GrahamcUK

Is there any one out there interested in Brembo brake conversion kits. If there is enough Interest I will put them into production. Kit would comprise front caliper brackets , rear caliper bracket and braided stainless steel HEL performance brake pipes ( Range of colours available) and stainless bolts and copper washers to connect straight to the standard Blackbird front and rear master cylinder. I will include matching braided clutch hose to. ( I live just down the road from the HEL performance factory and have good contacts there)
Just add second hand calipers and your there.
Kit would cost around £420 plus shipping
I'm looking for a minium of 10 sets to do a run
If there is a enough interest I will also do Front caliper brackets for Harrison billet 6 pots.
Any engineering project can be undertaken Alloy, Ti, Carbon

Attached Images

Blackbird project 063.jpg (354.3 KB, 59 views)

CanadianBird

I already have all 9 lines plus clutch from Goodridge. I'd be interested in Brembo discs to replace my oems. I think it might be easier to go to Nissen(?) top of line brakes out of Japan. But my hat's off to you b/c you are rebuilding an excellent sport touring bike into something most of us can't do or afford. It's an awsome project. If I wasn't retiring in two years I might undertake some outrageous changes to my Bird. Cheers

GrahamcUK

Thank. I agree the Blackbird is an excellent sport touring bike. Thats why I'm looking for a second one to leave standard-ish. But the Blackbird motor and frame has so much potentail to be so much more. I always wished Honda had built a sports bike around the Blackbird motor and frame. I am quite tall and heavy and after owning a number of models of fireblades I finally desided that I need a bike with a bigger frame. Although some people out there don't like what I'm doing, and there entitled to there view, most people are very interested in the project. In time I am hopeing to offer if there is enough interest the fork and swingarm conversion kits and a range of after market bodywork. The brake kit is the first venture.

GrahamcUK

I was hoping for a bit more interest , I am happy to ship anywhere.

CanadianBird

I might be if it were a straight swap with no drilling or dicking around. You know, take it off then put the new one on. Rotors???

steveb

I'm interested as you already know Graham but, to be honest the price is rather high for me (cash flow is tight due to work being very sporadic at present) and I wasn't planning on doing anything to the rear apart from connecting both hoses to the Honda caliper / rear master cylinder making all 3 pistons work at the same time.

Wreckless and I are both following what seems to be a parallel path to an engineer who quoted £150 - £200 for the front brackets to be custom made for either 40mm or 62mm centres (giving an initial choice of either Brembo or Suzuki / Kawa calipers). Not a flexible fitment you understand but, an either or decided at the time of measuring up.

TSR used to offer a complete kit including calipers, hoses, brackets, master cylinder and lever but, I can't remember the price but, I think it was in the region of £700..............If only I knew then what I now know I'd have had them but, of course they don't offer the kit or the brackets anymore

I also have Goodridge hoses fitted - only last year so buying replacements is gonna be a bit of a downer but, of course they'll be no good with whatever caliper/bracket setup I (hopefully) end up with but, at least the rear & clutch lines will stay as is.

I appreciate that you need to sell in volume to make money on this but, if you saw my post a few months ago regarding this same problem I had only one person interested and the engineer wasn't gonna be bothered for 2 sets of brackets - well, not without charging extra for each unit to make up for the low volume.

Any thoughts would be most welcome

Cheers
Steve

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Brembos.jpg (262.4 KB, 45 views)

GrahamcUK

The conversion kits will be a straight bolt on , bleed up and ride away.
Steve if I can get the numbers I will do front bracket as a pair with out hoses for £150 plus P&P.
The only kit I have seen was by a Japanese company and worked out at over £1800 and they wouldn't sell direct only to a authorised dealer.
Just on another note brembo calipers are around £300 each new and billet 6-pots are £717 a pair so I would be very surprize if the the kit you were saying about is only £700.
If I can be of any help call or mail me.
Cheers Graham

steveb

I am realistic enough to be planning for 2nd hand calipers and new hoses Graham, the bike is less than pristine (see my Avtar) and is 9 years old but, of course brakes are mighty important to me so I'd overhaul whatever calipers I end up with before using them................

The problem seems to be as always - affordable caliper mounts

Fingers crossed your post gets the numbers up to a high enough level so we can all afford the upgrade

Cheers
Steve

Wreckless

Graham,

Have you any pictures of the original brackets? The rear, is it going to be underslung? What bolt centres will it have?

steveb

Glad to see you paying attention Wreckless, we only need to recruit 8 more willing converts and we're home free!!
Cheers
Steve

GrahamcUK

These are the calipers I was on about

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Blackbird project 066.jpg (362.3 KB, 32 views)

steveb

Very nice looking calipers Graham, will match with the very tasteful gold bits I have on the bike already...................still need brackets though

X1rider

When did Goodridge introduce a 9 line kit for the XX? When I talked to them 4 years ago they said there wasn't enough interest in it to produce. How much was the kit, and where did you get it? I have the mix and match (aluminum fittings & cheap ass bolts, SS lines) Speigler kit, and while the performance of the braided lines is far superior to the stock rubber lines, I am concerned about the long term effects of the different metals. Plus, the installation "directions" were a joke and some of the lines for the right front caliper barely fit.

To say that I have been disappointed with the Speigler kit would be an understatement.

steveb

WWW.NIPPYNORMANS.COM

Very good service from Nippy Norman's but, maybe not much use to anyone outside the UK due to shipping / tax issues?

