Not happy with brakes on 2011 RT

[Casher50]

I wasn't happy with my brakes so I had them serviced. My dealer bled them but they seem about the same. I am used to motorcycle brakes STOPPING aggressively when you apply them. Mine seem to stop gently and gradually. I'm afraid I won't be able to stop if I really NEED to STOP! Pumping them helps but there may not be time to pump them in an emergency.

Is this normal for Spyders? Suggestions?

[AeroPilot]

We put 76000 on our 11 RT and was acceptable braking for its time with us. It has twice the weight (mass) of your Shadow and the braking will not be as responsive, but a well bled system (flushed and with new brake fluid) should perform well. The Brembo calipers on the newer RT's seem to be a significant improvement, but for now I'd say find a good shop or someone to do a complete flush and purge, and maybe try some more aggressive pads. BajaRon can fix you up with new pads.

I sure liked my Shadow Aero while I had it.

[Highwayman2013]

Get some EBC pads and rotors on from Bajaron. It woke up the braking on our 2012 RT. http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...rs-amp-Helmets

[Bob Denman]

EBC parts will definitely help...
But trading for a bike with Brembos will make the biggest difference of all!

[Omcge]

If you need to pump your Master Cylinder is weak.I would replace Master Cylinder
and use pads from Baha Ron .I used the fully sintered and the first time I used under hard Braking I thought that I was going thru the Windshield.
https://ebcbrakes.com/what-is-sintering/

[Casher50]

If you need to pump your Master Cylinder is weak.I would replace Master Cylinder
and use pads from Baha Ron .I used the fully sintered and the first time I used under hard Braking I thought that I was going thru the Windshield.
https://ebcbrakes.com/what-is-sintering/

Nearly going through the windshield is what I am looking for! Thanks!

[Chupaca]

If all your rydes were non abs, vss rydes then you will definitely see the change. They still stop well but as stated above there are better options. You will never raise the rear with abs or in many cases lock up the wheels..but you stop just as fast with out sliding or loosing control...and that is the object...

[Bob Denman]

Nearly going through the windshield is what I am looking for! Thanks!

That just ain't gonna happen...
The pre-2013 bikes could stop quickly; IF you gave the pedal a second stab from your foot.
Once they put Brembos on the bikes: it only takes one STOMP, and your eyeballs are bouncing off the inside of your visor!

[Casher50]

After a talk with Baja Ron, and still being unhappy, I took my Spyder back to the dealer for troubleshooting and repair. There has to be something wrong! My brakes are pretty bad.

[Bob Denman]

Let us know what they find: good luck!

[Casher50]

Let us know what they find: good luck!

So far the Spyder is still in the shop and I've been riding my Honda Shadow Aero 750 again. I still love motorcycles but I miss the Spyder too. They are like two sides of a coin. The same, but just different enough to be interesting. To me, the Spyder is just a three wheeled motorcycle. I hope it is fixed quickly and well.

[SPYD3R]

my 2009 RS would launch you off the seat & over the windshield during a panic stop.... my F3, which has BREMBO brakes, aren't half as good as my RS brakes were... as far as i'm concerned, BREMBO brakes suck....
Dan P
SPYD3R

[Casher50]

my 2009 RS would launch you off the seat & over the windshield during a panic stop.... my F3, which has BREMBO brakes, aren't half as good as my RS brakes were... as far as i'm concerned, BREMBO brakes suck....
Dan P
SPYD3R

My brakes used to be such that I didn't notice them. They worked well enough. Then I got into Limp Mode and the dealer said Limp Mode was triggered by brake sensors. The brakes were bled but still were not good. The brake pedal is soft rather than hard. When I get by bike out of the shop I would be satisfied with brakes that I did not notice, but launching me off the seat & over the windshield would be even better!

[BajaRon]

my 2009 RS would launch you off the seat & over the windshield during a panic stop.... my F3, which has BREMBO brakes, aren't half as good as my RS brakes were... as far as i'm concerned, BREMBO brakes suck....
Dan P
SPYD3R

While calipers are certainly an important component in the braking process. There are other components which will impact the final result as much or more than the calipers.

There is no question that the Brembo calipers are much superior to their BRP predecessors. So this is not the issue if you have a 2013+ Spyder.

The 2008 & 2009 Spyders used semi-metallic pads which stopped VERY WELL even with inferior calipers. However, the screeching emitted by these pads was intolerable. So, BRP went to an organic pad. This helped greatly with the noise. But braking suffered quite a bit. This may have been the impetus for them going to the much superior Brembo calipers.

