Kawasaki ZX10R Gen 1 Brakes

[Cbull]

Having just spent my first 2 years riding on a ZX6R 2001 it was time for a change. So I've just bought a 2004 ZX10R and she's a beauty. Apparently the brakes are notoriously rubbish and with a 1 mile test ride I can concur. Thought the ZX6R brakes were bad but these seemed awful.

Replacing the brakes will be the first main project for her but I'm unsure what the best/cheapest options are. It currently has braided lines on but after a quick check of the fluid it looked like there was a bit of dirt at the bottom of the reservoir so a clean flush will be needed. Has anyone got any experience of these brakes to advise what has worked for them?

Thanks

[moanthebairns]

I'm sure they have a non-radial master cylinder. I'd start there with an aftermarket brembo or accossato. You'll have to buy an adaption banjo bolt from hel or likewise to make them work on your existing lines, its about £10. You'll probably need a new reservoir too, so try get that with the lever.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232518237466

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122166916222

Flush the lines, check pads, replace the existing seals.

The caliper fits onto upside down forks, so if you get the spacing right you could go for the full shebang aftermarket caliper and easily replace the originals, but that's serious dosh.

[Cbull]

Thanks!

Blimey I didn't expect them prices. Got some cheapo Chinese specials for £24.99 on the last one, done the job though. Serious dosh is exactly what I've not got unfortunately, the boss wouldn't be too pleased either.

Will hopefully have a better look into it after work

[cebica]

if you are on a budget try an adelin M/C - very good for the price.

You can probably swap in some Yamaha gold spot monoblocks or Nissins off a fireblade for not a lot of dosh, just find the right bolt dimension/spacings and get some spacers bought - search for radial caliper spacer on ebay...

[Cylon2007]

The first thing to do is strip and clean the calipers, then bleed the system. In good nick the original Tokico brakes are OK, however a Nissin radial master cylinder will make a big difference (as fitted to later ZX10R etc) and will cost less than a Brembo.

[moanthebairns]

I'd clean up the pistons with brake cleaner and the old tooth brush. Check the condition. Flush the lines and get some new fluid in. This should make a difference.

Personally I wouldn't buy Chinese levers/master cylinder, I've seen the aftermath of them failing.

As others have said, a later ninja lever would make a difference at much less of a price if it still feels st.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Back when they were a couple of years old mates were fiting a radial M/C from a 636. Next mod was calipers from a ZX 1400

[moanthebairns]

if you update your m/c remember you'll probably need one of these unless you want to get new lines.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202321339055

[Lindun]

I can’t believe people are recommending fitting cheap Chinese copies, that will have little to zero quality control on such a safety critical item. If you really don’t mind then I can knock something up from a couple of blocks of cheese and wood for around £35.

[Jazoli]

Lindun said:

I can’t believe people are recommending fitting cheap Chinese copies, that will have little to zero quality control on such a safety critical item. If you really don’t mind then I can knock something up from a couple of blocks of cheese and wood for around £35.

I bought an Adelin master cylinder out of curiosity, there is no way I would ever fit it to anything I owned, trusting a cheap £25 part to stop me and 200kg's of bike from 10mph would be crazy, to actually fit it to a bike which is capable of 150mph is downright stupidity, but people don't care and are happy to ride around with untested parts that have been subject to zero QC and just trust in the shiny stickers the Chinese fit to them, most don't realise that the CE label actually means China Export

[R1 Dave]

Are these the same calipers as on the 2004 636 B model? If so, the one I had had been upgraded with the MC off a Daytona 675 and Bendix pads, it stopped better than my 2015 R1, tons of power. The mods were done by the previous owner but he said it was a common upgrade.

[moanthebairns]

I'm not sure its going to be the calipers that are at fault here tbh, the two pot Tokico calipers weren't as horrendous as the three on earlier Kawasaki's.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Daytona-675-SE-...

Your talking £80 for a 10+ plus used master cylinder, I'd personally spend the bit more and get the after market one. Ebay do 20% off everything events once or twice a year. Book mark them and then buy it then if you can afford it.

