Upgrade brakes?

[Iowa Guy]

Front brakes on my 89 are due for replacement. I'd like to beef them up. I've always thought they were a little weak. I don't want to put stainless steel lines on as that seems a little expensive. Are there brake pads that are better than others like from Buckeye for instance?

 

Also, my mechanic tells me that when he has test driven it and brakes, particularly with just the right hand brake, there is a surging uneven braking action. I have felt this too. He says that it is because the rotor may be warped. I don't want to buy a rotor but would buy a used one. Looks like they go for about $50 plus s&h.

 

Any ideas?

 

Iowa Guy

[skydoc_17]

Hey Tim,

First off, I'm not sure you realize this but when you are squeezing the brake lever, you are activating the right front brake caliper only! The only way the left front caliper gets activated is when you step on the foot pedal. The Left front and the rear brake caliper are "linked" together. The fact that your right rotor is warped tells me that you are stopping your 800+ pound bike with a lot of right front brake and very little foot brake. Putting a more aggressive set of brake pads on the front of your VR is just going to warp the next rotor faster unless you change the way you stop your scoot. I'm not trying to slap you around...we are learning here. All this being said, yes EBC makes a great set of sintered pads for your VR, grade HH. I also have a set of front rotors from an 87'VR (86 thru 93 are the same) in VERY GOOD condition. I also have two sets of Yamaha Organic Pads brand new in the boxes. If you are interested, PM me. There are also other avenues to take as far as brakes on your VR, If you are interested, PM me.

I am sorry if I sound a little "Kurt" but we have been snowbound here for over a week and I have misplaced my "Cabin Fever" pills. Honestly, I have everything you need to fix your scoot, and I promise not to bite!

Earl

[GeorgeS]

Have the Calipers on this bike ever been Rebuilt?? If not, the calipers need a Rebuild. ( 20 year old bike ) ( 20 year old rubber seals on those caliper pistons )

 

New pads, might help, but those calipers need a re-build.

[Iowa Guy]

Hey Tim,

First off, I'm not sure you realize this but when you are squeezing the brake lever, you are activating the right front brake caliper only! The only way the left front caliper gets activated is when you step on the foot pedal. The Left front and the rear brake caliper are "linked" together. The fact that your right rotor is warped tells me that you are stopping your 800+ pound bike with a lot of right front brake and very little foot brake. Putting a more aggressive set of brake pads on the front of your VR is just going to warp the next rotor faster unless you change the way you stop your scoot. I'm not trying to slap you around...we are learning here. All this being said, yes EBC makes a great set of sintered pads for your VR, grade HH. I also have a set of front rotors from an 87'VR (86 thru 93 are the same) in VERY GOOD condition. I also have two sets of Yamaha Organic Pads brand new in the boxes. If you are interested, PM me. There are also other avenues to take as far as brakes on your VR, If you are interested, PM me.

I am sorry if I sound a little "Kurt" but we have been snowbound here for over a week and I have misplaced my "Cabin Fever" pills. Honestly, I have everything you need to fix your scoot, and I promise not to bite!

Earl

 

Hi Earl,

 

Wow! You got lotsa VR bikes.

Yes, I realize how the brakes work on the Venture; foot pedal works the right front and rear brakes and lever works the left front only. I like this integrated feature. When I first bought my bike, I used too much front brake and I dumped it approaching a corner & scatter plastic all over the intersection. I seriously considered giving up riding if that is what was going to happen. After some very good advise from good people on this site I bought new tires and changed my braking style completely. Now, I use the foot pedal first and only the hand brake a little if needed. I am much more conscious of things like cracks and man hole covers in the roadway all the way to the ambient temperature; you know, stuff you never think about if you have four fat tires under you.

 

Well, I am second owner and the guy before me put 19K on it with just using the rear brake he said. Any other possibilities of what might be wrong other than a warped rotor?

 

I will PM you about your supplies.

 

Iowa Guy

[Iowa Guy]

Have the Calipers on this bike ever been Rebuilt?? If not, the calipers need a Rebuild. ( 20 year old bike ) ( 20 year old rubber seals on those caliper pistons )

 

New pads, might help, but those calipers need a re-build.

 

Could that account for the surging when braking with the hand brake?

 

Iowa Guy

[Venturous Randy]

 

Yes, I realize how the brakes work on the Venture; foot pedal works the right front and rear brakes and lever works the left front only..

 

No, foot brake works the left front and rear brake and hand lever works the right front only.

RandyA

[timgray]

Hi Earl,

 

Any other possibilities of what might be wrong other than a warped rotor?

 

 

 

Iowa Guy

 

silicone over spray on the rotor will also do this. Never EVER put tire dressing on a motorcycle tire. that stuff stays on the rotors and get in the pads causing all kinds of problems.

