doing the whole shebang for my RSV Gen2 brakes

[cwtart]

I bought my 2008 RSV sight-unseen from a dealer who got it from another dealer so I have no previous maintenance records. I believe the bike is a single owner (other than me) because it is in stellar condition with 21K miles. I only rode it for about 200 miles last fall before I headed south for the winter - the bike stayed in Wisconsin.

 

I don't know how long the brakes are usually good for on the RSV before some maintenace is necessary - the bike seems to brake okay but I plan on having this bike for a while so I want to do the following:

 

1. replace the front and rear brake lines with stainless steel.

2. replace the clutch hydraulic line with stainless steel line.

3. replace the front calipers with R1/R6 calipers, either quality rebuilt or new.

4. replace the rear caliper with R1/R6 if that will give braking improvement.

5. do what is necessary to the master cyclinders.

6. install speed bleeders all the way around

 

I don't mind spending the money to do this right.

 

My questions are:

 

1. where can I get stainless steel lines that are custom cut for the 2008 RSV?

2. if I replace the calipers, will they come with the pads installed?

3. what are the best performing brake pads if I need to get pads?

4. how can I determine which R1/R6 calipers will fit my RSV?

 

Thanks.

[BlueSky]

The rear brake on the RSV is too powerful as it is stock. So, it doesn't need anything that improves its braking power. Quite a few riders have gone down after hitting the rear brake too hard. The front brake could use some improvement. I have a 2007 RSV with 23k on it and the brake pads are still good. On mine for now, I just flush the lines with fresh fluid and try to be aware that I shouldn't hit the rear pedal too hard.

[RDawson]

I bought my 2008 RSV sight-unseen from a dealer who got it from another dealer so I have no previous maintenance records. I believe the bike is a single owner (other than me) because it is in stellar condition with 21K miles. I only rode it for about 200 miles last fall before I headed south for the winter - the bike stayed in Wisconsin.

 

I don't know how long the brakes are usually good for on the RSV before some maintenace is necessary - the bike seems to brake okay but I plan on having this bike for a while so I want to do the following:

 

1. replace the front and rear brake lines with stainless steel.

2. replace the clutch hydraulic line with stainless steel line.

3. replace the front calipers with R1/R6 calipers, either quality rebuilt or new.

4. replace the rear caliper with R1/R6 if that will give braking improvement.

5. do what is necessary to the master cyclinders.

6. install speed bleeders all the way around

 

 

 

I don't mind spending the money to do this right.

 

My questions are:

 

1. where can I get stainless steel lines that are custom cut for the 2008 RSV?

2. if I replace the calipers, will they come with the pads installed?

3. what are the best performing brake pads if I need to get pads?

4. how can I determine which R1/R6 calipers will fit my RSV?

 

Thanks.

 

Check with Skydoc17, I seem to remember him selling stainless line kits.

[cecdoo]

Yep contact Skydoc, Earl is his name, he can help you with your brake questions. Great guy too!

 

Craig

[BratmanXj]

1. replace the front and rear brake lines with stainless steel. As mentioned, SkyDoc makes a set of lines that fit for the 4-piston upgrade. I don't believe there are any other commercial options available for a "swapped" bike, only factory.

2. replace the clutch hydraulic line with stainless steel line. SkyDoc or other commercial options out there

3. replace the front calipers with R1/R6 calipers, either quality rebuilt or new. eBay used is your best bet and find the coresponding All-Balls rebuild kits. Its not hard to rebuild a MC brake caliper and there are a lot of youtube videos out there.

4. replace the rear caliper with R1/R6 if that will give braking improvement. OEM is more than sufficient for these bikes, I wouldn't modify the rears at all. People have even complained about to much power after installing Stainless lines with the OEM setup.

5. do what is necessary to the master cyclinders. The stock 5/8" master on the handlebars will work with the upgraded 4-piston brakes. Just doing the caliper swap greatly inproves the brakes.

 

I recommend getting the 14mm master from a late model 1700cc Road Star or early ('02-"05) Road Star Warrior. I rode my bike with the 5/8" then swapped to the 14mm and the "feel" changed for the better, I had a shorter travel to initial "bite" and better progressive "control" of braking power with the 14mm. Again, the 5/8" will work with the caliper upgrade.

6. install speed bleeders all the way around. I've had some that were fine, and some that were VERY soft metal and snapped in half while tightening with 1 finger on the wrench. I like the concept and hope you have better luck than I.

 

I don't mind spending the money to do this right.

 

My questions are:

 

1. where can I get stainless steel lines that are custom cut for the 2008 RSV? See above - SkyDoc

2. if I replace the calipers, will they come with the pads installed? You'll most likely be buying used, so get new pads. Also rebuild the caliper with new seals, I've had good luck with All Balls brand.

