Yet another airhead brake question

[MattW]

Hi All,
Please forgive another numpty question and I promise I have searched (in fact almost through reading every page in the airhead section - far too much time on my hands.... )

I've never owned an airhead (or indeed any BMW), but (some would say foolishly), I'm contemplating a paralever airhead for some gentle two up UK and European touring.

Thanks to advice from helpful airheaders on here (and other reading on the site), I know some of the 'issues' I need to be aware of with airheads in general, but one thing which crops up fairly regularly is the issue of (or perhaps lack of) front brakes. As I mentioned above I'll be two up and loaded fairly regularly and really like the thought of being able to stop without prior notification in writing, so I'm guessing that the standard front brake (even if working perfectly) is marginal at best?

I've read about disk changes, braided hoses, calliper changes etc, etc. but can't really work out which is best. Are there any 'bolt on', (preferably affordable and which retain the GS forks) modifications which bring the GS front end up to scratch for my intended use?

thanks for any advice
Matt

 

[John Armstrong]

If you upgrade the brakes it'll show the forks need it, if you upgrade them then the frame will need it, if you do that the rear brake will probably need to be done! In which case a 1100 / 1150 GS may be a better introduction.

A common cheap fix is to fit a floating disc and braided lines, I've been told this gives a 40% improvement.

Without knowing how hard you ride the bike etc then what's best is hard to answer

Compared to a 1200GSA the brakes are crap, but then I don't ride my airhead like the GSA, because I know the brakes aren't in the same league. Horses for courses

 

[MattW]

Thanks John

I guess one shouldn't expect modern day performance from 20 year old technology...

cheers
Matt

 

[abrasion]

I've ridden mine a lot two up fully loaded, panniers, camping gear etc never had a problem.

Only upgrade i have made is to put the upgraded caliper conversion that motorworks used to do on. ( cant remember what the caliper was off, was it i K? )

Just a case of knowing the bikes limits and looking ahead.
If you do have a buttock clencher moment you will be suprised how fast you can haul it to a stop

 

[cookie]

what john says about the forks is indeed true, but i found the german HE 320mm disc conversion made a worthwhile improvement without overtaxing the forks too much

IMO the standard brake is a liability one up. add a passenger + luggage and it is positively dangerous unless you're clairvoyant.

 

[MattW]

Thanks guys

 

[nick.ct]

Matt,
I have a R100GSPD, weigh quite a bit and travel with plenty of junk. Earlier this year, with a bunch of tosses on oilheads, we travelled around Northern Spain. My old airhead, with its spindly forks and single disk brake did not disgrace itself in the ' keeping up' stakes. The only modification from standard is the fitment of a cast iron disk and braided hose. The only problem I had with brakes was with the rear drum binding a bit, due to me not adjusting it properly. This was soon rectified, job done. We were looking for the twisty mountain roads, with plenty of up hill and down dale. Really, I think that for everyday use the brakes are fine without any expensive mods.

Nick

PS see the ride report, 'Donkey Tour' or some such title

 

[Jon P]

I have had four airheads and 6 oilheads - without doubt the single brake disc on the airheads does not match up to the oilheads with twin 4 pot calipers......BUT.......you will soon get used to them.

The front brake on the airheads had a floating front disc from about 1991 onwards which helped, keep the caliper clean, use good (genuine) pads and you'll be fine. In my experience you get used to them and just learn to squeeze the leaver harder! I am a big fella and would often travel long and fast with my wife and luggage on board.

The only modification I would make would be a good quality brake line - I used to use Melvin - German if I am not mistaken - nice quality and definately improve the feel.

 

[MattW]

Thanks for the information guys - sounds like airhead brakes might not be quite the horror story they're made out to be

 

[fritz]

Standrad set up with two and luggage is a liability (nay dangerous) with the K100 conversion it is fine, will get a bit bothered if heavily used on mountain roads loaded two-up....but, you get used to whatever you have and as mentioned in a split moment of terror it will pull you up

Having said that...if it didn't...you wouldn't hear the other argument

Buy and try - if you no like, sell

 

[MattW]

Hmm, conflicting opinions...

No great surprise there I guess - this is a web forum after all

 

[ebbo]

Can you not go down a size in master cylinder diameter (or two)? There used to be a number of different sizes available, that and braded hoses might make quite a difference.

Just a thought

 

[Beemerboff]

There are good modern pads around for the Brembo callipers - the Lucas / TRW have been getting good reports.

And if you need to repair the master cylinder then going to a 11 or a 12mm makes a decent difference. Best bang for the buck even if you don't. But you cant post pictures of it , so it isn't very popular.

I didn't notice much improvement with a braided line, but others do - probably depends one the condition of the old one.

HPM , or Guy Henderson, a vendor over on the Adventure Tourers forum sells a neat little adaptor for $30- odd dollars which lets you fit the six piston Tokico caliper from a few Kawsukis which isn't hard to come buy cheaply, and you can get the latest and best EBC pads for that.
With a 11mm m/c you have all the brake a 90/90 front tire can use.

Forget comments about the rest of the bike not being up to scratch - the paralever bikes with the big Marzocchi forks and double wishbone rear suspension are a world apart from the early twin shock and monolever bikes.

BMW BOXER PARTS in Holland or somewhere also do a oversized disk complete with an adaptor to take a later twin piston Brembo calliper, at a sensible price. For these sort of things , that is.

 

[Sean Kelly]

Hi

I ditched my motorworks 4 piston caliper - it just ate brake pads for not much benefit. Standard caliper with cast iron disk (PFM?) and braided hose works better.

Sean

 

[Duncan Richmond]

Hi,

I fitted a 6-pot Billet caliper - fantastic but pricey. Forks have heavy duty springs and 15w fork oil and I don't find that the suspension can't cope with huge increase in braking power. The billet caliper has a very progressive action. I forgot - I also have a PFM cast disc and braided hose which was fitted before the caliper upgrade, this alone made a noticable improvement(as Sean mentions) BTW the Billet caliper bolts straight on, no need to mess around with the M/C

Cheers

Duncan

 

[nud1e]

I replaced the semi-floating disc on my '93 R80 when the bobbins wore and the disc started to rattle. I fitted an EBC disc and pads, but when I changed the brake fluid, the braking improvement was remarkable and improved when I fitted TKCs to replaced the Tourances.
Now I have to do something with the rear,

 

[steve in nz]

cheap mod

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75031&highlight=r100gs+brake

 

[MattW]

Thanks Guys - lots of good food for thought