I've just checked my 1200S with ABS and the lines are braided with a plastic coating. Never had a problem with the front brakes. The abs gets interesting when I chase my brother on his NOX, hit a big bump at the wrong time with the brakes on full and the ABS makes the decision for me that we need to avoid skidding. Still not 100% sold on the ABS or traction control. When I get more used to the bike I may have a go switching them off for the day! My back brake is useless, but then they always are? Had a ZXR830cc race bike with a Brembo rear caliper and a lockheed master cylinder....very silly at any speed.....Used to keep it with air in!
Or, from the ABS's point of view... "I was minding my own business, about to settle down for elevenses and then suddenly the big red buzzer went off telling me that the front wheel had locked. I had to drop my cup of tea and rush to unlock it and sort everything out. If only that idiot at the controls had read the road properly and backed off the brakes a bit for that bump"
I've been trying to get the rear brake sorted for the best part of three years now....had the updated components fitted.......always the same, bleed (me and Dealer) and it's just about adequate for a while but degrades within a few hundred miles. When will Ducati come up with a proper fix!? Picked this comment up on the US forum..... ...not seen anything but assuming there is such a thing I wouldn't mind having a look!.........anyone? Ducati's recommended bleed procedure, and the memo re the rear brake upgrades: Here: Multistrada 1200 MTS1200 Rear Brake System Bleeding
Some of you guys have been talking about bleeding your front brakes as your getting a long / soft lever. If you haven't tried it already, just bleed the air out of the master cylinder. 10mm spanner, crack the nipple, gently pull the lever until fluid can be seen, and good lever feel is once more restored The same is true for the clutch too. I have fitted monoblocs too on the front, but changed the hose back to the abs pump, and the link hose between the calipers for ones from venhill. They work a treat. Oh, and there are different monoblocs, depending on what they are from. The differences are in the angle / position of the bleed / banjo faces. Mine came from a 1098S I think. Hope that helps.
Pics John? My M4's off 1198s. US purchase. Still sitting in a bloody shoe box though. Yes I researched the Monoblocs thoroughly. They key word is Monobloc. There's quite a choice with Brembo however some are 2-piece, the M4's as you know are cast Monoblocs and then there's the top top shelf CNC "machined" Monoblocs. Oooh yeah. Actually not that exxy really...if you don't mind paying 3 grand for calipers ;-) Did Venhill custom make the lines for you?
Hi ya, no, no pics to hand, but will try to take some one evening or next week as we are away over the weekend. Mine came in from the USA too as it happens. There must be a big bucket of them out there Venhill do a system whereby you can buy the hoses with ferules already fitted, and then choose the correct banjo ends (length, angle, offset, etc). I have the invoice somewhere at home giving the part numbers and hose lengths. Custom Brake and Clutch Lines They are only a little company but great products and easy to deal with. Highly recommended.
Hi John, Resurrecting this thread again as I've bought Doodles M4 Calipers off him. I've got the steel hoses that Doodle had made up but I'm confused about what is still needed, specifically around the hose to the ABS unit. I can post a picture. Not confident in doing this myself but would like a good dealer to do this for me. P&H or ProTwins? (My head says ProTwins would do a better job?)
To tide this up a bit more , the following thread has most of the info needed to do the upgrade. Hopefully it answers any questions. MTS brake upgrade. | Ducati Forum
