Cloudy Sky Is Gray

 

 
Good morning.
When it’s sunny, my mood is clear too, but with a sky like this… not so much.
For the weekend, I’m counting on our fair-weather friend to bring clear skies.
It rained last night, so unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the adult candy shop.
Bummer.
While we were talking about brakes, someone asked what the best approach would be.
If you have a four-piston opposed caliper with a choice of sintered metal pads or other pad options, even the stock rotor works fine.
On current bikes, the braking power is sufficient, and if you want more bite, I think swapping the brake master to a radial type would do the trick.
Changing the master doesn’t increase braking power itself, but rather makes it easier to grip and apply, getting you closer to that full 100%.
The brake becomes easier to modulate, I’d say.
So racing calipers are totally unnecessary then, right?
Well, don’t say that…
The big thing, I think, is the pad selection.
More than anything about rigidity from machining or whatever, that’s what really matters.
Some pads bite gradually the harder you squeeze—kind of a smooth “ssshhh” feel—while others grab hard with a “bang” the moment you pull.
It comes down to preference; it’s not like machined calipers are superior or monoblock is superior.
When you want a caliper where you can play around with pad choices, you end up going with Brembo.
Of course, the piston action and reliability are top-notch, so you can feel confident.
Pay close attention to the piston diameter too—that makes a huge difference in how it feels.
Rush the purchase and you’ll regret it.
Take the bling factor into account when you choose, okay?
Bigger lettering looks cooler, so I’m a fan of the big Brembo myself.