Rear brakes with the GSXR 17x5.5 wheel mod

[Dazza57]

Hi all, I have also done this mod and am very pleased with it except for one small thing, and I know I have read about it here somewhere but can't seem to find it now.

The braking power with the FJ master and GSXR slave, is not as good as the standard FJ rear brake setup. I have used the HH pads as well so thought all would be good. Has anyone tried using a GSXR master with the GSXR slave on the FJ?

PS, damn sorry I couldn't make the Jindabyne rally, sounds like everyone had a blast. Did I notice undertones of next years being in Tassie?

Cheers, Dazza

[ribbert]

Hi all, I have also done this mod and am very pleased with it except for one small thing, and I know I have read about it here somewhere but can't seem to find it now.

The braking power with the FJ master and GSXR slave, is not as good as the standard FJ rear brake setup. I have used the HH pads as well so thought all would be good. Has anyone tried using a GSXR master with the GSXR slave on the FJ?

PS, damn sorry I couldn't make the Jindabyne rally, sounds like everyone had a blast. Did I notice undertones of next years being in Tassie?

Cheers, Dazza

IIRC, what you read was, a number of members agreeing the standard FJ rear brake is TOO good and the way they went about taming it to make it less sensitive. I for one was pleased with the less efficient rear brake after my conversion.
You get used to anything but I always felt the rear was too touchy.

Rear brakes are more about stability than slowing the bike down. You don't need much brake to lock the back wheel and the harder you apply the front, the less force is needed on the rear for lock up until you reach max braking at which point you rear brake is contributing virtually nothing anyway.

Most rear brakes are not as touchy as the standard FJ, but you get used to it, and by comparison, then consider other brakes inferior.

If I were you, I'd keep riding it, and you might just find after a while you don't even think about it.

I like my "not as good" rear brakes. I have an FZR/RR wheel with quite a small disc and EBC HH pads. I am also much more confident if I need to jump on the brakes mid corner. Very easy to unintentionally lock the back wheel in a panic stop with the original brakes.


IMHO, of course.

Noel

[aviationfred]

I like my "not as good" rear brakes. I have an FZR/RR wheel with quite a small disc and EBC HH pads. I am also much more confident if I need to jump on the brakes mid corner. Very easy to unintentionally lock the back wheel in a panic stop with the original brakes.


IMHO, of course.

Noel

I agree fully with Noel. The 'not so good' feeling rear brake works great for trail braking and settling the bike in corners without the worry of a rear lockup. Can we all say High side flying.

For everyday street/city riding, I use the front brake by itself 90% of the time. The rear brake is my reserve for panic/emergency stops.

I have the GSXR rear wheel mod, using the OEM FJ rear master cylinder, Galfer stainless brake line and sintered pads on the GSXR caliper.

Fred

[skymasteres]

For everyday street/city riding, I use the front brake by itself 90% of the time. The rear brake is my reserve for panic/emergency stops.

I have the GSXR rear wheel mod, using the OEM FJ rear master cylinder, Galfer stainless brake line and sintered pads on the GSXR caliper.

Fred

Fred, I'm with you guys with respect to the rear brake being just right for the bike when co figured with the GSXR Caliper/ FJ master combo. But I would postulate that it is more important to be practicing using the rear brake in normal riding than anything.  While the new smaller rotor of the GSXR wheel doesn't have nearly the leverage on the wheel that the stock FJ one does, it's still more than adequate to lock the rear wheel when you're braking with "maximum effort"

I have been teaching a friend of mine the basics of learning to handle his bike better, and in the process have been getting much better as well. One of the important lessons we had was finding out how much of the brakes we could apply while still maintaining control of the bike. Basically, applying the front brake only, measuring our stopping distance,  then going back and doing it again while feeding in the rear brake when the front settled. There is a fairly significant reduction in distance. The cool thing is, if you feed them both in at the same time, the bike takes a much more level squat while braking hard. I've found that when I'm reaching maximum braking the weight will shift forward as I come to a stop and allow the rear to lock just a little. I STILL haven't reached maximum braking with the fronts,  but I have jammed the fork brace against the banjo bolt of the brake line manifold while trying.

I figured when I do get that braking envelope completely explored, that's when I'll put my gold dots on...

