Brake Caliper Covers - are they needed?

[J.R.]

With all the fiddly bits exposed on the brake calipers they look to me like they are crying out for a cover. I know there are versions available (a la Nippy Normans) but apart from the unfinished appearance of those bits, is there a reason why they haven't been covered? I can't understand why you would want to leave that area exposed to all the crap that is likely to get in there?

Anyone?

 

[cookie]

how would putting a cover, on top presumably, i've not seen one, stop crap getting in? a brake caliper by it's very nature has to be open so the disc can get between the pads. maybe little brushes around the bottom, draught excluder maybe?

more shite no one needs, that does nothing.

 

[J.R.]

So positive and with very little attitude. Thanks for that

 

[Timolgra]

So positive and with very little attitude. Thanks for that

I think it was fair comment since a cover would encouraged road dirt etc. to be lodged in there, regular visual checks would be more difficult etc. so the only 'advantage' I could see for some ...is aesthetics

 

[Steptoe]

So positive and with very little attitude. Thanks for that

But a perfectly correct answer.

 

[J.R.]

Cookie, I'm not sure your draught excluder idea will fly
Steptoe, I don't see how you can judge that Cookie was 'perfectly correct'

My own confusion arose from owning the K1600, which was hardly designed to go wheel hub deep in shit, and has a plate covering the calipers, whereas on my now spangly new GSA the calipers are exposed, and this bike IS designed to be submersible (almost). Surely the GSA is more likely to get fouled up?

Anyhow, it is what it is, and it would seem illogical, Captain.

 

[cookie]

Cookie, I'm not sure your draught excluder idea will fly

it'll fly off

on a slightly more serious note...isn't the crap you're so worried about entering the caliper going to mostly be flung off the disc? if that is correct, then a cover on the top might prevent it getting out?

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Well, I've looked at both your pictures, and I see no covers? I see retaining springs, two different designs of, but, no covers?

Andres

 

[Wapping]

Where is the plate that covers / protects the calipers on the K1600?

Mine must have fallen off (or been forgotten) on the production line.

 

[J.R.]

The lower picture appears to 'cover' the 'bits' more efficiently. That may well be a 'retaining spring', I wouldn't know, but doesn't that have the effect of giving more coverage to the inner workings?

Clearly not an issue for you (and now me) GS riders, so I'm cool with that, it just seemed rather perverse to my uninitiated mind to have less 'cover' in this area on the GS.

 

[J.R.]

The lower picture appears to 'cover' the 'bits' more efficiently. That may well be a 'retaining spring', I wouldn't know, but doesn't that have the effect of giving more coverage to the inner workings?

Clearly not an issue for you (and now me) GS riders, so I'm cool with that, it just seemed rather perverse to my uninitiated mind to have less 'cover' in this area on the GS.

 

[J.R.]

Don't know why I'm stuttering......

 

[Wapping]

It's infectious. You appear to have caught it from me.

But I have cured myself, like the King did.

 

[Packer]

What you termed a cover does indeed seem to be the anti-rattle spring on the K bike. It will have been made bigger for aesthetic reasons, to tidy up the appearance of the caliper. As you want as much airflow around the pads as possible to remove heat generated under braking a cover per se would not be a good idea.

 

[J.R.]

Thanks Packer, that makes sense. I'll consider myself informed

 

[J.R.]

To satiate the clamourous demand

how would putting a cover, on top presumably, i've not seen one, stop crap getting in? a brake caliper by it's very nature has to be open so the disc can get between the pads. maybe little brushes around the bottom, draught excluder maybe?

more shite no one needs, that does nothing.

What you termed a cover does indeed seem to be the anti-rattle spring on the K bike. It will have been made bigger for aesthetic reasons, to tidy up the appearance of the caliper. As you want as much airflow around the pads as possible to remove heat generated under braking a cover per se would not be a good idea.

Draught excluder/shitey brake caliper covers now available for the GS/GSA from Nippy Norman...........

(Touratech caliper protectors (pair) - R1200GS LC ('13 on), R1200GS LC Adventure 2014 on)