Brake upgrade - Brembo radials perhaps?

[Kye]

I've done a search on here for brake upgrades and I've only really found the usual braided lines / pads / Dot 4-5.5 / etc information. Or, those really expensive English Billet calipers. Beautiful, but so expensive.

The relatively recent arrival of OEM Brembo calipers on Suzuki GSXRs (and therefore their availability on eBay) and the below picture I found of a radial caliper conversion on a Harley has me wondering if if would be a possible upgrade for a FatLady?

Personally, I couldn't put those Yamaha calipers on my Valk though. It just wouldn't be right. You could use calipers of a CBR1000RR (at least they'd be off another Honda) but when Brembos are readily available, why would you use anything else?

Not sure about a suitable master cylinder. Maybe off a Honda VTX1800, I think they have a linked brake system which makes me think the piston in the MC would be bigger since it needs to move more fluid? Just thinking out aloud here, but I think I've been inspired to give it a go... once funds permit.

[valkyriemc]

Brembo makes good stuff. Your thinking the current master cylinder would not have the capacity to handle the replacement duals on the front?

[Kye]

Because Valkyrie calipers only have two pistons per caliper. And the Brembos have 4 pistons per caliper. Assuming the pistons are (approximately) the same size, then my logic says you'd need a master cylinder with a larger diameter piston to displace an appropriate volume of brake fluid.

[sandy]

Brembo no longer makes calipers for a Valk. The braided SS lines and OEM pads are the best way to run the brakes. I switched to GL1800 rotors when mine wore out. Have always been happy with the brakes.

[Pappy!]

Have the BMW/Brembos on the R1150R. Those brakes take almost no effort at all to actuate. Love them.

[John Schmidt]

Because Valkyrie calipers only have two pistons per caliper. And the Brembos have 4 pistons per caliper. Assuming the pistons are (approximately) the same size, then my logic says you'd need a master cylinder with a larger diameter piston to displace an appropriate volume of brake fluid.

Usually the four piston units like that have nearly the same overall area(they're often slightly smaller) as the larger two piston unit. Check that before deciding you need a larger capacity master cylinder. Just compute the area of a single piston and multiply by the # of pistons in the caliper. Then compare the proposed new ones to the OEM.

You do remember the formula for determining the area of a circle....right?   

[BobB]

I plan to replace my brake lines this winter with SS, but would not dream of replacing the OEM calipers.  I have panic stopped on the Phat Girl to the point of pulling my butt out of the saddle without any right hand effort.  I usually only operate the front brake with two fingers.

That said, going to a four caliper per disk setup would not require any change in the master cylinder.  There is absolutely no volume difference in the brake system as the brakes are applied.  The pads ride 1 or 2 thousands of an inch off the disks.  It all about pressure. 

[98valk]

after all of these yrs since '97 the valkyrie is still in the top 3 of shortest braking distances of all street m/c, 60-0 mph 107.4'. This is from motorcycle consumer news yrs of testing.
braided lines, maybe ferodo pads might be slightly better than OEM. I use thicker Vesrah which provides pads to most OEMs.
u'll spend a lot of money for very little improvement over stock.

[Kye]

Thanks for your feedback,  . To be honest, it's for the bling factor almost as much as outright performance. I know the Valk stops very well... as a side note, back in the day I had a 89 CBR1000F which had the same old-skool sliding pin calipers and they would fade very quickly with brisk riding two-up. Somehow, Valk's stop much better (even after extended spirited riding) with the same calipers, even though they weigh substantially more than a CBR.

What I love about the Valk is its timeless lines combined with modern touches. For instance it took the other makers years to come out with a power cruiser that had decent brakes and USD forks. But something that looks very dated to me these days is the front brake system. After owning a GSXR and a late model Fireblade both with with radial calipers, I like the idea of the additional feel that a set of better calipers with four floating pistons may offer - IF... they're mated to an appropriate master cylinder.

As far as outright cost goes, maybe $500 for the pair of calipers, $100 for a set of braided lines and $10 for a bottle of fluid. I would design the bracket adapter myself and my mate with a CNC mill will machine it for me from billet aluminium (or aluminum as you state side guys call it). And if you guys are right about the master cylinder, then the standard one may just do. Otherwise add another, what, $3-400?

Given that it took me 17 years to get my dream Valk (97 Tourer), and that I will never ever sell her, I am happy to spend a few dollars to keep her fresh and up to date.

[bentwrench]

I was eyeballin a mean streak the other day,same calipers as the vtx with out the extra hole for the linked system.Not a brembo,but could be a decent upgrade.mounts look very close to vtx/valk forks.could be a cheap upgrade using used parts.Think I'll throw a tape measure in saddle bag for my next encounter.