Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => Accessories and Modifications - C10 => Topic started by: ATC Buckeye on November 15, 2011, 06:57:14 PM

Title: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 15, 2011, 06:57:14 PM
I bought another bike this year, and when I ride the Connie, the one thing that leaps out at me is the brakes on the C10. They're just not doing it for me. I've got stainless lines, rebuilt the calipers and master cylinder, and added Carbone Lorraine brake pads with new fluid. 

Without going into to much detail I may be going back to the C10 as my primary ride in the spring, and if so I'm willing to drop some dough into the brakes.  So what are my options that don't involve raw metal fabrication, as i dont have the resources for that. 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: jim snyder on November 15, 2011, 07:09:01 PM
Try and find a set of front brake adaptor brackets and mount some 4 pots on the front. then when you get the stock front brakes off send me the left front 2 pot caliper and I'll convert it to fit the rear. Then you will have some brakes 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 15, 2011, 07:11:27 PM
Yes I would definitely like some adapter brackets, where can i get them?

Try and find a set of front brake adaptor brackets and mount some 4 pots on the front. then when you get the stock front brakes off send me the left front 2 pot caliper and I'll convert it to fit the rear. Then you will have some brakes
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: jim snyder on November 15, 2011, 07:13:50 PM
There is a deal in the works to get these made again, hopefully very soon and they will be available thru one of our industry members.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: tonedeaf on November 15, 2011, 07:15:25 PM
A C14.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 15, 2011, 08:15:33 PM
 Read Here if you haven't: http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=657.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=657.0)

I just did the 4 spot upgrade to my 90 C10. I looked for brackets for it, and could not find them so I made them. Another member has just bought calipers, so I may make another for him.
 If you have the Later 94 up forks, the brackets would be different. From what I understand from searching, the Suzuki DL VStrom  uses the same. Try here at SV Racing for the later Brackets. http://www.svracingparts.com/products/#ecwid:category=472407&mode=category&offset=0&sort=normal (http://www.svracingparts.com/products/#ecwid:category=472407&mode=category&offset=0&sort=normal)

 For the Pads I'm Running EBC HH on all, both front and rear.  It stops real good, and for me the cost was about $80 front, and $25 rear.

 Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 15, 2011, 08:42:25 PM
I have a 97.  A c14 is not a good fit for my size or riding style.  Which one of those brackets work?  They carry brackets for both the 650 and 1000 vstrom.   Unfortunately I do not have the resources or know how to make my own. 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 15, 2011, 08:45:55 PM
 I would contact them, I have No way of testing the Brackets for you. I did a Lot of looking and I found this Canadian site selling the Brackets. I believe it will be the DL 650. But I would shoot them an email, or give them a Bell.
 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 15, 2011, 08:59:23 PM
I remember that company back when i had a DL1000.  They're pretty well respected, but i doubt they would be willing to advise me to use that product on a bike other than the one its intended for.  But, I will check and see what their return policy is.  Maybe they'll let me buy both and test fit them and send em back if they don't fit.  There are tons of 4 pots that fit those brackets on eBay for not a lot of money and I'm guessing that would be a solid upgrade.  Only 2 things I really dont care for with the C10 are the handlebars and the brakes, and I paid so little for the bike $1600, that I don't mind spending a bit to bring it up to date. 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Uglydog56 on November 15, 2011, 09:04:28 PM
I thought we were talking about SV650 caliper brackets when we were talking about this.  Anyhow, I bolted a stock sv650 caliper (from my 01 SV) on my stock 98 front end and it fit.  So if you get one for that application, it should work.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 15, 2011, 09:06:44 PM
 You will be glad you did it. While the search I did led me to their site, I did not save the Lead that sent me to the brackets, which explained that they were a bolt on for the C10 Concours with the later forks. They use the same Caliper, and the Rotr is supposedly the same Dia. Of course this is only what I read through and can not verify the fitment.
 They will most likely have had enquirers to just that though. They may also as you suggested do returns. Or there is always a DL person who would love to up grade also.


 Well there you go, someone has done it already.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 15, 2011, 09:12:29 PM
Interesting.  That same company does make sv650 brackets as well for 4 pot Tokico or Nissin calipers. 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 15, 2011, 09:15:15 PM
 Yes, I would have the info of the Rotor Dia, the Bolt hole Center to center of the fork ears etc, and get in touch. I think they may also have Nissan Brackets.
 The extra braking will make a set of soft forks Dive. Depending on your condition, you may want to do something there as well.There are a couple of great write ups already on fork mods.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 15, 2011, 09:22:44 PM
Good call.  My forks are already race teched up.  Looks like those brackets push the new calipers outboard so I'd need larger rotors as well.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 15, 2011, 09:30:20 PM
 If they take larger rotors you will really get some leverage on the wheel then, you'll be able to lift the rear wheel a long ways off the ground like the stunt guys.
 I think the DL Bracket was supposed to fit the stock Rotor, but like I said that's only what I remember reading. No way to verify.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 16, 2011, 04:33:02 AM
Sounds like the sv bracket is the one I need, no?  Not the dl one, but maybe theyre the same anyway.  This is good info, I really hope they bolt right up.  There are tons of calipers on eBay that will fit those brackets. 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Steve in Sunny Fla on November 16, 2011, 05:27:53 AM
  I don't think you can beat this. 320mm waves, 4 pots, braided 2 line. Also raceteched (4 holes in blowoff +2 turns preload on blue springs) 5" cut from stock springs, fork brace and an avon storm ultra 2. I think this is a good as it gets on a stock front end. Steve
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: jworth on November 16, 2011, 07:38:45 AM
"stock" he says?!   ha!  Just kidding.  I know what you meant.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 16, 2011, 08:50:09 AM
Steve what bracket is that for the 4 pots?
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Steve in Sunny Fla on November 16, 2011, 08:59:09 AM
Steve what bracket is that for the 4 pots?