[cebica]

Jazoli said:

I bought an Adelin master cylinder out of curiosity, there is no way I would ever fit it to anything I owned, trusting a cheap £25 part to stop me and 200kg's of bike from 10mph would be crazy, to actually fit it to a bike which is capable of 150mph is downright stupidity, but people don't care and are happy to ride around with untested parts that have been subject to zero QC and just trust in the shiny stickers the Chinese fit to them, most don't realise that the CE label actually means China Export

Fair comment, Srad34 on PB forum sells them and races on them. I personally haven't used one but have looked one over - and its good for the price. If you are on a budget it might be an option as i said. Like you i'd rather stick a second hand Brembo RCS on.

[anonymous-user]

Jazoli said:

Lindun said:

I can’t believe people are recommending fitting cheap Chinese copies, that will have little to zero quality control on such a safety critical item. If you really don’t mind then I can knock something up from a couple of blocks of cheese and wood for around £35.

I bought an Adelin master cylinder out of curiosity, there is no way I would ever fit it to anything I owned, trusting a cheap £25 part to stop me and 200kg's of bike from 10mph would be crazy, to actually fit it to a bike which is capable of 150mph is downright stupidity, but people don't care and are happy to ride around with untested parts that have been subject to zero QC and just trust in the shiny stickers the Chinese fit to them, most don't realise that the CE label actually means China Export

CE is an EU certification mark and stands for something in French I think. There is a bit of an urban myth about it standing for China Export though.

[Lindun]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

CE is an EU certification mark and stands for something in French I think. There is a bit of an urban myth about it standing for China Export though.

I think everyone knows what it’s supposed to mean. However, the point being made is that the Chinese simply stamp it on everything whether it has EU approval or not.

[moanthebairns]

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

Jazoli said:

Lindun said:

I can’t believe people are recommending fitting cheap Chinese copies, that will have little to zero quality control on such a safety critical item. If you really don’t mind then I can knock something up from a couple of blocks of cheese and wood for around £35.

I bought an Adelin master cylinder out of curiosity, there is no way I would ever fit it to anything I owned, trusting a cheap £25 part to stop me and 200kg's of bike from 10mph would be crazy, to actually fit it to a bike which is capable of 150mph is downright stupidity, but people don't care and are happy to ride around with untested parts that have been subject to zero QC and just trust in the shiny stickers the Chinese fit to them, most don't realise that the CE label actually means China Export

CE is an EU certification mark and stands for something in French I think. There is a bit of an urban myth about it standing for China Export though.

That was my understanding of the CE mark, however the Chinese plagiarise everything under the sun except human rights. I wouldn't sleep easy at night getting something with a CE mark on it from the 10 year old hands of Wang Yi A New Ying.

[Prof Prolapse]

moanthebairns said:

ruprechtmonkeyboy said:

Jazoli said:

Lindun said:

I can’t believe people are recommending fitting cheap Chinese copies, that will have little to zero quality control on such a safety critical item. If you really don’t mind then I can knock something up from a couple of blocks of cheese and wood for around £35.

I bought an Adelin master cylinder out of curiosity, there is no way I would ever fit it to anything I owned, trusting a cheap £25 part to stop me and 200kg's of bike from 10mph would be crazy, to actually fit it to a bike which is capable of 150mph is downright stupidity, but people don't care and are happy to ride around with untested parts that have been subject to zero QC and just trust in the shiny stickers the Chinese fit to them, most don't realise that the CE label actually means China Export

CE is an EU certification mark and stands for something in French I think. There is a bit of an urban myth about it standing for China Export though.

That was my understanding of the CE mark, however the Chinese plagiarise everything under the sun except human rights. I wouldn't sleep easy at night getting something with a CE mark on it from the 10 year old hands of Wang Yi A New Ying.

The CE versus CE, thing was actually a bit more dodgey than that in some cases. The fkers were, and sometimes do, make it very difficult to tell if a product is actually conforming to European standards or not. It's not unmarked, it's actually fraudulently marked.



https://starfishmedical.com/blog/conformite-europe...