Se Bonneville Brake Upgrades?

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by Essexboy, Aug 5, 2022.

  1. Essexboy

    Essexboy Active Member

    Apr 16, 2017
    195
    43
    Essex
    As much as I love my 2012 Bonneville I've never been entirely happy with the front brake, while I accept it's never going to be a 2 finger job like my old Fireblade or GSX I find it can be very wooden and takes a firm grip to slow the bike down. Now that my pads are wearing down I thought it would be a good time to go for a better disc/pad combination. Has anyone upgraded at all?
     
  2. Samsgrandad

    Samsgrandad Senior Member

    Dec 15, 2019
    577
    243
    Somerset
    How much do you want to spend??? The simple option is probably a pad change, to something like EBC HH pads or the expensive way is to look at Norman Hydes website, brake conversions with new disc and Beringer 4 piston caliper, £600+
     
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  3. Essexboy

    Essexboy Active Member

    Apr 16, 2017
    195
    43
    Essex
    I'd like to keep it to just a disc and pad change and keep the stock caliper if I could.
     
  4. TonyG

    TonyG Noble Member

    Dec 1, 2016
    818
    443
    Bucks
    I put EBC pads in my SE and they are definitely better, but not a major difference. Some people replace the fixed discs on the Thruxton 1200 and T120 with floating discs and say that's an improvement, presume you can do the same with an SE as they are the same discs as far as I can see. Not sure that would make much difference though. You can also buy Brembo calipers and mounts that fit the standard discs for Thruxton 1200s and T120s, I think they are about £760 for both sides so presumably you could get a single caliper for half that.
     
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  5. Dartplayer

    Dartplayer Crème de la Crème

    Aug 8, 2018
    7,195
    1,000
    New Zealand
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  6. Kinjane

    Kinjane Active Member

    Oct 15, 2017
    238
    43
    Bristol, Land of Enger
    See if you can track down a suitable PreTech 6 pot, fantastic upgrade to the stock setup and all you’ll ever need. Replacement Pads and overhaul kits are readily available.
     
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  7. DavidS

    DavidS Member

    Jun 19, 2022
    28
    18
    East Sussex
    I have to say, after 7 years of fantastic braking on my KTM 950 SM, the braking on my Street Twin was frighteningly poor and now on the T120 with twin discs, still not much cop and a bit buttock clenching. Compounded by the nose plant braking on my Audi RSQ3 I’m not used to brakes being not much better than the old conical hub drums of the 70’s.
    Maybe a look at a pad upgrade is a good idea.
     
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  8. TonyG

    TonyG Noble Member

    Dec 1, 2016
    818
    443
    Bucks
    You can try pads, I put Brembo sintered pads in my Thruxton 1200s, better but not a huge difference. Some have replaced the discs with floating rotors, not sure how much difference that would make, probably approx £150 per disc. You can change the caliper and prices seem to vary a lot, but you can get the Thruxton 1200s Brembo calipers for about £760. You can go the whole hog and get calipers and disks but will probably have to upgrade the forks as well.
    I don't think you'll ever get the modern force field brake feeling without going the whole hog. I think with the sintered pads the brakes are ok, I've recalibrated my expectations now to use all 4 fingers for a firm pull on the lever and can trip the ABS. I suspect I'm able to brake as hard as I did on my Ducati with huge radial Brembos and no ABS, but it doesn't feel like it.
     
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