Brembo front brake

jseng1

jseng1

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Nov 26, 2009
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For those do it yourselfers who like quality brand names. These four piston Ducati brembo calipers are a good price if you can find them used. Make your own adapter bracket out of alum plate (I used 1/2"). Add a 12mm brembo master cylinder and you are set. The disc in the photo is the standard UK upgrade. Stops right now.

Brembo front brake
 
I put a similar set up on my bike:




There are two main types of brembo calipers u can use, the ones with 65mm mounting holes or with 40mm mounting holes (the spacing btwn them). I used the 40mm version, looks like @jseng1 used the 65mm version. I think the CNW kit uses a (new and nicer) version of the 40mm style. I had the best luck looking for used ducati brakes on ebay. I repainted mine black, it was originally gold.

As for a disc, I used the one made by @madass140 (painted black). There are some threads on here about using discs off of kawasakis (If I remember correctly) but none of these are a bolt on replacement, they all have to be redrilled with the Norton bolt pattern. I also found that with a slight bend u can keep the original fender support, which looks better IMO.
For my adapter I used 1/2" 6061 alum. And the master cylinder is a 12mm brembo, the handle is just long enough to reach over the stock switches, which are held on with a 3D printed backing plate. Brake line is a venhill. I think the entire set up came to 400-500 USD, not the cheapest but still reasonable (that was with new pads as well).

Some resources I found when researching, some are more helpful then others:
Brembo cross reference - Topics - Gregory Bender
untitled - Brembo High Performance 2009 Catalog - Distributed by OPP Racing.pdf
Brembo 2010 Motorcycle Catalog - Brembo Motorcycle Catalog 2010 - OPP Racing.pdf
Brembo Caliper 4
High Performance Catalog - brembo_catalog.pdf
Norton 880 Commando Receives Modern Upgrades - autoevolution
Disc brake upgrade for 850 | Page 2 | Access Norton Motorcycle Forums
Colorado Norton Works Brakes Installed | Access Norton Motorcycle Forums
Adding rear disc brake on 73 Roadster | Access Norton Motorcycle Forums
1974 Norton 850 Commando | S29 | Las Vegas 2020
Foto a pagina intera - 20516568.pdf
Foto a pagina intera - 20516579-89.pdf
 
RGM do a 12 inch replacement disc, which I think is a lot cheaper than the one Jseng showed: £194 approx.
 
Does anybody of you have a drawing for the adapter bracket and is willing to share?
 
H
Chris Zet said:
Does anybody of you have a drawing for the adapter bracket and is willing to share?
Click to expand...
Here's a quick sketch of the bolt spacing for the home made bracket:
Brembo front brake


A straight on shot - blow this photo up to scale or cut out paper templates until everything clears.
Brembo front brake


The 1/8" stick spacer between caliper and bracket:
Brembo front brake
 
Fast Eddie said:
What disc Martyn ?
Click to expand...
I spent a while on the interweb looking at lots of discs & this type fitted the bill nicely. Honda CBR1000 2008 to 2016 on my own boss. I prefer not to modify standard parts if at all possible, that way if the part gets damaged or worn out it's just a staight swop for a new part. Something learnt from working in engineering/manufacturing.
 
I use two single poy AP callipers with two Suzuki high speed steel discs. Pads are a problem. One AP caliper on its own is not enough brake for racing and chromium plated discs are useless. With the Suzuki discs, I tried carbon racing pads - they did not work - so I went back to the old asbestos pads. I am not happy with the plates arrangement I use to hold the callipers. But it is just because I am paranoid about my frtont braske. The plates and spacers have never come loose - but there is potential for a problem. If you lose your front brake at the end of a long straight, things might become a bit difficult.
 
A good front brake witll dramatically increase the speed of your motorcycle. You can only go as fast as you can stop. My front brake operates with one finger. My drum brake was like that and that is the reason I used to crash when idiots got in my way. Discs are much safer.
Never race with a drum brake - it is not worth it. They change everywhere. At least on public roads, you are usually going slower.
 
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acotrel said:
A good front brake witll dramatically increase the speed of your motorcycle. You can only go as fast as you can stop. My front brake operates with one finger. My drum brake was like that and that is the reason I used to crash when idiots got in my way. Discs are much safer.
Never race with a drum brake - it is not worth it. They change everywhere. At least on public roads, you are usually going slower.
Click to expand...
Race, race, race, race........ blah, blah, blah
 
While you stay at speeds lower than the limits, you are usually OK on a road bike, as far as stopping is concened. So why do yiou need a disc brake ? - You all know what the truth is about why you ride motorcycles. I used to rode on public roads until I was 29. They were my main form of transport. But the writing was on the wall - so I went racing.
Do Harleys have disc brakes ?
 
acotrel said:
While you stay at speeds lower than the limits, you are usually OK on a road bike, as far as stopping is concened. So why do yiou need a disc brake ? - You all know what the truth is about why you ride motorcycles. I used to rode on public roads until I was 29. They were my main form of transport. But the writing was on the wall - so I went racing.
Do Harleys have disc brakes ?
Click to expand...
Yes last time I looked they got modern brakes ....the older ones could have used grapnel anchors as back ups though .:)
Road going cycles (computer type use) can afford you time for the linings to cool off a touch...racing not so much...Unless winning is not part of your task or purpose :)
 
acotrel said:
Do Harleys have disc brakes ?
Click to expand...

Harleys have come with Brembo calipers and discs both ends for some years now. I am sure they could be adapted to fit Nortons.
Personally, I use Tokico four-piston calipers on such conversions. Cheap as chips off pre-radial mount GSXR-1000 Suzuki sportbikes. They work spectacularly well on older Harleys and Brit bikes. (I do file the Tokico name off the calipers and repaint them though!)
 
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