 It's from Shawn Forgacs, zrxmopar, but I don't think he's making them anymore. While I personally won't copy someone elses design, I do think Shawn is done with it and it's up for grabs. I know a local guy who may want to take on some limited production if you're interested, but I won't have a hand in it. Money isn't a motivator for me to set my personal ethics aside, but the reality is if there's a demand, someone will fill it. Steve
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 16, 2011, 09:23:18 AM
Crap.  I would love a set but I hear what you're saying.  I think I even have a pair of zrx calipers laying around in the garage.  I guess my only option right now is to order those sv brackets and hope they fit. 
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: GF-in-CA on November 16, 2011, 11:00:15 AM
I did some investigation into the SV brackets, short of trying to mount them.  I'm pretty sure you would need to use some sort of spacers to place the caliper in the right position relative to the plane of the rotor.  The SV brackets mount to the outside of the caliper tabs on the forks, and the SV tabs are undoubtedly a different thickness than the C10 tabs, so the SV brackets would put the caliper in a different side-to-side postion than is needed for the C10.  BTW, I stopped my investigation when I heard Jim S. was working on a solution, so IMO, I would wait till those adapters are available, since they will fit without any adjustments.

HTH,
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 16, 2011, 01:35:37 PM
Shoot.  I was afraid of that.   Oh well I guess the wait continues, which is okay cuz the deep freeze is coming anyway!   I really think if anyone makes these brackets they'll sell like hotcakes!
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: jim snyder on November 16, 2011, 08:40:02 PM
I did some investigation into the SV brackets, short of trying to mount them.  I'm pretty sure you would need to use some sort of spacers to place the caliper in the right position relative to the plane of the rotor.  The SV brackets mount to the outside of the caliper tabs on the forks, and the SV tabs are undoubtedly a different thickness than the C10 tabs, so the SV brackets would put the caliper in a different side-to-side postion than is needed for the C10.  BTW, I stopped my investigation when I heard Jim S. was working on a solution, so IMO, I would wait till those adapters are available, since they will fit without any adjustments.

HTH,

I just emailed my secret agent on the brake brackets to see where he stands, when I hear back I will update everyone.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: txfatboy on November 16, 2011, 11:27:21 PM
Hey Jim, say hello to Kev.... I mean your secret agent for me..... Wylie isn't the same without him.....
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: elvin315 on November 28, 2011, 04:11:12 PM
Money no object and no one's mentioned the ZRX Front-end Swap? Twin 6-piston calipers, 310mm discs, and a fully adjustable cartridge fork to boot.

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?board=27.0 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?board=27.0)

Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 28, 2011, 04:55:42 PM
I used to own a Rex, and yeah the brakes were pretty good on that bike.   I've totally Race-tech'ed my stock forks though, so I'm not sure this is a route I want to go.  I think I've even got a pair of Rex calipers in the garage.  I sure wish someone would make brackets to let me bolt those on.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 28, 2011, 05:58:18 PM
 Just curious, did you contact the guys in Canada? Otherwise I guess something is in the works? Maybe by spring riding?
 Otherwise a local welding shop could fab up some, but for how much? 1 Off brackets might cost a bit.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 28, 2011, 07:34:03 PM
Who are the guys in Canada?  I've lost track of who's making what as far as brakes are concerned.   I'll go do some searching.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 28, 2011, 07:36:28 PM
 Go back to page 1 and look at the brackets from SV Racing I posted. I still think the DL650 brackets are the ones, same caliper and rotor dimension as the later C10.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 28, 2011, 07:55:02 PM
Ah yes, those ones.  Based on what GF-in-CA posted, I was thinking those probably won't work but I will email them and see if they will let me return em if they don't fit.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: Motor Head on November 28, 2011, 08:00:01 PM
650DL is the ones I found the link to, but I would have to search it all over again to find it. Hopefully they will work, you can report back to the others here, and if they so choose they can also get a set, etc.
 If not hopefully they will take returns, if not Feebay them.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: jim snyder on November 28, 2011, 08:28:57 PM
Just curious, did you contact the guys in Canada? Otherwise I guess something is in the works? Maybe by spring riding?
 Otherwise a local welding shop could fab up some, but for how much? 1 Off brackets might cost a bit.

Yes there is something in the works, just hang in there.
Title: Re: Money no object, whats the best brake upgrade for the C10?
Post by: ATC Buckeye on November 29, 2011, 03:08:03 AM
Yes there is something in the works, just hang in there.

Perfect, sounds like a good winter project.  Can you tell me what calipers these brackets will work with?