Master cylinders

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templ8
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Master cylinders

Post by templ8 »

Like many vtr owners I'm not happy with my front brakes, they have plenty of power but there's too much lever travel for my liking.
Calipers are working fine, no flex across them even with 2 hands pulling the levers, braided hoses, fresh fluid and rebuilt m/c have made no improvements.
I don't fancy changing the calipers but might try fitting a slightly larger master cylinder, I know this will make the brakes feel more wooden.

Has anyone tried the 15.8mm (5/8") master cylinder from a blade with the standard calipers ?

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Last edited by templ8 on Thu Feb 23, 2017 9:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
mik_str
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by mik_str »

:Beer Popcorn:
Last edited by mik_str on Sat Feb 25, 2017 12:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
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xeris
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by xeris »

Unless there was a difference in MC sizes in different markets, a 954 had a 17.4x mm bore. That MC size with stock calipers would give high effort and poor feel.
Do what mikstr suggested. Can't recall any negatives on that swap.
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Cadbury64
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by Cadbury64 »

My 954 master/calipers are great brakes that I don't think I could beat for feel and power.

If you do put a 15.8mm master with the VTR calipers, you will get the same ratio of master:slave piston area as the 954, so to me it sounds like a very good thing to do if you plan on keeping the VTR calipers.

There's no shortage of possible candidate donor Hondas but I think you'll struggle to find a visual match for the style of the VTR master; all the others would be integrated reservoir and MC.
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MacV2
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by MacV2 »

The Black Storm I bought last year had a Fireblade M/C on it with std callipers...Not 100% sure which year tho.

The vendor told me he had issues with bleeding the brakes so had bought another Storm M/C & still had issues.

So then he bought the Blade M/c & fitted that...cured his bleed issues...The brakes worked ok but the lever action was bloody horible...

Rock hard, no feeling, hardly any movement & the brakes were clamped on tight...Wooden is an apt discription.

I had a set of F4i callipers at home...as you do so fitted them & now brakes feel like brakes should at the lever...
Making up since 2007, sometimes it's true...Honest...
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sirch345
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by sirch345 »

If you've not already read this, there's a lot of good information on what does what when you start changing brakes components:-
http://www.vtr1000.org/phpBB3/viewtopic ... 31&t=15494

Chris.
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templ8
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by templ8 »

Thanks for the replies, currently looking at a complete fireblade setup.

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templ8
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by templ8 »

Quick update, bought a set of 1998 fireblade calipers and the matching master cylinder (5/8" same as the cbr600f4i and retains the storm reservoir and lever)
Rebuilt the lot with new seals, milled the calipers to fit, repainted them gold and bought new venhill hoses.
Fitted them yesterday and they were a complete tw@ to bleed, managed it eventually.

Not had chance to ride it yet, weather is bloody awful here, however the lever feels much much better, short travel before it builds pressure and will not pull back to touch the grips even with 2 hands squeezing it.

Thanks for the advice fellas

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templ8
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by templ8 »

Took the storm for a spin after washing and polishing it.
Massive improvement over stock, glad I took the plunge to upgrade.

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templ8
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by templ8 »

Image
Image

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sirch345
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by sirch345 »

templ8 wrote:Image
Image

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Glad to hear you're pleased with your new brakes :thumbup:
Your red wheels with the polished rims look good :D

Chris.
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templ8
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by templ8 »

Forgot to put the bins in the background, dammit

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MacV2
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by MacV2 »

templ8 wrote:Forgot to put the bins in the background, dammit

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Its Ok we forgive you as you have crap like pushbikes & a hose reel in place & the weeds on the patio...

Next time we need bins tho... :lol:
Making up since 2007, sometimes it's true...Honest...
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nigelrb
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Re: Master cylinders

Post by nigelrb »

sirch345 wrote: Tue Mar 07, 2017 9:28 pm
templ8 wrote: Image
. . . Your red wheels with the polished rims look good :D

Chris.
VERY old thread I know. Was doing searches for polished rims, and your bike pops up again. It really does set the standard for 'pimping'!! :thumbup:
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