Calipers - approx €650 new from Carpimoto, or whatever you can find on eBay. I struck lucky and picked up an as-new set for £300, but they're normally £450+. Lines - Modifications to the hard line, plus a new crossover line was £30 from Earl's in Silverstone. If you can afford the downtime, strip your existing line and have it modified. I bought a set of lines from a broken bike in the US for about £40 and then stored the ones I didn't need.
Very Interesting _ I love the 1200 Mutley ABS ( had it one week ) but the brakes are pants. I've just sent a message to HEL Performance re making up a set of lines to bypass the ABS unit. I didnt really want this "extra" but thats how it worked out. Could also save 7kg by removing the lump ! Will keep you posted
I'm wondering whether simply bypassing the unit's lines will be enough - mostly depends on how tied in to the rest of the systems it is. You may need to look at recoding systems to tell it the ABS unit is no longer there (if that is even possible), and I suspect such a modification may not help your case in the event of any electrical-based warranty claims. Also, I'm not sure how an insurance company would react to removing the ABS unit - they often get quite sniffy about such "safety critical" stuff. If saving 7kg is such an issue, I can't help but feel you're on the wrong sort of bike? All in all, it seems to be lining up for a whole lot of hassle to remove something that should be sat in the background un-noticed until you actually need to call upon it in an emergency.
Wow - actually permanently disconnecting the ABS! That's pretty extreme. Are you saying that you couldn't lock the front wheel on your Multi cos that's about all the brakes you can get if you can. The rest is just adjusting to the feel of the lever. I am with Doodle on this one. You are asking for a lot of hassle from warranty, electrical system and insurance cover. On the other hand, Ducati make it possible to switch off the ABS so I suppose what you are proposing is not so foolhardy if they make it possible from the handlebar.
Well perhaps I did jump off the deep end, but then there are non-ABS bikes of course - so maybe not so extreme ? Saving the weight is not really the issue, I've lost more than that off the bod, but having brakes that you can feel working is _ or do I just need to get more miles in and get used to it ? I have a lovley old carby 900SS, the pads and discs give such feedback _ I can really sense the pads skimming and then griping the discs ! All good stuff though !
The amount of brake hose required for an ABS system is going to dull the feel slightly, but from the sounds of things there's a certain amount of bedding in needed, both on the bike (assuming it is new) and yourself. There's going to be a change of feel anyway compared to the brakes on an old carby - radial calipers and m/cyl will see to that.
Cheers Guys, the bike is almost two years old, while I am coming up three score. Bled the fronts this afto, much improved while still a bit "disconnected" - I guess you are right about getting used to the Red Marvel ! Going to organise the rear brake upgarde asap
bizar.. coming from a 999R with P4 radial calipers on 19x18 billet brake pumps and Frentubo carbon brake lines, i brought the ' go gently or die - 2 finger' approach to the MTS. Jut to see that indeed the bike dives more - of course - but then goes into ABS mode quit well, mainly on bad/bumpy road surface... they do squeal ... and i'll be on the look out for warping and/or dirt.. I considered modding to M4's / RC19 master cylincer.. but would only get more abs sooner... and riding 2up very regularly, this may not be a good thing... Ducati shoould have stronger springs available urgently as i think is will make a huge change on braking and handling for many of us.. the range the pritty light sprung standard have to cover ( from 75 kg 1up trackday ride) to 225 kg ( 2up + luggage) is far too wide to be able to handle without this mod possibility.. Ohlins? where ar t thou!
Brilliant! Removing the ABS from the MTS. You're on the wrong bike. Either sort your existing system out, or buy and install the 1098/1198 Monoblocs or buy a Hyosung.
Chances are that it's bottoming out and skipping over the bumps, which will inevitably bring the ABS in. This was a serious problem when I first bought mine, any sort of hard braking and *bang*. Had the forks resprung and revalved, and the problems went away. It still dives on the brakes (that's long travel suspension for you) but it remains compliant and so you can make the most of the grip without suffering an "artificial" lock up. I have a non-DES bike so it was very easy to sort.
Calm down MJW _ I am not on the wrong bike, and am I not entitled to have some idle musings without being shot down _ take it esay lad !
After a recent trip to Portugal and piccos mountains I have found the limits of the front brakes. My discs have too gone patchy and blue/black and at times I had the Lever feeling like it was back to the bar. My friends RSV4 has brembo mono blocks and the bite is instant and no fade so I'm sure improvements can be made but has anyone just tried better pads perhaps suited to harder riding inducing more heat?? I'd love to get some mono blocks off eBay but aren't the calipers the same fitted to 848 etc?? They can't be that bad??
as I learned and will be installing this week. As to the brakes. i spent this weekend on the track at Mettet (at 52 and 110kg now, first time in 16 years, frist time on multi, new track to me) this track is a short twisty thing with 3 major braking areas coming from 200 to 65 into offhill radius and 150 to 30 kmph kph - - Putting it in Sporting mode 2 + luggage mode, the bike is really bewildering. And what impressed me very much were the brakes. they never flinched, never faded.. i even outbraked some 848's.. of course the abs did it's job but never in an intruding manner. Now i know the limits of the brakes and bike, i don't really want for stronger ones... grtz Koen I will be getting some reference asto "hit the wall" braking as i will pick up the 999R with a new P4 billet calipers /19x20 mastercylinder/330M discs and carbon brakeline setup next week.
I think my problem was short straights then into right hair pins so very hard on brakes with little high speed to really cool them to they faded. The brakes generally are great but could be better for harder riding.
the lack of time to cool down could be an issue indeed... but i guess that would better be adressed by pads, master cylinder and brakefluid then the calipers, no? the calipers don't really flex, no? but i can imagine that pads and brake fluid heating up in a oe master cylinder could get fading... succes! Koen
Yes exactly I don't think the calipers are bad by any means. I was on the brembo website and the pad fitted as standard are a road biased compound and they do list a sportier pad with better tolerance to heat. I will be trying some of them. I used to use bendix in my Hayabusa and they were fantastic given that is a much heavier bike.
