Brake upgrade.

[Cardinal]

Just finished a track day at Donnington and suffered with poor braking. I'm using brembo pads, only fitted last week and by the afternoon session I was struggling. I was also hampered by a very spongy lever and needing to pump.

A recent BMW service and poor bleed may be the culprit for the lever but the pads were disappointing.

Apart from that a great day out and what a machine!

Any suggestions for an upgrade very welcome. Cheers

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

S1000RR

 

[ChazzyB]

Spongy front brake is a bit of a problem. Current GS is OK (and still on OEM Brembo pads); last one wasn't, though it did also have Brembo pads. Try wiping the disks down with a clean rag and brake cleaner. You could be surprised about how much crap comes off the rotors.

 

[Neil W]

Galfer do a 320mm front brake upgrade, available from Motorworks ( getting the bits together to do the same on my gsa at the moment using RT discs and caliper spacers )

 

[ChazzyB]

And... the best upgrade is making the existing setup work properly. The GS LC isn't known for poor brakes generally, except the sponginess which can creep in.

 

[Nutty]

The front brakes on my GSA could have been better, but the brakes on my Rallye are bloody brilliant. I'd say that they're nearly as good as they were on my XR, and are much better than the Brembo setup on my 1290S. I wonder if BMW has updated the brakes on 2017 bikes? It may be worth asking your dealer.

 

[DC]

the GS is not really a trackway tool , I have seen them on the circuits but riders take them for a one off . Therefore the brakes on the machine are not up to the spec of a super bike when it is built.

If you are going to do more track days on it ,fair play, upgrade the components, a Brembo Radial Brake Master cylinder would most certinaly pay dividends , but i feel you would be better off getting a more track orientated bike .

 

[CPJS]

the GS is not really a trackway tool , I have seen them on the circuits but riders take them for a one off . Therefore the brakes on the machine are not up to the spec of a super bike when it is built.

If you are going to do more track days on it ,fair play, upgrade the components, a Brembo Radial Brake Master cylinder would most certinaly pay dividends , but i feel you would be better off getting a more track orientated bike .

+1 A £2000 r6 will survive a gravel trip or a slide down the track far better than your pride and joy, plus it will run rings round a GS.

 

[Cardinal]

Many thanks.

I guess before spending serious cash I'll try a fluid change to remove the sponginess (although it's only a month or so old) and try to find some better pads.

Any suggestions on fluid?

I agree the GS is not really a track bike but there's a great deal of satisfaction to be had in getting around quickly - I ran in the intermediate group mid field and enjoyed playing with some much sportier machines. You need to be smooooth but the torque makes that easy. Grounded crash bars on both sides.

I also think track riding makes you safer on the road.

Will report back if fluid change helps. Cheers

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

.......................

Any suggestions for an upgrade very welcome. Cheers

I've always bunged CL pads LINKY in my SM/Hill Climb bikes, they are very good and resistant to fade.

Having said that the WC brakes are pretty good and certainly good enough for a track day. I'd be looking to make sure they are properly set up in the first place

The front brakes on my GSA could have been better, but the brakes on my Rallye are bloody brilliant..................

Lighter bike? New bike??

Andres

 

[CPJS]

Have you got the preload maxxed out?
If that was your first track day on the GS and you are finding the limits of the brakes and groung clearance already. Move on.
Touching solidly fixed engine bars down on the track is very bad thing, as you get more confident in or frustrated with your bike you will go into the corner (to pass that 1000RR) an extra 2 or 3 mph faster, lean it over that one more degree..... down goes the engine bar which lifts the load off the tyres, and down you go. You are treading a fine line there, it is not the same as touching down foot pegs, they give.

