Not happy with brakes on 2011 RT

[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.

 

[carbonation]

That just ain't gonna happen... nojoke
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!

And that doesn't really happen either.
My 12 had good brakes. Nothing to speak of as far as bite or initial grab, but progressive, just OK brakes.
My 19 has the Brembo's. I expected more, but have to realize I'm not on a 500 pound bike. This thing will never stop like a fighter jet does landing on a carrier.
The Brembo's are better. They are not fantastic or surprising. No eyeballs will be harmed during an emergency stop.
I've ridden bikes that could stop. Several Suzuki's, a couple Kawasaki. Even my full on BMW at 697 pounds would stop well because you could actually get enough stop for the ABS to take over and keep the tire at it's frictional limit. The Spyder isn't going to do that, there simply is not enough pad/rotor area, even with the larger (about 19mm) rotors on the Brembo braked model. Consider this. The same calipers and pads are on a BMW at 600 pounds and a Ducati at 480. The Duc runs massive 320mm rotors though, and I think that's where the Spyder falls short. If any vehicle needed an oversize rotor kit, it's this one.