i found the Platinums good, but on the track they tend to fade.... Much prefer SBS (havnt tried EBC yet)

Just about to fit braided lines to my ZXR400.... On the RG i did seals, pads and lines all at the same time, HUGE difference... I find that Braided lines work far better once the brakes are hot, you still get similar lever travel where rubber lines get very spongy.....

I think im just rambling :wacko: .....

[BurnCycle]

$500 for a radial master cylinder upgrade.

That's my first change.

US$60 of eBay...
http://www.mariposaderojo.com/Pics/TLS/Stuff/GSXRMC5.jpg

The 04 GSXR600 and 750 came with the radial MC the 04 1k still had a standard MC (in '05 it gets it though). The piston size on the radial Nissan MC is 19.05mm (3/4" labeled on the MC). For comparison the MC for 4-piston calipers is 14mm and 16mm (5/8" labeled) for 6-piston set ups.

Due to a change in thread pitch and banjo size I'm having to source a new double banjo and haven't completed the set up yet.

When done my TL will have ZX12R calipers, Goodridge Kevlar lines and GSXR radial MC. I’m currently using the 5/8 MC from a TLR.

[inlinefour]

Would have to be getting rid of the Suzuki and getting the Fireblade :yes:

OK, I'm a little biased :rockon:

[750Y]

US$60 of eBay......
The 04 GSXR600 and 750 came with the radial MC the 04 1k still had a standard MC (in '05 it gets it though). The piston size on the radial Nissan MC is 19.05mm (3/4" labeled on the MC). For comparison the MC for 4-piston calipers is 14mm and 16mm (5/8" labeled) for 6-piston set ups.

When done my TL will have ZX12R calipers, Goodridge Kevlar lines and GSXR radial MC. I’m currently using the 5/8 MC from a TLR.

that MC you got in the pic was that 04 600/750? that seems like good value. i was going to get a 19mm MC(19x18 to be precise even though the 16x18 is recommended for street use.

[BurnCycle]

that MC you got in the pic was that 04 600/750? that seems like good value. i was going to get a 19mm MC(19x18 to be precise even though the 16x18 is recommended for street use.

Yes. Sorry I didn't clarify that.

Test fitting it...
http://www.mariposaderojo.com/Pics/TLS/Stuff/RMC1.jpg

[750Y]

cheers, let us know how it shapes up.

[750Y]

well i bedded my pads in via the manufacturers recommendations(400kms stop start, slow riding). all in all not a huge improvement in outright performance over stock. I have yet to put them to the heat test. one thing tho is that the feel has improved a fair bit & i can really feel whats happening down there now and can gauge where the lockup point is better.

[vifferman]

well i bedded my pads in via the manufacturers recommendations(400kms stop start, slow riding). all in all not a huge improvement in outright performance over stock. I have yet to put them to the heat test. one thing tho is that the feel has improved a fair bit & i can really feel whats happening down there now and can gauge where the lockup point is better.
So what sort of pads did you get in the end?

Interestingly, I read an article (interview) with Yamaha Europe's tester, and he said the best way to bed pads in was repetitive stops from 100km/h, harder each time, with cool down in-between.

I've put 'hh'pads in my 750 (6 pot calipers)......initially they felt real strong,but seem to have lost their edge rather quickly,at least when cold,they seem to take a lot longer to heat up now and cool a lot quicker than you want for the road.Though once up to temp do stop excellently.....
Although I haven't tried HH pads, what I've heard about them is they work best when hot, but otherwise have less initial bite than other pads. Most forums I've been on have rated them best overall pads.

I put braided lines on mine too,much firmer/better feel from the lever,but it almost seems to make the brake feel weaker,but only because you loose the spongyness and can actually feel the amount of pressure being applied.
Yeah, I'd agree with that. You get far better feel with the braided lines, but the sponginess of the lever with the rubber lines makes it feel like you're not braking as hard.

[bugjuice]

and no one mentioned how sexy braided lines look alone..
I'm thinking about getting some on mine actually, but they're a small fortune, aren't they? Have you done all the lines?

[750Y]

i put in hh kit pads(supersport compound). & did the front lines. i like to keep the rear rubber ones as they are good for trailbraking especially in the wet.
i'm sure the brake upgrade will come into it's own on the track or on fast twisty rides as I had noticed a bit of fade under those conditions with the stock gear.