 

[Cardinal]

Have you got the preload maxxed out?
If that was your first track day on the GS and you are finding the limits of the brakes and groung clearance already. Move on.
Touching solidly fixed engine bars down on the track is very bad thing, as you get more confident in or frustrated with your bike you will go into the corner (to pass that 1000RR) an extra 2 or 3 mph faster, lean it over that one more degree..... down goes the engine bar which lifts the load off the tyres, and down you go. You are treading a fine line there, it is not the same as touching down foot pegs, they give.

Thank you - I set the suspension to hard but didn't want to mess around with preload as I wasn't quite sure as to whether it would make the bike too skittish; I'll try that next time. It was my fifth track day on the bike and the first time I've noticed brake issues - maybe because Donnigton has a couple of severe braking zones. Adding crash bars has certainly reduced clearance and I'll remove them next time.

I've been and bought some dot 5.1 fluid but now find I need a special £600 electronic tool to flush the ABS. I guess the next question will be as to whether a dealer will do the job with non oem fluid....

And you are right - passing S1000rr on such an inappropriate machineis very much the motivation!

 

[CPJS]

Thank you - I set the suspension to hard but didn't want to mess around with preload as I wasn't quite sure as to whether it would make the bike too skittish; I'll try that next time. It was my fifth track day on the bike and the first time I've noticed brake issues - maybe because Donnigton has a couple of severe braking zones. Adding crash bars has certainly reduced clearance and I'll remove them next time.

I've been and bought some dot 5.1 fluid but now find I need a special £600 electronic tool to flush the ABS. I guess the next question will be as to whether a dealer will do the job with non oem fluid....

And you are right - passing S1000rr on such an inappropriate machineis very much the motivation!

If your bike is a pre '17 you have another 2 preloads to try, work your way up. Regarding braking, the GS is a heavy bike that does not dive much so you can use that rear brake quite hard, I you over do it the ABS will let you know. Practice in a straight line. Next time out take your time to experimenting forget the others, let them go, you can gather them in later.

 

[Kaybe]

I would have thought you would switch the ABS off, when on a track day.
Although I suspect there are adv / disadv depending on what you are wanting out of the experience.

 

[3bikesnospace]

From what I've just read dot 4 and dot 5.1 can be mixed why the abs flush ?

 

[tanneman]

What group are you riding?

Set the suspension to hard and select the 2 plus luggage preload option. Sounds like you need fresh brake fluid. Turn the ABS off as the brake feedback and bite is much better.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[richardbd]

And... the best upgrade is making the existing setup work properly. The GS LC isn't known for poor brakes generally, except the sponginess which can creep in.

Mine are getting spongey - what do I do, apart from using it as an excuse for a morning at Bahnstormer and testing a Turban?

 

[Cardinal]

Issue resolved - bloody dealers!!!!!!!

The bike had 12k service in April at which point the fluid should have been changed. I contacted the dealer and they have confirmed that they HAD NOT changed the fluid.

To cut a long and very tedious story short they've changed the front fluid today and braking has been restored. I didn't have time to wait for the rear as I had a quacks appointment to go to so will have to return for more hanging around.

I've lost half a track day and a couple of hours of my time plus have bought dot 5.1 fluid which they wouldn't use.

I'm absolutely appalled that they should miss such a basic safety issue.

What group are you riding?

Set the suspension to hard and select the 2 plus luggage preload option. Sounds like you need fresh brake fluid. Turn the ABS off as the brake feedback and bite is much better.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Mid third of intermediate group - will try the preload next time but I rather like the abs safety net on such a heavy bike!

"From what I've just read dot 4 and dot 5.1 can be mixed why the abs flush ?"

Demon tweeks say not do do so

 

[3bikesnospace]

Glad u sorted it demon tweeks talking out their ass ! Both 4 and 5:1 are glycol base so no need to flush at all .dot 5 silicone is probably what they're thinking of, which shouldn't be used with braking systems or abs that aren't designed for it ☺

 

[tanneman]

I rather like the abs safety net on such a heavy bike!

You will run out of suspension travel before you push the front. Never had the need the need for it on a dry track.