[skymasteres]

Oh and, as an aside, congratulations on one of the best bang for your buck mods to the FJ.  It's amazing what a difference it makes going from the 160 tire to a 180 on a 5.5" wide rim.   Have you done the FZR front wheel? If not watch your corner entry speed. The new wheel/tire combo will let you really plow the front tire over if you go in hot and decide to lay on the front brakes. If you have done the front then you are in for a treat. 

[mark1969]

Re braking, I mainly brake first with the rear in everyday riding, followed by the front which seems to give a better balance to the bike by not throwing the bike forward as much as when front brake is applied first.

Obviously when hard braking is required its full on front coupled with feeding in the back brake to increase braking efficiency.

I don't know, but it seems to work for me, and is just one reason why I like biking as opposed to cars, because there is more to think about..makes it fun (aside from the acceleration / speed / freedom / fresh air / noise etc etc..!). 

[andyb]

ed to cars, because there is more to think about..makes it fun (aside from the acceleration / speed / freedom / fresh air / noise etc etc..!). 

If you're thinking about braking during a panic stop, you likely could use more practice so that it's instinctive.  But I agree and know what you mean... you have more control over things on a bike than in a cage.

[FJ_Hooligan]

Fortunately, most of my stops do not require panic braking techniques.  However, that doesn't keep me from practicing occasionally.  Way back when, my first few bikes were 100cc enduros.  I learned a lot about front and rear brake use in those initial years on the dirt.

In street riding I brake with both brakes every time.  I feel I have better control using both brakes.  It also keeps me fresh on the "feel" of the rear brake.  When the occasional heavy braking opportunity happens, I can get maximum performance from both brakes simply because I'm familiar with rear brake use (I don't have to think about it).

People who use the front brake most/all of the time probably don't have a good feeling for how the rear brake will respond in a panic situation.  There's a reason why even race bikes have a rear brake.

[X-Ray]

I've noticed I really cannot lock the back wheel at all anymore with my wheel mod. I do have to get a new rear disc plus pads, might help a bit. But I really only use the rear brake as a stability aid as has been mentioned.

[movenon]

I've noticed I really cannot lock the back wheel at all anymore with my wheel mod. I do have to get a new rear disc plus pads, might help a bit. But I really only use the rear brake as a stability aid as has been mentioned.

Mine is the same but I think it is fairly normal with this conversion.  I upgraded the rear pads and it helped.  But that said a locked wheel isn't worth much and IMO the stock FJ rear wheel is probably over braked.
Others will have to give there opinion that ride harder or different than I do. The short is I noticed the same thing and made it the best I could. If someone else has some ideas I am all eye's..
George

[FJscott]

I've noticed I really cannot lock the back wheel at all anymore with my wheel mod. I do have to get a new rear disc plus pads, might help a bit. But I really only use the rear brake as a stability aid as has been mentioned.

Mine is the same but I think it is fairly normal with this conversion.  I upgraded the rear pads and it helped.  But that said a locked wheel isn't worth much and IMO the stock FJ rear wheel is probably over braked.
Others will have to give there opinion that ride harder or different than I do. The short is I noticed the same thing and made it the best I could. If someone else has some ideas I am all eye's..
George

When I did my GSXR rear wheel I at the same time installed R1 blue dot caliper and MC. I can lock up the rear tire easily. When I got my rear wheel I also got the entire GSXR brake system...rotor,caliper,hose,MC,valiper bracket. I considered using it but decided to go with the blue dots to match the front. AND, the GSXR caliper bracket does not use the torque arm, instead the bracket has a square raised part that rides in a square female register in the swingarm...wont work.

Scott

[oz.fj]

 Did I notice undertones of next years being in Tassie?

Cheers, Dazza
[/quote]

                  

[giantkiller]

Gsxr600/ 750 brake brackets work great just put an aluminum tab inside the swingarm. I kinda like how clean it looks with no torque arm.

[FJscott]

I thought of that, spent many hours sitting on a bucket staring at it. decided I wanted the blue dot to match the front.
still have the Gixxer brakes. maybe ill use them on the next FJ build.

[X-Ray]

I didn't think of using the R1/R6 rear caliper on this wheel mod. Is it a straight bolt in job though? The fronts were nice and easy, I wouldn't imagine the single rear being difficult.

You must have a different year GSXR brake system Scott as mine definitely is using the torque arm that came with it at the moment.