Any suggestions for upgrading my brakes please?

[ProdigalGS]

Not reading the road ahead, and late heavy braking

Its the rider that needs changing, not the brakes

It's people like you that make me reluctant to post more often on this site. We have never met (and I really hope we never do) but you feel qualified to criticise my riding when I post a polite request asking for technical advice. Over 13,000 posts...maybe you should stop and think before you insult someone you have never met.

Don't ever reply to one of my posts again.

 

[boatman]

Just a couple of thoughts on this ,,,, I would have to say that I have never found the brakes “ wanting “ on any of my GS variants over the years .
If you have the skill set ,, as others have said strip out calipers and reseal it is amazing how much crud builds up in the seal seats and causes a significant part of the breaking effort to be used just to move the pistons when the seals are pushed out hard onto them . And the pins also friction up when they are dirty / sheen of corrosion .
I believe there are companies that offer this service if it’s not your thing .
Also - over the years I have found the EBC HH sintered pads to be very effective at improving braking effort without excessive disc wear .

 

[ProdigalGS]

Do no take this as a gratuitous dig at you but:

We (riders) are the problem/limit on the bike in 99% of the cases.

I'd look at my own riding (especially when we talk about road riding) before doing any heavy modification to the bike.
As suggested: clean the calipers, service the brakes, check everything is in working order. But I severely doubt the brakes (power of the system) of the GS are the issue here.

There's nothing wrong with the power, the brakes work, but the increase in lever pressure required to stop faster (so to speak) seems excessive. Maybe they have slowly degraded over time without me noticing.

And please, no more advice on how to ride a motorcycle.

 

[ProdigalGS]

Just a couple of thoughts on this ,,,, I would have to say that I have never found the brakes “ wanting “ on any of my GS variants over the years .
If you have the skill set ,, as others have said strip out calipers and reseal it is amazing how much crud builds up in the seal seats and causes a significant part of the breaking effort to be used just to move the pistons when the seals are pushed out hard onto them . And the pins also friction up when they are dirty / sheen of corrosion .
I believe there are companies that offer this service if it’s not your thing .
Also - over the years I have found the EBC HH sintered pads to be very effective at improving braking effort without excessive disc wear .

Thanks boatman, that's exactly what I'm going to try.

 

[er-minio]

And please, no more advice on how to ride a motorcycle.

I didn't give any.


Check calipers, levers and all in between. Problem is there, not in discs size.

 

[EKIMYRF]

And please, no more advice on how to ride a motorcycle.

I didnt see that as criticising, to get the most out of this site you need a thick skin a lot of the guys on here are (ex) Police bikers and give good advice even if it is a bit blunt at times
Also listen to Theoneondonly (Baldric) he is one of the best independents in the country

 

[ProdigalGS]

I didn't give any.


Check calipers, levers and all in between. Problem is there, not in discs size.

You didn't give any riding advice? Let me quote what you said:

"We (riders) are the problem/limit on the bike in 99% of the cases.

I'd look at my own riding (especially when we talk about road riding) before doing any heavy modification to the bike."

In other words you think there is a 99% chance it's down to my riding. You know nothing about my riding or my bike but you feel happy to tell me there's a 99% chance it's all my fault?

If I wanted smug, useless and offensive 'advice' I would have called the post "Smug, useless and offensive advice requested please".

Thank you to the people who did give constructive advice and suggestions.

To the minority who decided to have a go at me, then maybe you should look in the mirror and ask yourself why exactly did you decide to annoy a complete stranger who was politely asking for advice? Did it make you feel good? Or do you just like being offensive?

 

[ProdigalGS]

go back and read what i wrote .
if you have worn out the discs in 20k miles , what are you doing something wrong .

....and another anonymous member who is criticising my riding.

Go back and read what I wrote. The discs are down to 4.2mm, so they are about 60% worn. That means (and you may find the maths challenging) that they should last to 30-35k before reaching the wear limit. Probably longer as I ride less in town these days.

I sincerely hope you are indeed the 'one and only' and that we never cross paths again.

 

[theoneandonly]

even wearing the discs out at 35k , i would still be asking ... how do you manage that ?

i have found the settings menu on my boots , and set them to "quake "

i have the impression , you are a bit of a wanker , you ask for help but don't like the help you are given ( for free )
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" I sincerely hope you are indeed the 'one and only' and that we never cross paths again."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^this could happen .. BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO LEAVE HERE ^^^^^
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go back up the page , i'm not anonymous .
but you may need the help of an adult .
i fear you may be a bit of a thicky

i will await a phone call from you . ( ps , private number calls don't get answered. )

 

[theoneandonly]

It's people like you that make me reluctant to post more often on this site. We have never met (and I really hope we never do) but you feel qualified to criticise my riding when I post a polite request asking for technical advice. Over 13,000 posts...maybe you should stop and think before you insult someone you have never met.

