Master cylinder upgrade
 

Think the term poor at best has been used on many an occasion to describe the feel of the SV's brakes as standard, and I must say I am in agreement.

My brakes are well clean now after a long weekend of polishing calipers, scraping away corrosion, putting new seals in, bleeding the system etc and they still don't fill me with confidence. A lack of feel, and this also makes them seem to have a lack of braking force really doesn't fill me with confidence. EBC HH pads fitted, and yes the brake lines are braided ones (Earl's to be precise).

Wondering whether a master cylinder upgrade may help things? And whether you could fit a CBR600 master cylinder?

Cheers
Jase

A master cylinder from a CBR6 will have a larger bore which will if anything, reduce feel and power.

With HHs they shouldn't lack braking force at all. SV brakes aren't weak, they're just clumsy, usually...

I like the R1 master cylinder. It's 16mm bore, 18mm ratio, which isn't massively different from stock, but it's better made (Yamaha built, but Brembo branded and to their design) and works just that bit better. Plus, it has a top bleeder, which is handy, and the brake lines attach to the underside removing the high-point at the banjo. It wouldn't be outrageously powerful for standard calipers either. Plus, lots of R1 guys remove them and fit "proper" Brembos which give them several times more emotional braking force, so they can come along pretty cheap, and they can take the SV brake switch. I got one for £50, which then vanished in the post, got another one for £80 which was still a good deal.

It could be your stock one is just a bit tired and could use a service... But if that's the case (don't know if it is) then personally I'd put the money towards a replacement instead.

Cheers Northy, that's useful.

Just for clarification, should I be looking at a master cylinder with very similar bore and stroke to the SV's stock one? Or is the total displacement more important?

Dunno :) Mine is, by coincidence, quite similiar to stock in bore, and a wee bit bigger in stroke. The second number that you see (18x19) is to do with lever ratio, though, not stroke or bore, so watch that. I had that wrong for ages.

Trouble is, it's all a matter of taste. Some people love big m/cs with very little travel and a stiff lever. I like a lot of travel, as long as it's all doing something.

Not being funny here, but are you absolutely sure you've got all the air out?

3 hours of bleeding and about 400ml of brake fluid suggested that I'd got all the air out. I may have another pop at it over the coming weekend to make sure, but pretty certain it's air-free.

Just to let you know, it's a 2 line set-up.

I can grab an R1 master cylinder for £30, from a 4XV bike. Presumably that means it's a 2004 model?

You can never say that you have all the air out ;)

Also a point to remember that Braided lines remove some of the 'feel' from the front brakes!

I replaced my calipers all round, and with new pads, they are fantastic, well im happy.

Not sure when these ones started. I know 2005 and 6 have, maybe 2004? If it's the underseat model, I think it has the "brembo".

I see what you are say but that's what I'm using. It's either 2000-2004 or 2001-2004. The design is half way between the traditional master cylinder and the radial(Nissin calls it a Semi-Radial).

Bore is roughly 10% larger and gives a good medium between lever travel and power. letS you retain plenty of feel will slightly reduced travel.

I've also tried the one from the Fireblade(2000-2003) but felt that didn't give had too little travel which tranlates in my case to not enough feel. That IIRC is a 19mm bore. Again it's of a semi-radial design but I wouldn't recommend that based on my experince. saying that some folks I believe love them :? .

Get the CBR600RR if you find one at a good price. Works great.

Cheers
Ben