Author Topic: Relocating the master cylinder (Read 10963 times)

fdbrat · « **on:** March 11, 2009, 09:54:33 PM »

Man oh man. I really hate the master cylinder on my bars. Is there a way or a kit to relocate it. Or is my only option Running rear brakes only?

?

Any ideas are welcome.

By the way My bike is a cb55/4

johnyvilla · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:07:33 PM »

Fdbrat. Why do you hate your MC, and what bars are causing this emotion? I have never heard of anyone deleting their front brake, as It is responsible for like 60-80% of your stopping power. I would be scared to pilot any vehicle w\o rear brakes for that matter. If you have say clubman bars, Mikes XS sells a MC that can accommodate your aggressively sloping bars. People on this forum will generally respond to specifics faster.

fdbrat · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:16:59 PM »

Ok well the bars are stock cb550 bars. What Im trying to do to the bike is make it real simple. The MC is kinda bulky and an eye sore in my opinion.

Does the MC have to be on the bars??

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:31:05 PM »

The mc has to be connected to the brake lever directly...can't think of a way to ever separate them......

Gordon · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:39:20 PM »

Quote from: Spanner 1 on March 11, 2009, 10:31:05 PM

The mc has to be connected to the brake lever directly...can't think of a way to ever separate them......

+1

If you moved the MC away from the handlebar what would push the piston when you pull the brake lever?

You may have some luck looking at after market master cylinders or something off a newer bike that's lower-profile.

754 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2009, 10:41:13 PM »

Find a new place for the coils, then you can mount under the tank. Then run matching levers on the bars

Beemer did it on thousands of bikes (1980s), and a few custom bikes ran that way..

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2009, 11:33:38 PM »

....( 754 )... WHHAAAAT??

cafe750 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2009, 06:37:45 AM »

All of the BMW motorcycles from the /6 up to 1980 had a cable actuated master cylinder, hidden under the fuel tank. It works fairly well, but the brake "feel" kinda sucks.
It does clean up the bars though...

In '80 BMW went to a more "conventional" master, mounted on the bars.

bryanj · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2009, 07:52:35 AM »

BMW used a cable operated master located under the tank for a while but it was a pain in the ass to check and set up

754 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2009, 08:05:13 AM »

True, but he was going after a different look.

Custom builders will go to great lengths to have a clean looking bike, ease of maintenance then takes a back seat.(Thanks to them, some of the cool stuff even gets used on factory rides, down the road)

once bled, you generally dont have to mess with them much.

Industrial Rat400f Killer · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2009, 09:42:21 AM »

I've been trying to figure out if I can change my levers out to something like these:
http://guzzino.com/tomaleset.html :and use a completely different MC set up.

I have clip-ons that I really like but the stock lever and MC set up won't let me adjust everything to where I want because they run into the clamp that hold the bar on.

Joksa · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2009, 09:45:09 AM »

Like this:

Industrial Rat400f Killer · « **Reply #12 on:** March 12, 2009, 09:51:18 AM »

That is so f'n clean. I love it. Any idea of how it's done?

754 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 12, 2009, 09:57:41 AM »

Yup, MC under the tank trick..

fdbrat · « **Reply #14 on:** March 12, 2009, 04:08:12 PM »

Super awsome guys. Im going to do a bit of research tonite and check out some of these leads.

754 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 12, 2009, 06:36:55 PM »

A small rear, like Grimeca will probably work well..

coyotecowboy · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2009, 08:02:50 PM »

Run a radial setup and you'll have a remote resivoir then. Brembo makes some really slick ones

GammaFlat · « **Reply #17 on:** March 12, 2009, 09:32:53 PM »

GoldWings have a foot brake (hydraulic) which actuates the rear and one of the front calipers. I've known guys that say that's all they use is the foot brake.

Brantley · « **Reply #18 on:** March 12, 2009, 11:26:06 PM »

Have you considered running a drum?

rhinoracer · « **Reply #19 on:** March 12, 2009, 11:51:35 PM »

What I would do is get a rear wheel MC and pedal from a modern sport or dirt bike and hook it with a loooong line to your front caliper.

Then get an old cable operated right brake lever and hook a loong cable to your rear brake drum.

fdbrat · « **Reply #20 on:** March 13, 2009, 12:11:46 AM »

A shy bit off corse. I thought the MC ran the front disk. The rear is Drum. Brantely Has got the Idea that seems most simple. Drums all around.

Good call. Yet I'm still not shure what path I'll end up taking. Shall I go Left, Right, or shall i stay the strait and narrow.

Decisions decisions......

SUELZER · « **Reply #21 on:** March 18, 2009, 08:33:01 PM »

found that MC w/sloped reservoir on MikesXs

http://www.mikesxs.net/products-71.html#products

any other versions/sellers of a sloped MC out there?

~Christian

754 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 18, 2009, 08:39:50 PM »

Now that is FUGLY..

Willya guys do me a favor;

If you EVER, and I do mean EVER..
see me on a bike with something like that fastened to it..

just PUNT, KICK, FORCIBLY PUSH, or use whatever means you can to push me off the road or into a tree...

My God... what an ugly piece of metal...

cafe750 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 18, 2009, 09:51:32 PM »

Hey Frank, are you making it out to Tsawwassen this year?

754 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 18, 2009, 10:30:36 PM »

95 % sure I will be there...

However the plan to bring a truckload of 4 parts to sell , looks like it hit a snag.

.. seems someone who thought that would be a good idea a while back, never thought about it since..

So maybe, it will only be a carload of stuff, but I should have lots of sohc parts, and some new hot products for SOHC 750s that I was planning to unveil there..

Looks like there will be a 1/2 dozen or more of us from the forum there... we should try to meet up during or after..
Frank

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Author Topic: Relocating the master cylinder (Read 10963 times)