Don't ever reply to one of my posts again.

having re-read the thread , you might be better off asking the janitor for you money back .
you would be the 2nd person to do this , in all the time i have been here .
you are obviously not a happy person .
before you leave , you might want to go and have a long weekend with Att in Portugal , he will help you , no end .
i think you would benefit from some time spent with him.

 

[er-minio]

In other words you think there is a 99% chance it's down to my riding. You know nothing about my riding or my bike but you feel happy to tell me there's a 99% chance it's all my fault?

If I wanted smug, useless and offensive 'advice' I would have called the post "Smug, useless and offensive advice requested please".

You are conveniently omitting the first sentence I posted:
"Do no take this as a gratuitous dig at you but:"


Everyone in this post is giving you advice. Where to look on the bike, and best ways to approach a problem like this, where (HINT) immediately jumping to the conclusion that the bike needs bigger/updated brakes is an error. So the troubleshooting could take a different path.


Good luck asking advice, anywhere, with this attitude. And good luck with sorting out your bike.

 

[Steptoe]

Jesus Christ, I’d best keep out of this one

But it is very entertaining to read .. perhaps move it to the pub for a bigger audience..

 

[EKIMYRF]

Jesus Christ, I’d best keep out of this one

But it is very entertaining to read .. perhaps move it to the pub for a bigger audience..

Naaah gwaan I want him to call you an “anonymous member”

 

[Barnoe]

The bike ran perfectly but the brakes require a big squeeze when you want to stop in a hurry.

I've rode 3 GS's and the brakes have been great on all of them.
The squeeze you mention isn't something I've noticed and i pull the brake lever with 2 fingers mostly.

if i grab a fist of brake hard i can hear the ABS kick in as i stop.... only done this to test with nothing else on the A road i was on.

in fact the stopping power of a GS even fully loaded is superb, the combined front/back braking is good at bringing the bike to a stop quickly and safely.
I would get someone to check the brakes as there must be something wrong with them, they should be good.

It might be something so simple and hopefully inexpensive.

 

[Steptoe]

Naaah gwaan I want him to call you an “anonymous member”

It goes without saying that I’m a “member”

 

[GTMorgan]

I don't think the 1250GS brakes are all that good, yeah they'll stop you but, they can definitely be improved upon, just depends on how far you want to go and how deep your pockets are.
320mm discs would be an easy conversion, you could add Stylema calipers and Brembo RCS master cylinder, which would probably stand it on its nose!

 

[Larry Langford]

....and another anonymous member who is criticising my riding.

Go back and read what I wrote. The discs are down to 4.2mm, so they are about 60% worn. That means (and you may find the maths challenging) that they should last to 30-35k before reaching the wear limit. Probably longer as I ride less in town these days.

I sincerely hope you are indeed the 'one and only' and that we never cross paths again.

I seen on big rock moto's channel that he thought the brakes on his 1300 gs were kind of weak ... so he went to a more aggressive pad. But when he test rode the 1300RS he loved the brakes on that. And he brought up the 1300 gs brakes again, and the fact that he change to a different pad to get better grab with the gs ....
I'm also kind of wondering if when the rotors are scored and quite a bit thinner ..... then the calipers don't have as much leverage as they did when new. Just a theory, new rotors and pads upgraded should help a lot ...... personally this is not an area to demonstrate thrift imo .... if it ain't stoppen change it out without guilt ....
I have a 2019 GS and it has brembo calipers so it may have been changed out from bmw calipers that didn't work out. I also have a 22 RS and I don't see any difference in them they both stop right now ... good luck with that ...

 

[dean0n0]

then the calipers don't have as much leverage as they did when new. Just a theory

The calipers have no leverage, they contain the pistons, which move linearly.

 

[Larry Langford]

The calipers have no leverage, they contain the pistons, which move linearly.

yes I agree but when the rotors and pads are very thin then the pistons are very extended, and simply may not have the power they would if everything was new ... all I'm saying ...

 

[siddo]

yes I agree but when the rotors and pads are very thin then the pistons are very extended, and simply may not have the power they would if everything was new ... all I'm saying ...

They'll have the same pressure behind them!