What to do...gsxr brake edition

taylormade21

taylormade21

Well-known member
At a crossroad here, and not sure how to proceed nor do I know which is the best option.
I've been using an '06 gsxr 600 as my dedicated track bike for the last 2 seasons. Everything is sound but am having some spongy brakes the longer the days go on. I've bled the brakes multiple times and am getting a little tired of it. Master recall has been done and steel lines have been using the steel braided lines.
So, here's my question...
Is it worth having the calipers to have a new piston/seal kit installed by a pro since I'm not super mech savvy or should I just do the R1/R6 caliper swap and get some quality/trusted used calipers I can throw on?
My dilemma...
I don't want to buy the rebuild kit, have it installed and still have the same issue.
I also think that if I get the R6/R1 calipers, I'd still have to make sure the pistons and seals are in great shape anyways
Thoughts?
Keep in mind,....I'm not someone who can tear down a bike, rebuild it back up in a week like a lot of you guys/gals can.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
Fuck no. I will give you a set of fresh GSXR calipers if you want them. If you rebuild you will still have the same issue.

Eventually you will want to get R6 calipers and a Brembo master. Either will help, both will make you smile. I run both and they are just far superior. It still helps to bleed 2-3 times a year, but the stock calipers are shit with a capital S.

Check out the Ebay ads for age of the calipers, and look at the pics. I got good calipers both times I bought, but I did rebuild them over the winter just to be sure.
 
ratlab

ratlab

Well-known member
If i remember we used to use ceramic backed galfer pads that helped a bit-but did finally go to brembo swap.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
This is a common problem with the GSXR calipers. They have been shit for a long time. The newer Brembos are better, but the R6/1 is much better.
 
Hooli

Hooli

Big Ugly
Keep in mind that the Sumitomo monoblocks Yamaha uses (with the exception of the ill-fated six pots on the first gen. x-plane R1's) have smaller pistons than the GSXR's stock Tokico calipers; they are really designed to go along with the smallish 16mm piston in the Yamaha/Brembo MC, so just a heads-up if you retain the larger stock Nissin MC. :eboy

PS: I wouldn't even look at the "Brembo" calipers that come stock on the latest GSXR's. They're shit and provide no real braking improvement other then the name. If you want to real :wtf moment, look where the bleed nipple is located on those things. :rofl
 
Last edited:
J

Junkie

gone for now
I never liked the R6 master on the R6 calipers, I found it was always somewhat mushy for my taste. I preferred the GSXR radial masters (or now the RCS19, although I forget where I have it adjusted).
 
taylormade21

taylormade21

Well-known member
Hooli said:
Keep in mind that the Sumitomo monoblocks Yamaha uses (with the exception of the ill-fated six pots on the first gen. x-plane R1's) have smaller pistons than the GSXR's stock Tokico calipers; they are really designed to go along with the smallish 16mm piston in the Yamaha/Brembo MC, so just a heads-up if you retain the larger stock Nissin MC. :eboyl
Click to expand...

Can you go explain this further in detail?
 
taylormade21

taylormade21

Well-known member
afm199 said:
Fuck no. I will give you a set of fresh GSXR calipers if you want them. If you rebuild you will still have the same issue.

Eventually you will want to get R6 calipers and a Brembo master. Either will help, both will make you smile. I run both and they are just far superior. It still helps to bleed 2-3 times a year, but the stock calipers are shit with a capital S.

Check out the Ebay ads for age of the calipers, and look at the pics. I got good calipers both times I bought, but I did rebuild them over the winter just to be sure.
Click to expand...

Shoot,... I'll take whatever I can get! Haha. Anything might be better than what I've been doing...
When you got your calipers on eBay, did you go through private seller or one of those moto salvage postings?
Did you go through the same seller that you trusted?
 
J

Junkie

gone for now
taylormade21 said:
And if I can't swing getting the berm of masrter,...what's the next best thing?
Keep stock master or swap with Yamaha master?
Click to expand...
I found that I preferred the stock master to the Yamaha master but that's unusual.
taylormade21 said:
Can you go explain this further in detail?
Click to expand...
The Yamaha setup uses a smaller diameter master cylinder and smaller diameter caliper pistons. That means it requires less fluid but at a higher pressure.

If you run the GSXR master with Yamaha calipers, you'll end up with a firmer lever but more pull force will be required for a given amount of braking (presuming equal pads, rotors)
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
taylormade21 said:
Shoot,... I'll take whatever I can get! Haha. Anything might be better than what I've been doing...
When you got your calipers on eBay, did you go through private seller or one of those moto salvage postings?
Did you go through the same seller that you trusted?
Click to expand...

If you want them, come on by.

I got my calipers on ebay. Sometimes I use individual, sometimes scrappers.

Junkie said:
I found that I preferred the stock master to the Yamaha master but that's unusual. The Yamaha setup uses a smaller diameter master cylinder and smaller diameter caliper pistons. That means it requires less fluid but at a higher pressure.

If you run the GSXR master with Yamaha calipers, you'll end up with a firmer lever but more pull force will be required for a given amount of braking (presuming equal pads, rotors)
Click to expand...

Correct.
 
V

ViperThreat

Well-known member
I've swapped r6/r1 brakes on to every gsxr I've owned. You can pick up a used set on ebay for ~$150 if you are patient.

That plus some good braided lines will completely transform that bike's braking abilities. I went from boiling brakes in two laps to virtually no fade after 20 minutes at A group pace.
 
taylormade21

taylormade21

Well-known member
afm199 said:
If you want them, come on by.
Correct.
Click to expand...

dude, that'll be awesome...shoot me a PM with the address. Thank you!
That'll be cool to start with a good working, fresh set of calipers for this year whil I save up for the r6 calipers and possibly the brembo of master. :ride

EDIT: just noticed your location is Oakland and I'm up past the sac area. If I were to mail you a shipping label to you would that be ok? I know that's asking more of you. I could kick in some cash as well for your time
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top