Big Brakes for sale
 

Saw these on the Honda VTR1000 Firestorm Owners Facebook page for sale by Matt Green, they look pretty sweet...

Interesting, but what good are they going to be? Stock brakes are fine, except for feel, upgrading to F4i calipers and changing fork valving is even better. You can also swap on 6-pot calipers if you want those bragging rights.

I rode my VTR for the first time in a month, after hopping off my ST1100 and then my VFR800. Although all run EBC HH pads, and my VFR has 600F4i calipers, the CBR954 set on my VTR are my favourites, fabulous feel and power.

Better brakes allow you to push your bike harder and help to explore the upper reaches of its performance!

I have F4i calipers, braided lines and EBC HH pads and the difference is amazing.

A very worthy mod, so much so that I had to fit a fork brace to help stop the front end from flexing under hard brakes.

If my VTR was a commuter I probably wouldn't of bothered, but it's not so I did. Helps me to give my mates the shits as it helps the old girl keep the current bikes honest.

My daily bike is a commuter but I cant imagine anyone rides a vtr and never has a moment or 2 to exploit the sweet motor and handling. Still love having the brakes.

Good brakes instill confidence in the bike. Confidence is a huge part of the enjoyment of riding.

The best you know, is the best you know. Stock VTR brakes are indeed just fine, until you've tried something better. CBR954 brakes were a cheap alteration with a big payoff.

Absolutely. I went with 954s with an '09 CBR600 radial M/C. Braking bliss:p

Just a quick note, the brakes for sale are quite different from anything described in the above thread. Just looking at the rotors should offer a clue as to why, they operate in a different realm than any stock brake configuration as they are narrow band Superbike race brakes and made of ductile cast iron. So the pads contact the rotor in a very narrow track, which has much less side sweep than street based rotors and calipers and as far as feel is concerned, NOTHING beats ductile cast iron, until you get to carbon/carbon. The calipers are much stiffer to make this config work and so offer less caliper spread (all Nissin calipers exhibit measureable caliper spread) under high brake pressures for better modulation at the limit and needing less pressure at the lever.... Are these needed for the street, nope, track day bike, maybe depending on your talent level, bragging rights at your local bike night, you bet. That said nothing helps when panic sets in, coupled with target fixation and lack of repeated practice stops, bad brakes and talent, beats great brakes and no talent any day and everyday...

I love going to track days with my buddy and watching him put the hurting on the Panagale, CBR1000RR, Aprilia Factory RR, all running slicks, etc, etc, etc on his mid-eighties vintage. 90BHP, Ducati TTFI on treaded race tires..... Just another day in the lack of talent pool...

Git you some of this!

what pads you runnin' with those? :)

I agree, I had a pal who owned a ZX7RR with a full on Superbike engine build, Marchesini wheels, full Ohlins, professionally set up and I used to kick his ass on my 52 hp Hawk GT, inside, outside, every braking zone, every corner exit... So satisfying! I used to tell him to stop buying parts and buy some private tutoring with Dale Quarterly but he never listened.... Talent and applied knowledge wins every time....

i run the same brake setup, and it's awesome, so much feel and power. when you get the chance to ride a vtr with standard brakes after using the pfm setup, you realise how average the standard setup is and how good the pfm setup is, ok they're not cheap, but i'm more than happy that i paid for them

Attachment 21407

Dem`s sweet :)

Nice brake mod. I found, back in 98 (first of 4 VTR's, just bought another '98 last night ;-), that installing EBC HH pads, s/s lines, and a Brembo Radial master cylinder, accomplished near-all, regarding stopping power...

Zcoo pads. Want to try, but have to build up the mental strength to pay that much.
Brake Pads ZCOO N004 EX Compound (1 couple for 1 disk) - Specific for Honda VTR SP2/RC51 02-03

CarpiMoto - Brake Pads - Honda VTR 1000 F

Here is my two cents, coming from a racing background. I do not like progressive brake pads, i.e. ones that become stronger in bite as they build heat through the braking zone or offer stronger response as the speed is bled off in the braking zone. I like a nice even initial bite and an even, linear response throughout the braking zone right to my brakes off marker. It makes trail-braking to adjust the bikes geometry for turn in and mid-corner a much easier task to manage, easier to manage equates to more brain power to use on other important tasks. Linear pads also make riding or racing in the rain much safer, and make panic situations safer as you are less likely to lock the front inadvertently. I haven't owned, raced or ridden a bike since 1983 that I couldn't get the rear wheel off the ground, and carry that air for 20-30' utilizing a linear style pad. Once the rear is off the ground ultimate braking power is only reliant on front tire grip, fork compliance to the roads imperfections, talent and that talent's access to a predictable linear feel to provide precise lever modulation and that is what gets the job done... Your mileage may vary, I was about winning races, championships and making sure the bike came back to the pits in one piece, my success varied, but my brakes never did. I' also not a fan of really long lasting brake pads. Braking comes to fruition in only two ways, your pads wear or your rotors wear... I would rather change pads, faster, easier, cheaper... Also hard pads make the job of deglazing the discs via mechanical/chemical means very, very difficult as the hard pads embed material into the hot disc that is hard to remove. Deglazing is something that should happen every time you change pads and/or pad compound or brand. I also do not like pads that take more than 3 miles to fully bed in, they waste time at the track and are dangerous on the street, 3 miles full braking power...

I bought zcoo pads from ebay, italy seller. Shipping was very fast. Maybe consider purchase from japan.webike for US.

Ran first 100km with these pads. There is not much difference (if any) in stopping power compared to ferodo st used for years, still rate them high. What I feel is nice soft first touch and more predictable modulation when applying force on lever. This little piece of luxury that makes the difference Fastguy talk about.

Link to complete
http://m.ebay.com/itm/4-PASTIGLIE-AN...%257Ciid%253A6

for whats its worth. yes storm brakes are fine most of the time. good pads,steel lines well bleed etc etc,,,but.

one of mine has a fireblade setup, the other has brembo calipers and blade master....which makes even a well setup standard brake setup feel poor at the very least...

id rather be looking at to much brake then looking for it when i need it..

I'm tired of the bickering... deleted all posts not related to the original thread topic.