| Author | Message | ||
     Loud_and_low |
I 'd like to upgrade the brakes on my 06 xb9sx. I've been using it at trackdays and the braking is becoming sketchy at the end of high speed straights. I am a late braker and sometimes the front brake gives me the feeling that it doesn't like to be hit hard at 110 mph. IS there a good and or easy upgrade available? (Message edited by loud and low on June 23, 2011) | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Sounds like you are using an organic pad which has issues with brake fade at high temps. You can upgrade to the ZTL2 8 piston caliper and a new rotor and pads from Erik Buell Racing. I installed the ZTL2 caliper w/ EBC FA454HH pads and a Galfer Wave rotor on my '07 XB9R. (Message edited by terrys1980 on June 23, 2011) | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll look at that link. I am using Lyndall Gold Pads. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
I'm not sure if your can get the caliper from Erik Buell Racing. I found my ZTL2 setup on ebay. The complete ZTL2 system will run about $500 if purchased new. If you do go with the ZTL2 caliper, you will at least need a different brake line. Some will recommend upgrading the master cylinder too but its not necessary. The Brembo 19mm RCS radial master cylinder would be a great choice. (Message edited by terrys1980 on June 23, 2011) | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Have a look on the American Sport Bike website too. }http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-c atshow/xb9rbrakes.html | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Erik Buell Racing doesn't sell the caliper as far as I can tell on their site. American Sport Bike has the caliper for about 350 bucks. They do say that you MUST change the MC, that the stock piston is too small. You have used the ZTL2 caliper with the stock MC? THANKS for your help. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Yes I am using the stock MC. I am not home and I tried to get my wife to look at it to give me the part # off it but she was no help! I have 2 master cylinders, the original and the one that came with the ZTL2 caliper, both have the same part number. I've never had any problems with the system as it is and I do some pretty hard riding. | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Excellent. Thanks. I am thinking I'll get the caliper and a new brake line/ pads then. | ||
| Dmp0001 |
I have thought about doing the upgrade to the ZTL2, is it worth it for the street or is it just overkill? I don't really have any complaints with my 08 ZTL1 but I have been considering it anyway. | ||
| Dhays1775 |
I upgraded to the ZTL2 caliper and wavy rotor on my 07 12r. I could feel a little more weight on the front end when I would turn in to a corner, but I got used to it pretty quickly. You can NEVER have too much stopping power. I recommend the upgrade 100%. Better pads will definitely help if you don't feel like shelling out the bucks. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
I think it is worth it. The ZTL2 setup definitely has an increase in braking power and has better feel. They are more predictable, but still in all a lot depends on your brake pad choice. | ||
| Drkside79 |
So the ZTL2 is that much better than the ZTLs on my 08 huh | ||
| Froggy |
HD should recall every ZTL1 XB and upgrade them to ZTL2. It is that damn good.  (I have 3 ZTL2 bikes in the garage! Worth it!) Also use Motul 600 brake fluid, I did that on my stock 1125CR, holy cow what an improvement! | ||
| Terrys1980 |
You know what they say, bigger is better! The ZTL2 looks and fits the bike more so than the ZTL. | ||
| Deanh8 |
I love my ZTL2 on my '03 XB9 | ||
| Loud_and_low |
No ZTL2 on ebay or in the classifieds here. Retail here I come...  | ||
| Froggy |
Shoot an email to Erik Buell Racing and see what they have. It may just not be on the website at the moment, not everything is. I'd still keep my eye on ebay, it seems like all the idiot firesale 1125 buyers crashed their bikes and they got parted out. | ||
| Greg_e |
Yes, there are tons of 1125 parts on there all the time, just wait, there will be more. | ||
| Carbonfibrebob |
I'll chime in as well. Added the ZTL2, the 5mm race rotor, and a remote reservoir 14mm Nissin master to my 9R track bike and the difference in brake performance is phenomenal. I too was wanting more brake at the end of High Plaines Raceways back straight, at an indicated 130mph. I no longer need any more brake. Bob | ||
| Loud_and_low |
CFB, where would I find the remote reservoir master? | ||
| Jake318 |
BEST BUELL BRAKE UPGRADE ...WITHOUT ... CHANGING OUT FRONT END= WWW.SICOM.DE? BUELL..DID NOT.. INVENT THE PERIMETER BRAKE SYSTEM THAT IS USED . THEY ARE SICOM PERIMETER BRAKES FROM GERMANY. NOW BEHOLD.. DRUM ROLL PLEASE... SICOM MAKE A CERAMIC PERIMETER BRAKE SYSTEM !! THIS SYSTEM NOT ONLY HAS ABOUT 2X THE POWER OF A HIGH END(7000$) OHLINS RACING SYSTEM. THE SICOM CERAMIC PERIMETER BRAKES HAVE MUCH MORE FEEL, WORK IN THE COLD, IN THE RAIN AND DO NOT FADE IN WHILE RACING. IF FACT..THE HOTTER THEY GET ....THE BETTER THEY GET!! HTTP://WWW.BELLISSIMOTO.COM THE OWNERS NAME IS RANDY...TELL HIM JAKE SENT YOU AND HE WILL GIVE YOU A DISCOUNT. I HAVE TESTED EVERY BRAKE SYSTEM YOU CAN THINK OF AND EVEN SOME YOU HAVNT HEARD OF. I HAVE THE RACE SICOM CERAMIC SYSTEM ON MY XB12R BUT ITS OVERKILL SAVE MONEY $ AND GET THE STREET SYSTEM. THE STREET SYSTEM IS ALSO HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE TRADITIONAL BREMBO UNIT TAKE CARE JAKE (Message edited by jake318 on June 23, 2011) | ||
