I’ve been searching old brake threads here since I really don’t like the feel of my front brakes. I have to squeeze way too hard in my opinion. Thinking of bleeding fluid and going to braided lines. Any other suggestions?
Wooden Front Brakes
- Thread starter mechahayai
- Start date
What pads are you using? Sintered metallic pads have better feel and last longer. These are good: https://ebcbrakes.com/product/double-h-superbike-pads/
One thing to keep is mind is that aftermarket pads do offer greater stopping power but at the expense of more rapid wear to the disc. There are no free rides in life!
When was the last time you changed the fluid and bled the brakes? I do it every winter because it costs almost nothing in brake fluid and greatly helps "feel" at the brake lever/pedal.
When was the last time you changed the fluid and bled the brakes? I do it every winter because it costs almost nothing in brake fluid and greatly helps "feel" at the brake lever/pedal.
At 100,oookm I still have the original pads fitted front and rear. I have always felt that the brakes are excellent as they are.
Macka
Macka
OP
OP
I’ll start with changing out the fluid. I don’t know when it was changed last.
Last year, I helped a friend change the brake fluid and bleed the system on his '06 ST1300 and I believe it was the original fluid going by the very dark color. He called me about a hour after leaving my place because he was was so impressed that he had brakes again! 
ps. brake performance degrades gradually and most people never realize that what they have is lousy. All they do is look at the plastic window on the reservoir and seeing fluid inside, they figure it's OK.
ps. brake performance degrades gradually and most people never realize that what they have is lousy. All they do is look at the plastic window on the reservoir and seeing fluid inside, they figure it's OK.
My guess is a fluid flush and bleed will help. I have not heard many complaints on the NT front brakes.
I always thought the rear brake was a little weak. I had flushed and bled but no change. I think it had a different "feel" to me because of the link to a front pad and how the bike felt with only the rear brake applied.
Brad
I always thought the rear brake was a little weak. I had flushed and bled but no change. I think it had a different "feel" to me because of the link to a front pad and how the bike felt with only the rear brake applied.
Brad
I am not a fast rider. I use the rear brake on its own most of the time and only use the front for heavy braking or the last few metres at a red light (so I can put my right foot down). I also use the engine to assist slowing down. I have found the rear brake, on its own, to be "adequate" most of the time.
Macka
Macka
I was thinking the same thing, “Linked ABS”. Typically only 1 of the 3 pistons is activated.
As most of the aged riders here know, bikes did have wooden brakes - usually only the rear. I drove a 1916 Douglas with wooden shoe rear brakes once. The shoes braked against a separate wheel. Surprisingly, it stopped ok going at slow speeds. If you wish to jerk your BMW buds, ask them about the first year BMW made bikes. They bought Douglas engines. Following year they modified the engine and liked to claim they were the first.
Your fun fact from wacko election Texas
Your fun fact from wacko election Texas
My red, non-abs 2010 has linked brakes. The center piston on the left front caliper is applied with the rear brakes.
I'm pretty sure that all the NT700s have linked brakes. I know that all the ones sold in the US had them linked, whether ABS or not.
seagrass
0
All the Australian models (2006-2009 and 2010-2012) had linked brakes. Linked the same as the US models, rear brake operates third caliper piston on front left of bike.
Seagrass
Seagrass
OK, I guess my memory failed me to which models had linked brakes in the USA. With old age brain farts become more common. :-(
What I was thinking of was that ABS was only offered on the 2010 silver bikes then the 2011 black bikes but never the red (maroon) ones.
What I was thinking of was that ABS was only offered on the 2010 silver bikes then the 2011 black bikes but never the red (maroon) ones.
DirtFlier, you're right about ABS. It was offered on some 2010 silver bikes, but not all. There were some non-ABS silver bikes as well as the non-ABS red bikes. But all of the NTs had linked brakes, which didn't depend on ABS for their operation.
The ABS bikes have the decal on the front fender that says "Combined ABS," but the combined and ABS just sound fancier than saying only "ABS."