CanadianBird

My Goodridge brake lines, clutch as well came from Jaws. Note the BB page. I think I paid 200 Sterling. The clutch kit was cheap. But, it took five hours to install and bleed. With my Pazzo leavers she brakes well. But I'd love to upgrade my brakes. However, it aint cheap. I'd like a top of the line Nissan brakes but Brembro would be NICE. It's not easy ordering from Japan.

GrahamcUK

I can supply HEL performance lines. Check there web site or buy direct. I will see if I can sort a Discount for CBRXX.com member.
https://sws1.eclipse.net.uk/www.h-e-...es/HEL-CBS.htm

GrahamcUK

This is the other calipers I was on about.

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Blackbird project 099.jpg (347.9 KB, 36 views)

steveb

Yes, yes Graham enough with the tasty calipers!!
We need brackets and we need 'em now!! If not sooner!!
Thanks
Steve

sayoda

could we have the 6 pot calipers in "black"? and how much would this kit cost?

__________________
full Yoshi exhaust, jetted, k&n air filter, smoked front signals, powerbronze undertail, smoked led integrator, black PAZZO levers

GrahamcUK

Yes I can get them in black. Are we talk just fronts or complete kit??

steveb

So that makes 3 interested parties then?

Is it safe to say this isn't gonna be a "runner" as they say Graham?
Not that I'm trying to rush things along but, if it's not going to happen I need to be making other plans for getting some brackets made and whilst I appreciate that I'm not the only person showing interest I'd have thought that if others are going into colour options before you've actually agreed to make brackets / supply calipers I might be waiting a long time for a single pair of brackets.
Cheers
Steve

GrahamcUK

Steve , I'm trying as hard as I can to get this thing to fly. I am seeing my mate with the CNC shop tomorrow to see if I can get the run numbers down without raising the cost to much. I was hoping that there would be alot more interest as if I can't get the interest in the brake kits these no point in doing the fork or swingarm kits which would knock a big hole in my plans.
I will keep trying here as well as a couple of other leads I have.
Cheers Graham

steveb

I do appreciate what you're trying to do Graham, really I do, as you might have seen from my post several months ago I tried to get enough interest so that I could afford to commission a guy to do a small run at an affordable price, sadly that fell on deaf ears. I truly want your venture to succeed as I have (as you might have gathered ) a keen interest in fitting better calipers to the front of my 'Bird asap.

Not sure I'll ever be able to afford the SP1 conversion but, certainly later on I'd like the cosmetic change a braced swingarm gives and an improved rear caliper too but, from tiny acorns mighty oaks can grow - so far we've not planted the acorn!!

I'm keeping my eyes on the thread but, if you honestly don't think it's gonna come to anything please let us know so that those of us who are keen to get the front end sorted can make other plans.

Thanks,
Steve

Wreckless

Graham,
I've actually got a slot booked with a machinist to make front brackets and an underslung rear on Aug 18th.

If your project is likely to deliver sooner then count me in, but I need 40mm mounting centres front and 64mm rear. I don't need hoses etc. as I'll make up my own.

You should put the word out on B.I.R.D, and especially the Dutch, German and Scandie BlackBird forums as they seem to be more into heavily modding their bikes than the brits!

Cheers,
Eric.

sayoda

Both. I'd really like to the fronts, but a complete kit would be very tempting!

__________________
full Yoshi exhaust, jetted, k&n air filter, smoked front signals, powerbronze undertail, smoked led integrator, black PAZZO levers

GrahamcUK

Ok guys this is my last try at this. I can get a run going if I have a firm
Commitment ( having paid deposit) to 5 sets of front brackets. At £175 a per pair
Sayado . I can supply a complete kit with black stainless hoses and black 6 pot callipers on the front and a 4 pot that fits to the standard over slug bracket on the rear for £1695 or a 2 pot under slung on new bracket for £1765 both prices are plus shipping. The order is reliant of get four more people interested in the front brackets. If I can get 5 people interested in the complete kits the price can come down.
Cheers Graham

steveb

So if I understand you Graham it's at the point now where you need money to confirm who's in and who's out? How much of a deposit are we talking about and what dimensions are you using regarding mounting centres for the calipers? If my information is correct :

40mm would be the measurement for Brembos

62mm would be the measurement for Suzuki / Kawasaki sourced calipers

Previously you said you had a "spare" pair of Brembos, do you still have them and if so, how much?

Cheers
Keep up the excellent work!!

Oh, one more thought - how long to delivery after we pay? Thanks.

steveb

Just a thought - Are we also assuming everyone is using standard 320mm discs? (they are 320mm aren't they????).

GrahamcUK

Hi Steve the brembos I have are the 64mm centras check earlier pic posted. Make me an offer. Last time I checked blackbirds ran 310mm disc if you are going to run the 320mm brembo disc like I have fitted it well make thing a lot harder to do.
Cheers Graham

steveb

Alright, that's twice I've made an error but, at in my defense I was already unsure on this one!! So, what was the difference with the carb'd bike's discs?

Anyway, I'll be using standard sized (injection) discs, whatever they might be!!

As for the Brembos you have...................Having watched lots of calipers on Ebay this last few weeks, prices vary between £40 and £90 depending on the model of bike they came from and even seem to be cheaper if they were off an Aprilia than off a Ducati!!

Like I said earlier, I might even go for 62mm centres just to give me a choice of Suzuki or Kawasaki calipers - thinking big fat bikes of similar weight to the Blackbird.

Regarding the brackets, where do we go from here?

Cheers
Steve