 

Had to disassemble everything, sand and brake cleaner soak the rotors and then replace the like new pads to get rid of my silicone contamination I had on my discs that caused such a problem. That was the last time I ever used tire dressing on a bike tire sidewall.

[GeorgeS]

Could that account for the surging when braking with the hand brake?

 

Iowa Guy

 

I have never had surging on my Venture Brakes. Haveing said that, a new set of pads might fix that.

 

As to motorcycle brake pads, in general. Over the years, I have had a strict rule concerning my brake pads. When they are 50 Precent Worn down, I replace them !!!! I don't care how much they cost, My Life is worth much more then a set of brake pads .

 

Its Cheap Insurance. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As to the statement by the guy who sold you the bike that he only used the Rear Brakes. ( that opens up another can of worms ) !!!

 

Your Front Brakes, Are 80 Percent of your Stopping power, and this is true on any motorcycle . ( This is a fact, I don't care what anybody else says as to this )

 

Anybody who rides a motorcycle, who says he only will uses the Rear Brakes, bcause he is afraid to use the fronts, I'm sorry to say, needs to go back to Motorcycle Rideing School.

 

I have been rideing my 89 since 93. I have never had to go to full lock up on both wheels with this bike, however I have had all 3 sets of pads smokeing!! ( literally )

 

On my 79 BMW R100T, I did go to full lock up, more then once, and about 3 years ago on the Busa, I also did an emergency stop, due to traffic, and actually went to full LOCK up on both wheels. ( The bike DID NOT Flip over, !!! )

 

 

All bikes, are different as to brakeing power, due to brake design, and weight of the motorcycle. They are all different. You need to Practice, Practice, Practice, brakeing to learn the bike you are rideing. ( I suggest a large parking lot on Sunday Morning ) And Back roads. Practice, makes perfect as they say.

 

If your bike has low miles as you said, I doubt those Calipers have ever been rebuilt. Have you Bleed out , and Replaced ALL the Brake Fluid from both Systems ??? IF not, there is WATER, MOISTURE, in your brakeing system !!!

( DOT-3 Brake Fluid Collects moisture ) Replace the fluid with Dot -4 or Synthectic brake fluid.

 

Replace ALL the Fluid with Valvoline Synthectic Fluid. That Might fix the problem, but I still think you need to rebuild the Calipers. And replace ALL the Pads.

[CrazyHorse]

Hi Earl,

 

I like this integrated feature. When I first bought my bike, I used too much front brake and I dumped it approaching a corner & scatter plastic all over the intersection.

 

I suspect you hit something in the road like gravel or oily substance your linked brakes arent necessarily gonna save you here. Slamming on that rear brake may lock that front also very bad on gravel or wet surfaces or steel plates in the road. The only thing linked brakes is gonna save you on is straight driving anything with a turn or slight turn involved may hurt you depending on road surface if that front wheel locks up as press that rear pedal.

 

After some very good advise from good people on this site I bought new tires and changed my braking style completely. Now, I use the foot pedal first and only the hand brake a little if needed. I am much more conscious of things

 

I dont think this is good advice. Like George S says most of your braking force comes from the front brakes use them. Old school riders brake with only the rear thinking they are gonna crash or flip using the front brake. You can get a Yamaha R1 to stand the tail up but your not gonna get your Venture too. You losing alot of braking force by not using the front brake handle something in an emergency you may need to shorten your braking distance. I detest linking brakes but I'm gonna refrain from ripping them anymore here. Not to insult you but you should take some MSF rider courses and buy some motorcycle riding books. I like David Hough, Keith Code, and Nick Ientasch books.

 

Well, I am second owner and the guy before me put 19K on it with just using the rear brake he said. Any other possibilities of what might be wrong other than a warped rotor?

 

I will PM you about your supplies.

 

 

 

Iowa Guy

 

Good luck Jim

[Venturous Randy]

Remember, if you are using the rear brake on an unmodifed 1st gen, you are also using the front brake. This does fall into the 70/80% efficency of the front brake. Using the hand brake ADDS to the amount of front brake the bike is seeing when using the rear brake. You all are talking like using the rear brake is ONLY on the rear.

RandyA

[CrazyHorse]

Remember, if you are using the rear brake on an unmodifed 1st gen, you are also using the front brake. This does fall into the 70/80% efficency of the front brake. Using the hand brake ADDS to the amount of front brake the bike is seeing when using the rear brake. You all are talking like using the rear brake is ONLY on the rear.

RandyA

 

I know what saying Randy on these you need to hit the rear to get the half the front to work and in reality I'm all for using the rear in conjunction with the front even using a small amount of rear a split second before using front. You still need to use the front brake its just good practice.