Anyone fit alternative calipers to standard forks/discs?

[davros]

Just wondering if there's an easy way to get really good brakes. Has anyone fitted 6 pot calipers from another bike and made somekind of mounting plate so they will fit the standard forks/discs. Perhaps even use different master cylinder too?

I know braided lines and pads can be done, but wonder if I can buy another bikes brakes off ebay and hey presto "**** hot brakes"!!

[davros]

Looks like I have just asked pretty much the same question sprocket was asking.

Doh!!

[Scoobs]

You can do it, but you will have to change master cylinder as well as caliper. The SV master cylinder will not push enough brake fluid to the caliper. You would end up having the lever pull back to the bars, with the brakes still not applied. You may have to get a bracket made as well so the caliper fits the forks.

[rictus01]

for a start I'd have to ask why? a decent set of braided lines and pads are more than enough for the SV.

however, that aside, mounting would need some serious thought, as I'm not aware of any direct bolt on 4 pots that fit, the mounting has to be substantial as a lot of force goes through them when braking, and lets face it would you want that bit to fail :shock:

space would also be an issue as physically fitting the callipers could be problematic.

and as scoobs said the master cylinder would also need up grading.

or of course you could go the other route and change the whole front end from the head stock, but bear in mind the speedo drive would have to be moved to the top sprocket or rear wheel.

Which leads back to the original question, Why?

Cheers Mark.

[21QUEST]

Which leads back to the original question, Why?

Cheers Mark.

To me that is the main question to be answered. Anything can be made to fit but once you can answer ' the question why' you are making headway.

As has been said before the SV brakes are are good enough even with standard lines. I've got an 88' Honda Bros and I normally only use 2 fingers but if I need to stop on a six pence then three is sufficient.

Cheers
Ben

[davros]

Why change the brakes?
The main reason is because of my last bike. I had a 2001 cbr600 and the brakes on that were fantastic. Lots of initial bike and one finger was sometimes all that was needed to come to a halt. The brakes just seemed so sharp and light. If I could take the honda brakes and stick them straight on the SV (with master cylinder) then I would :-). (I don't think they'll fit)

The other reason is just out of curiosity. ie. has anyone done it and of so what are the results? After all people do some pretty amazing mods to their SV's :-)

[northwind]

I understand there's a CBR set that fits relatively easily- needs a custom plate made but then so will practically anything- as well as certain Brembos from lower end Dukes.

Not all replacement calipers will require a different MC (though I think most will benefit from it)- frexample SRADs had 4-pots and use the same MC as the SV does. (IIRC) Many people who do the GSXR fork swap with more recent calipers keep the stock SV MC too. (though not with the radials)

I would think it still comes back to why, at the end of the day... If you want an upgrade, then better pads, braided lines and maybe a Brembo radial MC will give you a big improvement without pushing costeffectiveness too far.