Motorcycle Brakes Reviews

Stop by knowing you have the best brakes
here's what you need to watch for

Motorcycle brakes are an art in themselves! Modern bike brakes have just amazing stopping power, well beyond that of what the regular rider will encounter while riding. Here is a closer look at brakes and how they work.

For a long time motorcycles were stopped by drum brakes which work by pushing shoes up against the inside of a drum and causing friction to slow the motorcycle down. Drum brakes are easy to recognize with the 'drum' mounted on the wheel.

Drum brakes worked well and are still being used for smaller bikes. However, drums are prone to overheating and wear-outs, even the high performance ones. These motorcycle brakes need regular adjustment for optimal use. Disc brakes started to appear in the seventies with Honda leading the pack (the CB750). A disc brake works on the simple principle that a steel disc is gripped by two pads held by a hydraulic caliper.

Disc brakes are much friendlier for a motorcycle rider, less prone to overheating and require little (or no) adjustment. The downside was/is (especial during the early days) that wet weather didn't let these motorcycle brakes function as well. Modern day bikes use twin front discs and only one at the rear. Using more brake power at the back would lead to wheel block ups due to the dynamics of braking.

Each disk is gripped by calipers, where every caliper is pushed by four or six pistons. This greatly improves the brake power the riders feel when braking. Many tour bikes use a combination of different motorcycle brake hydraulics to divide the front and back braking power in the most optimal way. Additionally some bikes now also have ABS (anti block system).

The steel disk floats in the wheel so it can accommodate the temperature influences which occur while braking. The pads are fitted loosely in the clamp around the steel disk. Over time the disk pads need replacing, which is just standard maintenance. However keep an eye on disk damage due to incorrect placement of brake pads or anything else. Damaging the steel disk can result in a costly replacement.

Braking Systems
A motorcycle braking system can consist of brake discs, brake pads, brake calipers, rotors and brake lines. Make sure you know what type of brake system your bike has.


Disk Brakes
Motorcycle disc brakes are by far superior in virtually every possible application to drum brakes. Why so many motorcycle manufacturers continue to insist on placing these more primitive drum braking systems on the rear of their motorcycles, we don't know. Other than that drum braking systems give the rear end of a motorcycle an old fashioned, retro quality look. Granted, the disc brake may be more expensive to manufacture, but the difference is extremely minor when compared to the cost of a modern motorcycle.


Caliper Upgrading
Newer model motorcycles have incredibly powerful braking systems, and they're constantly improving. In fact, motorcycle brake caliper technology has evolved so quickly that even bikes just a few years old can gain a lot from a motorcycle brake caliper upgrade. Upgrading stock brake calipers always gives your bike a superior performance and feel.


Traction Control
Traction control braking adds a shock absorber-like effect to your braking systems, which allows your brake pads to float or drag over any high or low spots on the rotors. In an emergency situation, even the most experienced motorcyclists will tend to pull the brake lever too hard. This frequently leads to an accident. Although ABS motorcycle brakes systems do help, if you are on wet roads or in the middle of a turn, any brake locking at all can lead to an accident.


Sintered vs Organic Pads
Because of their progressive feedback, organics allow more precise and controlled trail braking. However, break-in requirements for organic pads must be followed to assure optimum performance. Sintered pads are known for sheer stopping power, coupled with strong initial bite. But the latest offerings from the brake pad industry do a great job of combining the best attributes of each. It's best to try a few brands and choose what works best for you and your bike.


Street Pads
Under the constant extreme motorcycle brake loads that characterize track riding, heat-related brake fade and component distortion are common problems. For motorcycles that are ridden exclusively on the track, either a top-quality organic pad, or a sintered pad that incorporates some method of reducing interface temperatures is recommended.


Weather
While sintered motorcycle brake pads usually outperform organics in the rain and snow, sometimes this is a double-edged sword. More braking power in conditions of limited traction can be a bad thing. So if you expect to be riding in the rain, consider your skill level when deciding which design will work best for you.


Rotors
Brake rotors come in a variety of choices for customizing your motorcycle or chopper. Rotors are available for both right-hand and left-hand applications, and some wheel manufacturers actually make rotors that match their wheel choices. This is a simple way to add considerable style to your custom chopper or motorcycle. Motorcycle brake rotors are also offered in different diameters. Larger diameter rotors will dissipate heat better because of the increased surface area.


Floating Rotors
Floating rotors are another type of motorcycle brake rotor that is gaining popularity for performance motorcycle applications. They use a two piece design that incorporates a hub (interior ring) fastened to a friction plate (exterior ring). By fastening the hub via slotted holes, the friction plate is able to expand and contract separately from the hub, thereby reducing the tendency to warp under intense heat.

We really appreciate tips from other riders. If you would like to add a tip to this list, feel free to send it to us using our contact form.

Be careful when replacing brake pads (brake fluid is corrosive and motorcycle brake dust is toxic) Once you have replaced the brake pads carefully test them. Make sure you get the feel back.

Brake maintenance should be a regular part of your service schedule - check shoe pad wear - check hose connections - bleed hydraulic brakes system - change hydraulic brake fluid.

Good tip is to service your brakes every time the wheel comes off. It's the easiest way to access the brakes and it avoids having to remove wheels for brake maintenance only.

Make sure you use the right brake fluid: it can be a (dot 3 or 4) glycol based or a silicone based (dot 5). Using the wrong fluid will screw up your system.

Your disk brake system can be fitted with single acting calipers (one piston pushes the brake pad from one side) or double acting calipers (two pistons push two brake pads from either side). Of course double calipers have more braking power.

Most modern calipers have multi pistons pushing the brake pad on the disc, creating an awesome braking force.

Brake discs are slotted and/or drilled so that cooling air can run through and past the hot discs for a better cooling effect.

If you replace brake lines, pistons or you feel your brake system is going soft you will need to bleed your brakes. See your owner manual for exact details.

One of the easiest maintenance jobs is to replace your brake pads however you must make sure you have checked and rechecked that you have done everything exactly right. Brake failure isn't what you need on a motorcycle.