Working up a head of steam

Will see you next month.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_brake

Quite why I have the idea that BMW bikes were involved I'm not sure.

BTDT. Sometimes I miss the white knuckle sensation. No, I'm lying, I don't
miss it at all.

 

...and less disc braking surface, innit.

 

Ah yes, I remember slowly and majestically gliding to a halt on me ole XS.

 

mb says...

A CB250RS in the dry was just as bad, my old one is still sporting the
same organic brake pads it came with, at least 50,000 miles later, and
they hadn't worn at all. The disc showed absolutely no sign of wear or
rust either. Braking made almost no difference to decelleration, simply
shutting the throttle off on its own was just as effective.

 

This is bollocks. I remember tests at the ime - some drilled discs even
made wet weather braking *worse* because the holes acted a sreservoirs
for the water. Kawasaki drilled early discs, in an assymetric pattern,
and said it stopped squeal.
[/QUOTE]
Early drilled discs were shit until manufacturers started to make
ventilated discs (drilled for venting rather than cast) or slot the
discs running away from the drilled holes to the periphery of the
disc.

The theory was that steam build up from the water boiling could push
the pads away but the venting or slots would clear the steam. The idea
actually worked but caliper development made the whole concept
redundant.

I worked for a small company who (at the time) were developing brake
systems for a couple of 250 & 350 GP teams and I used to get to try
them out. I rode around for an entire winter with an 'in-house' front
brake set up on my almost new gpz550 and our stuff was a lot better
than the original Kawasaki kit.

 

I wouldn't bother offering if I were you. It seems as if Nick could
have sorted out his mechanical failings by now if he wanted to so he
probably prefers to chuck the bike at a shop. I don't blame him, I can
do most jobs on bikes but a lot of the time I'd sooner just throw it
at a dealer and let them take the strain.