Front brake upgrade..........

JOHNO23 · Jun 1, 2020

I’m currently rebuilding my 850 mk3 ( there is a thread on it!) and I’m looking at upgrading the front brake as the std is not up to the job. I have bought a new and upgraded master cylinder from Andover Norton but I am now looking at an upgrade of the caliper and disc. Two upgrade kits are on my radar one from rgm norton which comes with bracket,caliper,disc,braided hose,pads and a brake lever ( not sure why it comes with brake lever) This is about £500.
The other kit is also about £500 but comes from Norvil, similar kit, but slightly bigger disc but no lever.
Any of you guys out there experience of one of these (or both) and what are your thoughts please as to which may be the better kit. Thanks in advance.....

kommando · Jun 1, 2020

If the Norvil one is with the floating disc then steer well clear, the disc inner carrier is made of cheese.

The RGM lever could be the AP Lockheed racing lever which increases leverage, some but not a lot. email RGM and they should confirm.

cliffa · Jun 1, 2020

This is a purely personal opinion, but I don't think the RGM caliper bracket looks safe with the elongated mounting holes and the Norvil one is ugly. One of the nicest off the shelf setups I've seen is this http://www.britcycle.com/Products/558/558_03a.htm which uses your own caliper on a larger disc, so it come with an adapter to re site the caliper.

Or make your own adapter, you can see mine here...

VIP Photo Contest Functionality - Front Brake Photo Contest

I have created a way for VIP members to create a simple photo contests of choice. This is how it works. At the moment I don't have time to make any code changes, so I hope it works well enough. I am happy to be able to offer this to all VIP members. Make as many photo contests as you wish...

www.accessnorton.com

Cheers,

cliffa

olympus · Jun 1, 2020

I have fitted AP calliper and drilled cast disc from RGM, calliper carrier from Norvil (As I don't like the elongated holes in the unit from RGM
Magura master cylinder
Everything fitted a dream
As I'm yet to road tsst, I cannot confirm efficiency & feel

Lineslinger · Jun 1, 2020

Consider taking a look at the front brake photo contest...some really nice configurations that may help you decide, and you know whose setup it is.

ntst8 · Jun 1, 2020

The master cylinder upgrade is the single biggest bang for buck. You could go one step at a time, try the new master cylinder with the stock caliper/disc and upgrade more later if you still feed the need.

850commando · Jun 1, 2020

Don pender @madass140 has a nice kit, its setup for a rotor on the right side, but worth considering, ( and my opinion of anything sold by Norvil is so low i have to bite my tongue)...

Online store - Norton Brakes 750.00 USD

320mm single disc 6 piston brake kit, includes everything to convert your standard brake, Master cyl fits Lucas switch block, Caliper color choice, Gold, Black,Silver, polished alloy. advise of type of handlebar for correct hose length

www.tritonmotorcycleparts.com

Onder · Jun 2, 2020

If you are a modern rider coming to Commando you will be happier going the full-on route CNW or Madass. If you are an old time
guy like me you will be ok to go with the 13mm master, lightened rotor and Venhill or SS hose.
It is a big leap money wise to the big boy stuff but it might be worth it long term.

Peter R · Jun 2, 2020

kommando said:
I
The RGM lever could be the AP Lockheed racing lever which increases leverage, some but not a lot. email RGM and they should confirm.

I have the Lockheed racing lever from RGM, it is a waste of money imo, the fulcrum distance is the same as the original lever, only the total length is approx one inch longer, so it sticks out of the handlebar a bit more, of course you could place the brake master unit somewhat more inboard, however that places the direction indicator switch further out of reach. Definitely not worth the money.

gortnipper · Jun 2, 2020

I have been riding Commandos since 1985, and have had a couple hundred other bikes pass through my hands as well. I have no regrets having gone to the CNW Brembo setup. It has a substantially better feel, great power, is much lighter, and I can put adjustable shorty levers on it to deal with my Dupetruyn's.

Pushed it n rode it · Jun 2, 2020

Just go for the master cylinder upgrade kit and try it ! Commando forks etc on my old slimline. First time I had front brake squeal and work. Scared the cr.. out of me. Just saying, you big boys have a bit more grunt.

Flatspot · Jun 2, 2020

I have fitted the AN 13mm master cylinder to mine which has a stock disc and hose for a stock look. I am OK with the braking performance in tandem with the rear drum. It’s not as effective as triple discs, but at the same time I’m not thrashing it around expecting to be able to stop on a sixpence. I’ll ride within its capabilities understanding its shortfalls.

alan hodge · Jun 2, 2020

13mm magura master cylinder/ss brake line/caliper rebuilt with ss pistons/drilled Fluid 6 disc works for me

commandofastback · Jun 13, 2020

Decided to upgrade to a cnw brembo kit today, just to find out that they are out of stock at the moment .... bummer

cNw · Jun 13, 2020

Sorry to be out of stock right now

This spring Brembo and I decided to make some changes in the way these were manufactured. That is all good news and then the virus came to town. Brembo Italy had to close down their factories and now that they are re-opening, they are playing catch up with all their big manufacturers (cNw is not one of them as you can imagine). That said, it will still be a couple of months before I get my friction material for the discs.

If anyone is willing to wait, contact me and I will get you on the list to be the first to get the new systems

Sorry for the trouble

Matt

Fast Eddie · Jun 13, 2020

What are the changes Matt ?

Ratboiler · Jun 13, 2020

I have a CNW front brake set up, and covered 300 miles to date, I found it to be very effective and progressive. Having used the Norvil system many years ago I was not impressed. I think the Norvil set up is ugly and hasn't changed.

commandofastback · Jun 13, 2020

The complete front of my fastback (and some of my bones) have been destroyed by an absent minded car driver some weeks ago.
Thankfully i am recovering, the compensation cheque was huge and that would have been a great oportunity for some upgrades.

PS: split brake disk anyone ?

cNw · Jun 13, 2020

Fast Eddie said:
What are the changes Matt ?

Fast E,

Mainly production changes. Brembo used to make the whole system and will now provide me with the frictions for the rotors and calipers. The frictions on my standard kit are especially made for this system as I really like the size (292mm) and didnt want to go to one of their standard sizes , like the 320mm I use on the Cafe front end since I think that looks to big as a single

I will make the rotor carriers and caliper brackets. I will also change the offset of the carrier and bracket so that the caliper doesn't need to be machined on the back side for spoke clearance.

Matt

acotrel · Jun 13, 2020

olympus said:
I have fitted AP calliper and drilled cast disc from RGM, calliper carrier from Norvil (As I don't like the elongated holes in the unit from RGM
Magura master cylinder
Everything fitted a dream
As I'm yet to road tsst, I cannot confirm efficiency & feel

I would not use a cast iron the front of my bike and particularly not a drilled one. A Japanese high speed steel disc will never explode off your bike and they are cheaper and all-round better anyway.
There are three common types of cast iron - grey cast iron, Meehanite which has calcium silicide precipitated in it, and nickel bearing iron. You can make gears out of the latter. Meehanite is stronger then great cast iron. The discs which killed my mate were made out of grey cast iron by his father. Which grade is on your bike with your life depending on it ? Do you think the manufacturer really cared or would he know ?

Front brake upgrade..........

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