 

3. what are the best performing brake pads if I need to get pads?

Front EBC FA252HH - https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00666FM9G/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_.JHCEb2BQTT8T

Rear EBC FA123 or FA123V -https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00666H4CE/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_RIHCEbE1GPRJH

4. how can I determine which R1/R6 calipers will fit my RSV?

Any model that mounts horizontally into the fork leg. When I was searching eBay the sellers were really vague on years & fitment, so it was just simpler to actually look at the calipers.

 

'02-'05 Yamaha XV1700 Road Star Warrior or '07-up Yamaha XV1700 Road Star. These will also have the matching 14mm brushed or chrome brake master cylinder if you do choose to go that route.

 

R1 & R6 Gold Dot or Blue Dot calipers

 

 

You DO NOT want radial mounted calipers from later models of the R1, R6 or Warrior.

[cwtart]

1. replace the front and rear brake lines with stainless steel. As mentioned, SkyDoc makes a set of lines that fit for the 4-piston upgrade. I don't believe there are any other commercial options available for a "swapped" bike, only factory.

 

Thanks for all the feedback - your answers and suggestions are great! I sent SkyDoc a PM about the lines - waiting to hear back from him. All else looks very doable. Thanks again.

[BratmanXj]

Thanks for all the feedback - your answers and suggestions are great! I sent SkyDoc a PM about the lines - waiting to hear back from him. All else looks very doable. Thanks again.

 

A little bit of data and internet hunting and it's not a hard job at all. I was able to purchase an entire front setup (master & calipers) from an RS Warrior forum member. I've got two buddies with RSW and I've worked on them and put on a few miles. Parts-Bin engineering is my favorite thing to do and knowing the setup on those it was a fairly simple swap.

 

My work car is a Mazda3i, the lowest model in the line-up. I've swapped in the big brakes, springs & swaybars, and some minor intake & exhaust upgrades all used OEM parts from other Mazda's for a fraction of the performance parts price.

[cowpuc]

This may or may not help:

[cwtart]

A little bit of data and internet hunting and it's not a hard job at all. I was able to purchase an entire front setup (master & calipers) from an RS Warrior forum member. I've got two buddies with RSW and I've worked on them and put on a few miles. Parts-Bin engineering is my favorite thing to do and knowing the setup on those it was a fairly simple swap.

 

My work car is a Mazda3i, the lowest model in the line-up. I've swapped in the big brakes, springs & swaybars, and some minor intake & exhaust upgrades all used OEM parts from other Mazda's for a fraction of the performance parts price.

 

Used parts, in this case the R1 calipers, are the only way to go - new OEM R1 calipers that will work on the RSV are $1300.00 a pair, minimum. And I got that right from a Yamaha dealer. Must be gold plated.

[BratmanXj]

Used parts, in this case the R1 calipers, are the only way to go - new OEM R1 calipers that will work on the RSV are $1300.00 a pair, minimum. And I got that right from a Yamaha dealer. Must be gold plated.

 

Did a quick eBay search starting with "Road Star Warrior Caliper" and matched pairs of calipers that would work range from $45-$65 with this seller:

https://www.ebay.com/usr/thepartresource?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

 

 

I'm 99% sure that the 1900cc Stratoliner, Roadliner & Raider all use compatible calipers, too.

[cwtart]

Did a quick eBay search starting with "Road Star Warrior Caliper" and matched pairs of calipers that would work range from $45-$65 with this seller:

https://www.ebay.com/usr/thepartresource?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

 

 

I'm 99% sure that the 1900cc Stratoliner, Roadliner & Raider all use compatible calipers, too.

 

I already found a used set of R1 Gold Dot calipers on ebay for $75.00 for the pair and ordered them. Also ordered an All Balls rebuild kit for the calipers from Amazon for $33.00 and last but not least, I spoke with SkyDoc (Earl) and have the ball rolling for the stainless steel lines. Earl is a great guy and I look forward to adding his SS lines to my RSV.

 

You guys are great on this forum - this all would have been much, much harder without your help. Thanks to all. And a special thanks to SkyDoc!

[RDawson]

I already found a used set of R1 Gold Dot calipers on ebay for $75.00 for the pair and ordered them. Also ordered an All Balls rebuild kit for the calipers from Amazon for $33.00 and last but not least, I spoke with SkyDoc (Earl) and have the ball rolling for the stainless steel lines. Earl is a great guy and I look forward to adding his SS lines to my RSV.

 

You guys are great on this forum - this all would have been much, much harder without your help. Thanks to all. And a special thanks to SkyDoc!

 

Yep, dealt with Earl a few times. Always been great to me.