| Author | Message | ||
     Svh |
Actually heard the rear tire squeal today. Lovely left turn in front of me and panic stop made the rear lock up. I think it is mostly from the weight shifting forward and lightening the rear. New rear brake is on my list of winter mods. How can the most expensive Buell have worse rear braking than the cheapest? I really liked the rear on the Blast I had for the Riders Edge class. Dirt bike roots so I rely a little too much on the rear also. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
Well, to your point--with the forward weight shift under panic braking conditions, there's not a lot to keep the rear from locking. Look at it this way: we don't have ABS, and if you're going to lock something better it should be the rear than the front, right? | ||
| Svh |
True point. I guess my true point is I can't believe the poor braking from the rear on a spectacular bike. I have heard it called "wooden" many times in articles so I guess I know what a "wooden" brake feels like now. | ||
| Gotj |
"New rear brake is on my list of winter mods." Svh, The only Uly-specific kit I know of is from England, Trojan Horse http://www.trojan-horse.co.uk/prods/119.html REALLY expensive, $475 plus shipping. If you come up with a reasonable fix, you will be a hero to many here on BadWeb. If you try the Trojan-Hosre option, many will also be interested in whether it is worth it. Good luck. | ||
| Svh |
I'll keep you posted. May be at my friends machine shop a bit this winter. Dark Horse Moto makes a relocation bracket that I think works with a Brembo caliper. Need to investigate more. | ||
| Miamiuly |
The "wooden" feel IS the anit-lock feature. It is pretty weak but I figure they tuned it for the dirt road riding and/or trail-braking without locking up. I use the rear in conjunction with the front, but the stopping power is supposed to be up front, this isn't a cruiser with spindly, raked forks that forces you to use the rear to stop. | ||
| Red_chili |
There is so much more braking force from the front brake of a motorcycle, I only lightly use the rear anyway. In an abrupt stop even engine braking can slide the rear. I like the rear brake personally. But then I had a Ducati with an even 'lighter' rear brake. Didn't miss it on that one either. Take it to a parking lot and do some front brake incipient lockup exercises. You'll see what I mean. | ||
| Red_chili |
Same thing holds true on the dirt, BTW. Should be able to slide both ends with *some* level of confidence, anyway. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
In normal braking conditions, the brake force, per MSF is 70/30 front to rear. A stronger rear brake won't help in panic stop situations. It will make the problem worse by allowing the rear to lock SOONER. Trust the front brake. I came from a dirtbike background as well. I have retrained for front brake use. | ||
| Wbrisett |
maybe I'm dreaming this, but I swear I saw a replacement rear brake from Touratech. However, looking at their site, I can't find it. I'll have to look in the catalog they sent me. | ||
| Buelldualsport |
Check with Al at American Sport Bike Buells to Alaska ALCAN 5000 2010 | ||
| Neurorider |
Has anyone tried the Brembo rear caliper/hidden mount from American Sport Bike? It looks pretty cool but before buying one I'd love to hear a comparison with the stock brake. I for one feel comfortable with my ability to use the rear brake in conjunction with the front-I know how to use a front brake. I feel like the rear is a noob-friendly brake since so many wrecks are cause by rear brake lockups and panic slides and that isn't likely with the stock rear brake. I would like more rear brake! | ||
| Chrisxt |
All of the noobs don't know that if you are in a panic stop and you lock up the rear, you are supposed to KEEP IT LOCKED.. DON'T let go (non-ABS bikes only.) Just DON'T do that for the front!!! | ||
| Danger_dave |
Get a push bike and work some strength in yo poor spindley legs so you can push the lever down. | ||
| Gotj |
I betcha didn't expect to get flamed for wanting functional brakes. It's so sad, some of these people.  Regarding the American Sport Bike option, I was not up to speed on that. I may give that a shot myself. Anybody used it on a Uly yet? Was a new brake line needed or not? | ||
| Svh |
It was meant as sarcasm mostly. I do use the front brake quite often, more than the rear, because like Ft_bstrd I am retraining myself for the street. The Blast you can lock it right up and this bike I can't unless its unweighted. Not trying to have a bike that can lock it up but it shows a lack of braking force I guess. Oh well was only trying to make funny. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I actually still like to use the rear brake, but my use is completely different than off road. I like to use the rear to settle the chassis and scrub off some speed. In panic stops, though, I really try to stay away from it. What's weird, though, is that I am not really rattled by my rear tire locking up. I think a lot of that comes from riding off road. | ||
| Svh |
Sounds exactly how I am. Rear locking up doesn't bother me at all. | ||
