Topic: How do you know if you have good brakes?

[apormarkos]

At risk of sounding like a safety-crat (having been a riding instructor) I'm a great believer in scanning as far ahead as possible so that sphincter puckering situations are kept to a minimum.

 
that's good advice in or on any vehicle, and very well put i might add.
apor

[red91sit]

Anyone have any complaints with the CB-400F's brakes? They work more than good enough for me 

[botheras]

Anyone have any complaints with the CB-400F's brakes? They work more than good enough for me 

So you never go above 30mph then....

By modern standards all the SOHC brakes are cr*p, but for real buttock clenching, try the SLS CD175 brakes... Oh, sheeeeeite.

Larry

Essex UK

[eldar]

there are a lot of bikes with worse brakes than what we have. As others have mentioned, we could have drum brakes on the front. Think about that for a moment. I know how people, even me have said todays bikes are better. Well in the case of rockets, they are much lighter. A lighter object is quicker and easier to stop at any speed than a heavier object. Even the cruisers that are as heavy as our bikes, stop better. But then they have dual calipers with dual pucks in most cases. You put on a newer model fork, IF you can fit one, and you will stop very well also.

Everyone here just has tp remember that we are on technology that is 30+ years old. Of course it is not going to be as good as what is around now. My bike with its single disk, still stops me pretty good, especially once I get my new rubber diaphragm and plastic ring, which got cracked and lets in air.

[Noel]

I knew my single front disk wasn't the greatest, but I felt that it was at least adequate.

Then I switched to the double disk set-up and I can't believe I managed with that single disk.

Of course, if I borrowed my neighbor's SP1 I'm sure I would decide that my current set-up is unacceptable.

[Bodi]

There's nothing wrong with drum brakes for street riding. My CB77 with double-leading shoes will skid the front wheel - until it gets hot and mushy which tells me I'm outriding the bike.
There's nothing wrong with SOHC4 disk brakes either. Current squid bikes are really racing machines, a street bike doesn't have any realistic need for the brakes they have.
Modern bikes have better tires, chassis, brakes, engines, everything. So what? There's no point in comparing them if you want to ride an antique.
The single disk on the 400F will stop the bike as fast as the tire will allow; I can balance between howling and slipping from 70MPH to full stop with the back drum doing a lot as well. I don't think catapulting over the handlebars is a more effective way of deceleratring so I don't bemoan the inability to pull stoppies.

[eldar]

My point exactly. I stop well enough. Could it be better, in terms of overall power? Sure but is it going to be usable power?
Of the rockets out there, how many use 100% of stopping power EVER in their lives? I bet less than half that are ridden. In many cases, using 100% stopping on these would send a person over the bars. How is that going to help you. A controlled stop os better than a hang-on-and-try-not-to-drop-the-bike-because-of-too-much-braking-power-stop.

[hevykevy420]

My problem is that the PO of my bike had extended forks and bigger handlebars so he had an extension in the brake line.  I coudn't get rid of the extension when i converted back to stock length forks because i'm still using the handlebars.    Not only is my brake line 20+ years old, now it is 20+years too old and a foot too long    I have a feeling that is affecting brake performance... 

My bigger problem is reminding myself that everyone around me can stop quicker than my CB, especially when travelling the same roads I tackle with an RC51 that is fully capable of launching a rider during a panic stop.  Trust me, that f$%&$R threw me superman style over a guard rail.

[eldar]

Well just measure the line you have and call helusa and get a line made for your bike with that length. braided line just the right length for $50 including shipping!

[hevykevy420]

Ordering right now...

 

[eldar]

I got amazing service from these guys. Emails on the whole thing. I even got a call when the guy had a couple of questions! How many places do that? Most just assume and do whatever. Next line I need for ANY bike will come from HELUSA.

Forgot to mention that the HEL lines are thinner than any other line I have seen as in smaller diameter but feel just as strong.

[750k5]

I have been riding for nearly 35 years, on alot of different bikes, none of which came with only a front or rear brake, the idea is to use BOTH.  All my old bikes, beit Norton, Triumph Kawasaki, or Harley, have inferior brakes compared to today's rides.  when riding with guys on the newer bikes, you have to remember that they do have better systems, so you have to adjust to that, and remember what you are riding...