Brake pads

[oldbikeman]

Hello
My brakes are standard and in good order but poor in use,there is little in feel or bite.Any help on replacement pads .
THANKSfrom.Paul

[vtwin]

Hi, IMO opinion the standard brakes are poor on the VTR, as you say they do work but poor feel.

I had to get new discs for mine as one was warped and I also got EBC pads all round, the brakes are much improved but still not as good as I would expect. There is loads you can do to improve, brake lines callipers ETC, but I would try some new pads first.

[AMCQ46]

Same comments as above, the std brakes are poor. 1st step would be to strip and clean the calipers, removing all the seals and cleaning the grooves out. [there is a good "how to" in last months PB mag].........also do the master cyl if you can. then refit with EBC HH pads.

But if you are going to all that trouble the best modification is to get calipers and master cylinder off an early CBR600 [before it went RR], these are same spec as fitted to the early Blades, and have more piston area, used with the new MC you also get improved leverage ratio.

I did the modification and at long last I am happy with the feel and the power, but if yours are realy crap, just a good clean up and new hoses & pads may bring improvement [the hoses can be reused if you do the caliper conversion, but the pads are not the same].

Link to thread
http://www.haymouth.co.uk/phpBB3/viewto ... er#p123094

[oldbikeman]

HI
Brakes in good order so no faults just useless .I had a first model Blade from new and they looked pretty much the same as what's fitted here ,are they different?
THANKfrom.Paul

[AMCQ46]

yes they are different, but only if you look at the details. if you look in the link I sent you will see in the table that the piston size is up from 30/27 to 34/32 and the leverage ratio with the correct MC is up from 33 to 35.

Also if you remember your blade, it had 2 pins mounting the pads, the Storm only has 1 ...the blade pads are longer as the pistons are bigger.

I wont rewrite all my views and maths data, its in the link, as is a good comparison that PB did on their old GSXR1000 when the tried new calipers and then a bigger MC [ie they made the leverage ratio worse, not better].

Trust me, it is a good mod, and with a bit of searching, you can get most of what you want off e-bay for about £80........but you need to fix the forks before getting better brakes or you risk the wheel locking up when they bottom out!

[Stratman]

IMHO don't think you need to go to all the trouble of changing calipers. Would suggest a change to braided lines, fresh fluid and sintered front pads. I did this (with new discs as the originals were slightly warped) and I find the braking perfectly adequate. Beefing up the front forks to avoid dive also helps of course and improves the handling no end too, so you might find you need the front brakes less anyway

[AMCQ46]

Stratman,
I did same as you [without the new discs] and a full clean and seal service, and they were better, but every time I rode someone eles bike I realised how crap my brakes still were.

Now I have the same braking performance as newer bikes, even though I know I have lost some over all power by fitting wave discs [had to fit new disc as the extra power of the new set up highlited a bad judder from disc runout(still in spec) ].

Maybe the new discs would have helped the standard set up, but still would not be as goo as using the CBR600F brakes

[tony.mon]

For the rear I can recommend a cheap wavy ebay disc (you can get one cheap from the uk now) and a set of Kyoto GG pads.

Everyone who rode it at Op Storm liked it, and it's not properly bedded in yet, 'cause I fitted them in the car park behind the pub on the Saturday morning.

[oldbikeman]

I usually ride Kawasaki s and after a damp night the disc rust but grip real well but my Storm disc stay shiny and don't.Maybe Kawasaki disc have a higher iron count.The standard pads just don't work with the standard disc.I think I will have to get new disc and pads but not sure which brand.

[gilson]

I have a couple of Ferodo XRAC pads for the standard calipers, brand new and in their packet. They cost me almost 90GBP. They are great pads. IMHO. Of course, the pad is what gives you the stopping power, the MC gives you the feel.

If you want them, offer me half of the best price you can find them for and I'll post themto you.

Otherwise it's ebay...

[oldbikeman]

I,ve got a pair of 2000 Blade stoppers from a smashed bike,£40.Shame forks are ruined.Guy had no insurance,what a nob.