| Jake318 |
THE SICOM SITE IS HTTP://WWW.SICOM-BRAKES.DE | ||
| Deanh8 |
Erik Buell Racing was selling the red CR calipers for 199 on their site before the change over.. im sure they still have some. Im putting XB forks, wheels and brakes all from my XB9 onto my tuber... I wont even bother with the ZTL caliper for it even though I have one sitting here. ZTL2 FTW. | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Erik Buell Racing replied that they don't sell the OE calipers any longer. | ||
| Court |
Jake: Why do you suppose . . . . that the German race team that keeps winning all the races in Europe with the Buell doesn't use this German brake system? Seems very odd. What are some of the other brake systems you have tested? Did you buy them and test them personally or were you paid to test them? Brake testing . . as I am sure you know . . . is really arduous work. I've got a couple prototype rotors here from some testing that was done in development during the time the changes were made to the 1996 S1 Lightning rotors. It's always interesting to see some of the rotors and systems that folks come up with. What teams are running these German brakes? By the way . . can you post a link to the HIGH END(7000$) OHLINS RACING SYSTEM. All these years of working with the Ohlins folks in development and I never even knew they made a brake system. | ||
| Terrys1980 |
For the price of the SICOM brake system you could buy a set of light weight composite wheels would benefit you more. | ||
| Court |
>>>>BUELL..DID NOT.. INVENT THE PERIMETER BRAKE SYSTEM THAT IS USED . THEY ARE SICOM PERIMETER BRAKES FROM GERMANY. By the way . . . I went back and reread your post. That information is inaccurate. Buell did invent the ZTL2 and SICOM had nothing to do with it . . Nissan was the development partner. I think someone fed you a line of bullsenshichzten.   Note the distinctly "Non-German" look of the NISSIN USA representative You are correct that Buell DID NOT invent the Perimeter Rim Braking system . . I mean I had one on my bike as a kid . . but NO ONE had ever been able to make it work to the advantage of the rider. This is why Buell patented the key piece of the puzzle. . . that no one, including Honda when they tried, had ever been able to engineer successfully. Here's what some of the systems that didn't work looked like . . .  But .. I must say they looked great but did about as much for braking as pinstripes on a Mustang do for speed. Here's the Buell Patent (which they did, in fact, invent and own)  Things have changed immeasurably in the last 18 months. While under the thumb of Harley-Davidson (and there's nothing wrong with this, it's just a fact) Buell had to follow many cost constraints . . . innovation was allowed only to the point where it didn't cost more. Since Buell has become fiercely independent . . all the stops have been pulled out . . . NASCAR folks were brought in and a number of long standing "wife's tales" (things like the silliness of putting holes in rotors, or worse yet slots) were dispelled . . effectively the entire front brake was reinvented. The current state of the art (along with the lightest wheel ever put on a motorcycle) . . now look like this.  It's a beautiful thing . . . . I'm dying to know who these SICOM folks are . . . I've been involved in motorcycling and the motorcycle business for years and am surprised I've never heard of them. I can see why they'd give you a discount though . . . probably trying to get their name out there. By the way . . . I did a Patent search for SICOM and came up empty handed . . . it "looks" like they just make replacement parts for the Buell ZTL2 system . . . but at $3,562.58 for their kit . . . I can see why they offer discounts ! ! | ||
| Court |
By the way . . . the "sharp eyed" among you have doubtless noticed the "E B R" cast into the leg of the Ohlins fork. Be aware that this system is not any Ohlins system that you've seen or that has ever graced a racing motorcycle before. Yep . . you guessed it. With the new wheel and new brake system . . . it was off to see . . . . well . . this guy . . . . . .  Name withheld to protect the innocent AND the guilty . . . . in North Carolina and . . . you guessed it again . . . start from scratch. One of the amazing stories that I hope slips out one day involves an itsy bitsy part in this very front end and the effect of U-238 radiation. We truly do live in amazing times . . . | ||
| Greg_e |
Those SICOM looked like carbon-carbon composite to me which might be an upgrade if you can keep them hot enough to function. | ||
| Gearhead |
Loud and Low, Before you spend the money on a ZTL2 system, try these pads from Erik Buell Racing... 804 COMPOUND FRONT BRAKE PAD SET Excellent upgrade brake pad option if you have the original six piston ZTL caliper. H0300.03AH Availability: In stock $120.00 They are only for racing and aggresive trackday folks though, not street use. I've been using them for 6 years racing in CCS and have never had any reason to upgrade to the heavier ZTL2 caliper. Believe me, I've tested them as I'm a late braker! If a time comes that these pads are no longer available then I'll make the switch although I DO love the 8-piston caliper on my 1125R street bike. |
