Linked Brakes an issue?

I just read the article on dissabling our linked brake system and I wondered what y'all thought?

I was skeptical about them at first but after a few days at the track I find that they work pretty well. I can't even tell that they are doing anything really. I was going to look into a change but after a thorough thrashing, I don't see the value.

He did a really nice job of upgrading the system and it did make his bike unique but at a cost, like any mod I suppose.

Thoughts?

 

I meant no offense by my post Mello Dude. In fact I was sure that there was something to gain from it till I spent two days running at Road America on the beast and came away pleased with its abilities. I've been riding as long as you have but only recently have I been priveledged to hit the track so I'm sure you ride harder than I do. I found that the brakes were not my major limitation but that cornering clearance is. I started planning on suspension mods and ways to shed some weight but then a big ugly bird sat on my shoulder (the reality turd bird) and slapped me in the face. For the cost to make the VFR more competative (not that it isn't already) perhaps the term "expand its performance envelope" is better....anyway, I could pick up a track ready middleweight and keep the VFR road ready. So plans changed for me and I'm more focused on making the VFR better at what it does (everything)!!:biggrin:

I put in tapered head bearings today which made a really nice difference in the feel of the front end less vibration in the grips.

Damn nice job on the conversion and a great article for all of us wannabees!

I was just curious what the rest of the pack thought about the system.

 

I had the same thoughts when i first got the VFR.
Truth of the matter is, they work better than standard systems in 99% of street riding conditions. It just keeps the bike flatter under braking and that's awesome!
On the track, yo may have a harder time sliding the rear. At the local 'busa hangout, you may have a harder time pulling off sweet stoppies.
But for a huge majority of the time you're riding, it's working better than if you didn't have it and you know what else...

you don't even have to think about it!

 

I was apprehensive about the linked brakes, too. In fact, my first couple rides had me wondering if I liked them at all, but once I stopped thinking about it I didn't even really notice it. Like Looty said, they really do keep the bike flatter in breaking situations. I'll definitely state this, I'm glad I like them because the amount of work it looks like to de-link is just nuts!! Way over my head, I know my mechanical limitations, lol.
BTW, great write-up on that Mello Dude, interesting read for sure.

 

aren't there 16 different brake lines on this thing?

crazy man. just crazy.

 

mmmm...6 lbs of cast iron *drooooool*

Sorry, Homer moment.

I haven't read your thread, will you plz link to it?

 

I love the linked brakes. I've only been riding 5 years, and haven't ever been to a track or racing school (yet), but I know I love the linked breaks. This is the 4th bike I've owned, and the 6th I've ridden and these stoppers are by far the best. The worst was my '94 Harley, I practically had to drag my feet to get it to stop. It was even worse than the '64 Honda Dream I had.

This weekend I have two short conversations about my linked brakes. One at a stop light where some dood hung his head on his cage and said, "Light 'em dude! Smoke em!" I said I had linked brakes, and he just looked confused. While I'd like to smoke the occasional tire and try a stoppie, I'd much rather have awesome brakes.

Second was in the parking lot at a hardware store and somebody aproached, asked the year, and asked if I liked it. I gave Lillith rave reviews of course. The guy said he'd ridden other viffers and asked if I liked the ABS. I explainned I didn't get the ABS, but got the linked brakes. He asked if I had been riding for awhile. I said, well, I think it's been awhile. He says, "You are probably going to de-link them, huh? Everyone who has experience de-links them, I've already done that twice." Well... I hate being called a newb, but whatever.

Here's my opinion. There are some people who know some really trick ways to control thier bikes on the track that involves giving a little gas and stepping on a little rear brake, or some such, but I'm not one of those people. I commute through Vegas daily, ride the twisties on the weekends, and do long trips to beaches in California. I need the best stoppers for me in emergency situations, and the linked brakes have been awesome.

But as MelloDude says, different strokes for different folks I would like to loose 6 lbs of cast iron though... But I'm lazy and don't want to have to learn how to be all special in the brake application department.

 

I alway rode harleys. Breaks were hard. But this one....Linked brakes? When the dealer told me I had linked brakes, I must of looked real dumb. The stopping is superb, and in a quick stop excellent. Oh yea, I like them.

 

You can still light 'em with linked brakes.
The single piston application of the rear with just the fronts applied is no match for the 60 ft-lbs of torque it's about to receive.

 

sure! while burning out, you get more points for the more stuff you burn!

if one is willing to burn up $200 rubber, then $50 pads should be no issue:tongue:

 

DUDE, i just read your delinking article.

You are f-in mad!