Front brake uprate kit

Hi All

I have just ordered a new front brake uprate kit from RGM, has a 12" floating disc, Grimeca caliper and all hardware to fit, as well a reducing kit for the master cyclinder, like to know if anyone has fitted this kit to their Norton and like to know how good they are...

My Norton has spat me off twice at slow speed in the last 4 months, found out the hard way my front disc is warped, had to hit the brake hard it pulled to the right and spat me off, was only in first gear at the time, flung me over the handle bars, resaulting fractured left arm, broken thump, broken right foot peg and smashed maggie cover, lucky I had a spare maggie cover and the 850 has been going so well since it has been back on the road, so have to recover before I can get back onto it with a new moden brake system fitted, thats life I surpose...

Worst part is its my first broken bone and fractured arm, will be off the bike for about 5 to 6 weeks as well work, just so board not being able to do anything...

Ashley

Bah, your winter is coming, you will be snowed in soon :wink:

Jean

Hi Jean

Never gets that cold that we can't ride here, best time of the year for riding the Norton is our winter...

Ashley

ashman said:

Hi Jean

Never gets that cold that we can't ride here, best time of the year for riding the Norton is our winter...

Ashley

Click to expand...

I know, just kidding. Heal fast

Jean

Ashman, if you ever get to the U.S., boy do I have a guy I want you to meet.

Ashley,

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

I have the same setup as the RGM kit you described. I use a 11mm Gremica master cylinder. Excellent stopper. You want to get as close to a ratio of 27:1, caliper to master. That's per Vintage Brake.

Hey Ash,.. I have the Gremica Floater and reducer sleeve on my Combat,... One finger stopping power... AC.

Hi All

Thanks for the replies and best wishes for a quick recovery, will take it easy till fully healed, should have the kit this week, it will give me some time to get the reducer insalled in the master cyclinder...

Ashley

Hi Ashley

I have the RGM set up you are going to fit and have used it for four years and found it to be very good. It takes away that awful wooden feel so slow speed stops are more precise and from higher speeds the stopping is vastly improved. I also fitted a (RGM) Grimeca caliper to the rear disk.
I also fitted progressive fork springs and that also helped, perhaps the next step should be a landsdown kit with I am told standard springs.

Get well soon

Bob.

rocker1 said:

Hi Ashley

I have the RGM set up you are going to fit and have used it for four years and found it to be very good. It takes away that awful wooden feel so slow speed stops are more precise and from higher speeds the stopping is vastly improved. I also fitted a (RGM) Grimeca caliper to the rear disk.
I also fitted progressive fork springs and that also helped, perhaps the next step should be a landsdown kit with I am told standard springs.

Get well soon

Bob.

Click to expand...

Bob, surly huge brake up-grades require other suspension Mods ? The idea of massive twin disc's bolted to basic 1952 model 7 forks is going to give problens! Thats all your Commando stock front end as :!:

Hello John

My Commando has a single 12" disk and Grimeca caliper along with a master cylinder sleeve, the set up proposed by Ashman.
I agree all brake modifications should be carried out with an eye on frame / fork limitations.
To this end I have fitted a set of progressive springs to cure the rather dead feel to the front end and a home made fork brace that is quite effective and looks original. Marzocchi shocks look after the rear.
This is not the ultimate but fine for the way I use this bike, If I want to go really fast I use a 4 cylinder jap bike.
I love my Norton and my Featherbed framed Gold Star but even I wouldnt claim they are cutting edge kit, therefor I ride my older machines appropriately, brisk but not stupidy so.

Regards Bob.

Hi Bob and all

My 850 is mounted in a Wideline Featherbed, it has the front forks and rear surspension work done to it, it has been this way sinse 1980, its a lite bike, very fast, handles great (it likes tight cornering roads) but the brakes just anen't up to it no more (even worst with a warped disc) $190 for a new disc, so the extra money spent on this new brake system should be a big improvement as well the 12" floating disc will look good on the Akront wheels, when I have it fitted up and I'm riding again I will put up a full report and give my view of the whole system...

Thanks all for the replies

Ashley