RIDEFAST AUG 21

DON’T ‘BRAKE’ A SWEAT
Increasing the number of pistons increases the swept piston
area, allowing for longer, narrower brake pads and smaller discs.
Caliper mounting …
Axially mounted caliper
Front fork leg mounted brake calipers, also called axially
mounted. Early disc brake calipers were in front of the fork leg
on top of the disc. This placed the caliper in an area of high air
flow for better cooling.
Calipers on most modern motorcycles are now mounted to the
rear of the fork leg.
This reduces the angular momentum of the fork assembly and
improves low speed handling.
Radial mounted calipers:
A radial brake caliper is mounted parallel to the forward direction
on the braking system, making them more rigid than the
traditional axial mount, and not prone to torsional flexing. The
lack of slight lateral movement allows more precise braking and
crisper feeling brakes.
Inboard brakes
Honda tried an inboard brake design on a few models such as
the VF400F and CBX550F, but reverted to the standard layout.
The intent was to improve wet weather performance and have
a cleaner appearance. The front brake assembly with vented
discs was enclosed in a vented aluminium hub and the caliper
was mounted onto the hub and gripped the disc from the
outside. This kept the brake assembly dry and allowed the use
of cast iron ventilated discs because the shrouding covered any
unsightly surface rust on the disc. The system would prove to be
short lived with all successive models reverting to the standard
uncovered layout.
Perimeter brakes
Buell Motorcycle Company adopted a rim-mounted disc brake
that was said to reduce unsprung weight in the wheel-brake
system, allowing lighter wheel spokes. This style is generically
termed a “perimeter brake” for its point of attachment to
the wheel, and had been used in smaller numbers by other
manufacturers before Buell.
Single piston Caliper
Double piston Caliper
Rubber vs Steel braided brake lines …
Most stock bikes come with rubber brake lines – and there is
nothing inherently wrong with them – or else the manufacturer
would not fit them. But over time, albeit a long time, they do
degrade and break down. Also, they are rubber so they flex and
expand a bit. Especially when things heat up.
Visually you can sometimes see when they start to wear; you’ll
notice little cracks on the exterior. When you flush or change
your brake fluid (Yup you need to do that sometimes…)
The fluid, instead of being translucent goes dark and looks
almost muddy. That’s the rubber breaking down. Whilst they
should not explode, on older bikes little bits have been known to
come adrift inside and clog the works.
Braided or steel brake lines:
Aside from looking mighty trick (you can even choose a colour),
the general consensus is that braided brake lines are a better
option because they generally last a lifetime. They do not flex
or expand which means better brake feel. The lines are stronger
– particularly for off-road use when you donner into rocks and
stuff.
Replacement braided hoses are pretty common and not too
pricey – just chat to your dealer.