OE honda brakes are fine(more than fine) for road use,even on track unless your proper proper quick then the standard pads are fine. if you reeally think they are pants,1st get the system bled properly,check that there are no pistons sticking in the caliper (pad wear will show this). then for me,upgrades would be in this order. lines+fluid m/c pads calipers. i've used o/e honda pads on track without issue in the past,although i'm using bendix mcr's atm (no good for road use mind),which give awesome stopping power,but dont last too long. theres still some of the quick bsb s/stock riders that use o/e pads.
I would deffo suggest brembo master cylinder and braided hoses... thats the only difference I have on trackbike and the front brakes on that thing seem to wants to bury the front wheel in the tarmac and start digging for china!!
I had the feeling that i couldnt stop in time, owned the bike from new, only ridden hot sunny days etc.. this feeling was on its 2nd summer.. took the brakes apart and over half the pistons had seized, how? no idea. worth checking though, anyone else had this?
I am not a track rider, but I understand the need for good brakes on the track and that they get used more frequently and fiercely in a relatively short space of time. As a road rider, I personally want the best brakes I can have, because although I will not be using them in the same way as I would on a track, when I want to stop I want to be able to do it in a controlled manner and within as short as possible distance as possible. I could perhaps argue that having great brakes on a road bike is more important than having them on a track bike. Chances are I would stand more chance of being killed/seriously injured on the road as opposed to on a track. I personally found the stock brakes on my 06 to be quite good, but not as good as I wanted bearing in mind the hazards I might encounter. Even if money was not a factor, I would not choose the top Brembos's, purely because they would be above my needs. I went for what I could afford and ended up with a braking system that gives me confidence and gives me far better control and far shorter stopping distances. My life is important to me and having very good brakes may help me to stay safer.
Hi jokeshopbeard, I had a chat with Arthur and he gave me some good advice. Brembo M/C19 18/20, Brembo T drive discs, HEL Lines, Brembo M4's and pads. The T drives were a bit extravagant, but they work well, look nice and sound good lol. I kept the standard rear caliper with Brembo pads, brembo disc and HEL line. I am keeping this bike so it was worth it to me to have it how I wanted it. The brakes have already proved their worth on several occasions.
Have to agree .Its 2013 and the brakes are perhaps the same technology as a Brough Superior. Bled them cleaned the calipers and pistons but can't say I am cock - a - hoop with the performance " is this really the best we have " bar going out and spending a fortune for decent kit.
They look awesome! Sorry to hijack the thread but interested in what was needed for them to fit. Did you use a double Banjo fitting?
I came from the 848 to the blade and thought that the brakes were totally rubbish. thats what happens when you get spoiled by good brakes lol
Yes you need a double banjo with the hel lines and you will need to add two copper washers otherwise it wont seal but once fitted with the hel lines and brembo pads I was very happy with the results. The clutch perch and lever are available but contact Stevebetts first as he was trialing a modded setup for the blade from brembo as a few of us had issues with setup and adjustment. Any questions just PM me I will do my best to help... PS your bike is looking awesome fella ... I LOVE IT
I too had the same problem when I bought my blade in sept. 2011 i thought the brakes were just crap, I had traded in my MV F4 312rr which had brembo brakes they were awesome. My fix was a set of HEL lines and some brembo pads so much better more bite and progressive with it this might a good starting point
Stripped the calliper's down and found one piston was pretty seized, copperslip all the pads and pins and NOW they feel good.
