Topic: EBC FA13V Semi Sintered Brake Pads

[buffalogt750]

Has anyone here tried EBC V series semi sintered brake pads?

[bjbuchanan]

Yeah I run them. Set the bike up properly or they will squeak like a motha. Stop nicely tho, especially for the price. I get them cheap off of amazon

[buffalogt750]

Thanks. I'm looking for more stopping power and am considering a smaller bore master cylinder but I'll try the semi sintered pads first. Every pad I've used including OEM Honda pads needed extra work to stop the squeal. I use a drilled disc, chamfer the edge of the pad a little, use anti squeal on the back of the pads, keep the swinger adjusted and deglaze the pads and rotor every now and then.

[bjbuchanan]

Yeah, that the usual procedure, go through the same routine and they won't squeal. I'm actually changing to a smaller MC from a buell blast, I don't like the wooden feel of the lever with stainless lines and stock bore. I prefer more modulation there. Only downside is you sacrifice the cool roundtop MC, they are always that rectangle

[RJ CB450]

Yeah, that the usual procedure, go through the same routine and they won't squeal. I'm actually changing to a smaller MC from a buell blast, I don't like the wooden feel of the lever with stainless lines and stock bore. I prefer more modulation there. Only downside is you sacrifice the cool roundtop MC, they are always that rectangle

In another thread, person is talking about upgrading and shared a link to a roundtop brake cylinder with the glass window that they were looking at.

http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-caferacer-cafe-racer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-brake-parts-black-silver-aluminum-nissin-retro-hydraulic-front-brake-master-cylinder-717-654a-3876.html

Anyways, I must be odd.  I like my hard and overdone brakes on my 650.... EBC rotors, complete SS line system, and the V semi sinterers.  Throw in the overbore master cylinder when compared to the standard CB650, not a bike for a beginner anymore....  Problem now is that the rear is so weak in comparision, I need to do some serious upgrading there.

Expensive, but worth the money.  Not sure how much difference they would make on the single rotor/piston caliper setups, I remember my cb450 brakes were "okay"  The pads alone will make it more consistent brakes, changing to the stainless steel lines will firm it up.

[bjbuchanan]

For 190$ I will just have to sigh longingly at the picture. Not gonna happen, especially considering it isn't some radical or great technological improvement. I don't mind a stiff handle, that whole "look at me do stoppies with 2 fingers thing" isn't appealing but you really gotta crank on the handle for a quicker stop.

I have EBC rear shoes, they bite nice but I'm not big on cranking on the rear brake. I am comfortable really laying hard on the brakes, I practice it on roads when nobody is around just in case but the front is the real important one.

[RJ CB450]

For 190$ I will just have to sigh longingly at the picture. Not gonna happen, especially considering it isn't some radical or great technological improvement. I don't mind a stiff handle, that whole "look at me do stoppies with 2 fingers thing" isn't appealing but you really gotta crank on the handle for a quicker stop.

I have EBC rear shoes, they bite nice but I'm not big on cranking on the rear brake. I am comfortable really laying hard on the brakes, I practice it on roads when nobody is around just in case but the front is the real important one.

Yeah.  And you are right, it does seem to take a bit more force to really bite them up, or maybe not really remembering the original brakes from last fall.  I guess you can call it a gradient.  The travel is less because it firms up so fast.  The first bit of braking is really consistent on the light braking, but as it firms up, it ramps up braking power.  Not going to be doing stoppies with two fingers on it..

The big difference I do remember is while it is firmer and less handle travel, it is a smoother transition.  I remember last fall when riding, the brakes were okay, then BITE!  I am suspecting probably was the brakes start grabbing, then the pressure swelled the lines a bit before more pressure added.  Creating almost a dead pressure area?  If that makes sense?

The rear brakes are actually really getting to me.  Start of May, I took a rider training upgrade class.  I am a 100% self taught motorcyclist, so decided that since I am an advocate in our province for responsible motorcycling, I better take the course that I got insurer to recognize for many perks.  Part of that was advanced braking techniques, so I am frequently modulating with front and rear and combination of both now.  Especially low speed maneuvering, I don't touch the front brakes.  Might also be some adjustment needed a little bit more to pedal position, but it isn't responsive enough for my taste.

[buffalogt750]

Yeah, that the usual procedure, go through the same routine and they won't squeal. I'm actually changing to a smaller MC from a buell blast, I don't like the wooden feel of the lever with stainless lines and stock bore. I prefer more modulation there. Only downside is you sacrifice the cool roundtop MC, they are always that rectangle

Buell Blast master is one option, also masters from Suzuki DR's, Honda XR's and Kawasaki EX's, really just about any modern single disc bike has a 13mm master cylinder which should give more power and better feel than the stock 14mm master. Ebay also has lots of 13mm new masters for cheap although I suspect most are Chinese made, probably better to get a used one from a modern bike so you know what you have and can get parts if needed. Most also have a 10mm mirror mount just like the stock master. That 190 dollar master from dimecitycycles may work OK for dual discs but with its 5/8 inch bore, which is about 15.6mm, but you would probably need two hands to stop if used with with a single disc.

[bjbuchanan]

I saw an old post by FunJimmy about using the buell blast and he said it was slightly smaller and used the same mirror mount, that is what put me on to it. I picked up a 2008 one, nice shape no rash for 35$. The plus side is the masters are usually really easy to dissasemble and clean well so I don't need a rebuild kit because stuff like a rubber boot tore