But the pads supplied by BRP are still organic. And while pretty much quiet. They don't come anywhere near providing the stopping potential that can be had with this newer system. With a stock, unloaded Spyder 1-up. Stopping power is at least adequate if not very good with the current Brembo / Organic setup. But add storage weight, a 2nd rider and maybe a trailer and you're looking at a much more leisurely stopping sequence. If you need to stop in a hurry this can really get your undivided attention. To put it mildly. You just do not want to be surprised at how your ride does not stop well.

Metal compound pads will always stop better than pads made with organic fibers. Not only do they grip the rotor more positively. But they create and transfer heat much more efficiently. Stopping is simply the conversion of energy. You are converting forward inertia into heat. The better you do this. The faster you will stop.

Steel is probably the best compound for stopping. But it is very noisy and creates rust on everything it touches. EBC Sintered brake pads are made with a copper compound. Copper transfers heat better than steel but it is not quite as aggressive on the rotor. The end result is similar to steel but without the noise or the rust issues. So, they will stop much better than an Organic pad. They are more expensive. But it is unlikely that you will be thinking about the additional expense during an emergency stopping scenario.

The next important component is the rotor. The EBC rotors offer a better braking surface than do the OEM BRP rotors. So this component will increase stopping power over just changing to the Sintered pad sets. An added benefit is that the EBC rotors resist warpage much better than the OEM rotors. I've had several customers who have gone through at lest 1, if not more, sets of front, OEM rotors due to warping. As far as I know, none of them have experienced any rotor warpage having installed the EBC rotor sets.

If you are not stopping as well as you would like. There are solutions.

I hope this helps.

[Casher50]

I got my Spyder back yesterday. The dealer checked them out thoroughly and said that they worked fine. I test rode it and they stopped fine when you stomp on the brakes. However, I have developed a habit of "lightly" touching the brakes on my other vehicles and gently slowing down. "Lightly" applying the brakes on the Spyder doesn't work as well. The pedal has to be pushed quite a ways to engage the brakes. It seems that they are either on enough to stop or not. They are not so good at slowing down gradually with light brake pedal action. I will just learn how to deal with this since there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done about it.

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for letting us know how it worked out!
It's time to strap on your "Lead Boots"; they'll make stopping easier!

[Casher50]

Thanks for letting us know how it worked out!
It's time to strap on your "Lead Boots"; they'll make stopping easier!

Well put!

[Bob Denman]

One more thing...
(Although I'm pretty sure that you know about it. )
Don't try covering the brake pedal, by lightly resting your foot on it.
Nanny will get the idea that something is dreadfully wrong, and your main screen will light up like a "Street Junkie Christmas Tree"!

[Casher50]

One more thing...
(Although I'm pretty sure that you know about it. )
Don't try covering the brake pedal, by lightly resting your foot on it.
Nanny will get the idea that something is dreadfully wrong, and your main screen will light up like a "Street Junkie Christmas Tree"!

Yes, I know. I keep my foot near but not on the brake pedal. Don't want to give nanny a heart attack!

[Bob Denman]

Cool...

[BajaRon]

I got my Spyder back yesterday. The dealer checked them out thoroughly and said that they worked fine. I test rode it and they stopped fine when you stomp on the brakes. However, I have developed a habit of "lightly" touching the brakes on my other vehicles and gently slowing down. "Lightly" applying the brakes on the Spyder doesn't work as well. The pedal has to be pushed quite a ways to engage the brakes. It seems that they are either on enough to stop or not. They are not so good at slowing down gradually with light brake pedal action. I will just learn how to deal with this since there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done about it.

There are the solutions that converting to EBC components offer.

[Casher50]

There are the solutions that converting to EBC components offer.

I will consider these solutions if I can't get used to the Spyder's brakes. I really do appreciate the info!

[jerrydonna]

this is a old post but I have felt the same way about my 2012 rtf for a long time about limited brake pressure at pedal. Now I have new 2019 f3L and **** that about popped my eyes stopping hard as I could when testing..... NO real answer from above I guess

[JayBros]

...Now I have new 2019 f3L and **** that about popped my eyes stopping hard as I could when testing....

And when you switch to fully sintered EBC pads from Bajaron at your next pad replacement you'll understand the meaning of, "stopping you like the hand of God."

[Joel The Biker]

Dont buy chinese brake pads! A cheap pad equals soft braking. I know because I tried to save a few dollars. Put cheap ebay pads on and the braking was horrible. Bought fully sintered EBC pads and now it stops agressively.