The performance of a motorcycle often depends on how well its braking system works. If your motorcycle frequently experiences brake fades or poor braking, it may lead to severe accidents on the road. To avoid such mishaps, you must pay attention to your vehicle’s braking performance. Here are several measures that can help you improve the braking of your motorcycle.
- Replace/Upgrade Brake Pads
If you haven’t upgraded or replaced your motorcycle’s brake pads since you bought it, you should consider doing so. Upgrading to good-quality brake pads from a genuine motorcycle parts store in Melbourne can help you improve your riding experience and reduce the risk of problems like brake fade.
Get your vehicle checked by a motorcycle mechanic. They can tell you whether you need to replace/upgrade the brake pads or keep riding on the existing ones. You can also consult with the mechanic to know whether the OEM brake pads are good for your riding style or if you should upgrade to aftermarket auto parts.
- Change Brake Fluid After a Point
One of the most effective and easiest ways to improve your motorcycle’s braking performance is to change the brake fluid. Glycol-based brake fluid is extremely hygroscopic. In simpler words, it aggressively absorbs moisture. Over time, your vehicle will experience a build-up of water in the system, which will affect the fluid’s performance capabilities.
Regularly changing the brake fluid will help you prevent the build-up of water in the vehicle’s system. As a result, the performance of your motorcycle brakes will remain top-notch. However, if you are a new rider, you should take expert advice before implementing any of these tips.
- Upgrade to Braided Brake Lines
Braided brake lines have the potential to improve your vehicle’s braking performance significantly. However, only a few people fully understand the advantages of these upgrades. As you may have noticed, most motorcycles come with rubber hoses that start to degrade and stretch over time. As a result, your vehicle’s braking performance slowly declines. Your riding technique also plays a part in it.
Braided hoses are much more durable than rubber ones, allowing you to enjoy a better braking experience while riding. While the braided brake lines last longer, they also give you a consistent feel with the lever.
- Replace Serviceable Parts
It is recommended that you keep up with your motorcycle’s maintenance schedule, replace the brake parts that wear out after a certain point, and clean the non-replaceable parts. This practice will help you keep your motorcycle’s braking performance at its peak. As mentioned, rubber gets worn out over time. Thus, the effectiveness of the seals inside the master cylinder and callipers will degrade after a certain point. This leads to dirt and particle buildup around the pistons and causes them to stick.
With uncleaned braking parts, the pads will drag on the discs, which further produces unwanted friction and heat. So, get your motorcycle checked on a regular basis and clean the braking parts to make sure they are working properly. Lastly, replace serviceable parts once you notice a decline in the braking performance of your motorcycle.
- Upgrade Master Cylinder
Upgrading to an aftermarket master cylinder is considered the most effective way to enhance your motorcycle’s braking. The master cylinder’s larger piston diameter allows more fluid to be forced out of the cylinder, creating greater pressure. While a bigger piston generally requires more effort to produce the necessary amount of pressure, the different leave positions let you achieve the required amount of pressure with the same effort as using stock parts.
Even though this is an expensive upgrade, it is worth every penny. Anyone who has upgraded to an aftermarket master cylinder from a reputed manufacturer would not want to go back to the stock part as the braking performance improves massively with the upgrade.
Conclusion
Whether you take part in professional racing or love to explore unknown territories on your two-wheeler, having a well-functioning braking system is essential for all motorcycles. While scheduled maintenance and regular cleaning are essential to keeping the braking system in good condition, you also need to replace or upgrade a few parts from time to time. With greater braking performance, you can ensure road safety and enjoy the ride without the fear of brake fade.