Good front braking

I just met a French guy living in Miami FL and he told that after several tries of MC, even the AN one, and some calculation,




his best choice was that 14mm radial Brembo

http://www.ebay.it/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 1877593850

with stock caliper and disc, he now have a japanese braking safety with a smooth brake lever on his Commando.

This radial caliper requires a pee cup reservoir.
Not exactly a classic look for the commando.
However, the performance might be worth the price.

You can only ride as fast as the front brake will let you.

Form or function? On a daily bike, security might encourage some to prefer the function. It looks like a good solution for those.


BTW how many of us are frequently driving a Norton without any mods, strictly original?

I started the racing with a single chrome plated disc of a GS1000 Suzuki and an AP Lockheed calliper with asbestos pads. It was nowhere near good enough. I now use two high-speed steel Suzuki discs and two Lockheed callipers with asbestos pads. It is one finger operation, however in a crisis I can confidently grab a handful and do a crash stop without burning myself on the bum. For racing, it really has to be like that. For road use, a good front brake is always for the best, even if you never really have to grab it hard.
If you ever race, you need two things - the front brake and the gearbox. Anything else is incidental.

Understand this - my comments are mainly about racing. However you are just as dead if you end up under a truck. Take care !

I have to agree with the OP that 14mm is probably to best size for a master cylinder piston.
I replaced the OEM master cylinder on my '74 Trident with a Hinckley Street Triple MC (14mm diameter):



It gives plenty of feel with none of the wooden feeling that the OEM MC imparts.
I have the same lined up for my 850 resto-mod Commando.
Only one problem: you have to replace all the switch cubes as well:



The bonus is that you can use modern, adjustable dog-leg levers.

My upgrade, modern nissin MC with a "retro" style. Similar in looks to the original, exponentially better performance, and the built in brake switch is a two terminal job that accepts the lead from the stock loom

The best front disc brake will have a ratio of ~27:1 between caliper piston area and master cylinder piston area. You can have the most expensive components made but they won't be worth a shit unless they are sized properly. Quit thinking brand, start thinking size.

I use the master cylinder intended for use with ONE AP Lockheed calliper to operate TWO AP Lockheed callipers. The brake operation is one finger so the other three can operate the quick action twist-grip.