| Hooper |
Ditto, SVH - I use both brakes in 99% of my braking, as I was taught in the MSF class. I believe it. I find the Uly rear brake to lock up very easily, especially if I'm slamming them on to stop at a sudden red light - which totally unnerves onlookers. Therefore, I kind of like the Uly's rear brake because I KNOW it. The BMWs I've rented and my other bikes (Harley, Yamaha drum brake, Suzuki disc brake) are all different experiences. It really is a great idea to go to a big parking lot and learn the stopping power that you have and get good at using it. | ||
| Froggy |
I am thinking of putting a air bubble in the rear brake, it locks to easy. Now that i switched to lyndal golds and wave rotors it happens easier! I don't get how, it looks like half the rotor dosen't even get used. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>is that I am not really rattled by my rear tire locking up.<< How we backs the rear out setting up for air off the crest in my steep driveway even. flames schmames - it's banter amongst like minded indeeviduals. | ||
| Red_chili |
Serious about doing that incipient lockup exercise. You WILL use it sooner or later, and when you trod that earth it will be familiar territory. You will already know - instinctively - how to feather the brake RIGHT at the edge and it won't add to a spooky situation. I also find the rear easy to lock up. ??? I do find some variability between the XB9S and the XB12X. My front is firm and stops you NOW. My wife's XB9 feels spongy in comparison, and the same after I changed the fluid for Valvoline Synpower. Huh. She likes it compared to her R65, but I don't. I don't know if the PO put on aftermarket pads but I will swap when I get the Lindahls (which I see just shipped, WooHoo!). | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
It's part of the reason that some of the best riders come from dirt experience. The more comfortable you are with mixed traction situations, the better you are able to handle changes in traction and loss of contact. | ||
| Red_chili |
I wonder if there is a correlation between being a dirt rider and hating ABS for just that reason? | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I wonder if your front suspension is set up correctly???????? I used to lock mine up until I set the front suspension for my weight. | ||
| Svh |
It is set up to the book. Which made a great difference from where the dealer had it set at. | ||
| 12x9sl |
Red Chili, that's weird what you said about your wife's xb9s. My wife rides a xb9sl and her bikes definitely stops better than mine. I have Lyndals on both bikes, maybe that is the difference...  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The rear brake works perfectly..... For a sport bike. If the elves had meant for the rear brake to do the majority of the braking, they would have put the perimeter rotor on the rear. | ||
| Red_chili |
Red Chili, that's weird what you said about your wife's xb9s. My wife rides a xb9sl and her bikes definitely stops better than mine. I have Lyndals on both bikes, maybe that is the difference... Yeah, I'll have to look into it. | ||
| Gotj |
"The rear brake works perfectly.....For a sport bike." Perhaps. Now if only the Uly WERE a sport bike.... It's no more a sport bike than a GS or a Versys. It can be ridden like a sport bike and some of you do that. If you like the brakes the way they are ("perfect" to some), why not let others who find them deficient work in peace to find a solution? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
As I always ask my MSF students: Where do bikes have dual front discs? You'll never see them on the back wheel of a bike. 70% front and 30% rear. My stock rear brake will lockup the tire on pavement. Off road, easily. So why is a more powerful rear brake even necessary? All you'll accomplish with a more powerful rear brake is to make it easier to high-side crash yourself off the bike. As MiamiUly posits, its the anti lock feature, and no extra charge. | ||
| Gotj |
From my perspective, it's not the ability to lock up the rear tire that is the issue. It is the force required to do so. It takes so much force that the ability to modulate the brake is virtually nil. Sort of an on-off switch. You can't feel you are NEAR lockup, just that you have gotten there. One option I have considered is somehow changing the leverage ratio of the brake lever but that kind of fabrication is WAY beyond my capability or resources. Just to make the lever longer would put the end too far away from the footpeg. I have other bikes that have much more feel in their brakes and when I get back on the Uly, I have to do some major readjusting of my braking technique. BTW, they are Ducatis. | ||
| Desmo900 |
I picked up a Brembo caliper last week at a junk yard, and got a hidden bracket from Al at American Sport Bike today. Gonna install it this weekend. I'm from dirt bikes and Ducatis and I like a functional rear brake. That being said I dont think I have ever had to change rear pads on any street bike I've owned. Mostly I like the way the hidden caliper looks... I know, its just bling and vanity. |
