Best brakes of all time

Edited Date/Time 2/9/2015 10:11am
Which bikes/years were known to have outstanding frong & back brakes - for the year the bike was released?

I didn't ride enough front drum bikes to comment on the 70s & early 80s era machines but was amazed at how powerful the front disk on my 85 KX125 was. A few years later I rode a 1990 CR125 and was impressed how much stronger those brakes were than my old KX. Most Hondas I've ridden had really good brakes.

My 01 RM125 had superb front puckers.. never needed more than one finger on the front lever.

What are some other bikes with revolutionary or just really damn good front & rear brakes?
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OR Racer46
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2/8/2015 9:31pm
my 2015 KTM 350 has some pretty good brakes
JM485
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Davis, CA, USA
2/8/2015 9:58pm
I once saw a guy at a hillclimb not make the hill, and proceeded to stick a wooden stake into his back spokes to act as a brake when he walked the bike down since many extended bikes don't have back brakes. That was probably the best rear brake I have ever seen. . .
JBernard_401
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Boulder, CO, USA
2/8/2015 10:40pm
ktm brembos, by far.
Rooster
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Edmonton, CA
2/8/2015 11:14pm
The 320mm disk and 4-piston caliper on my supermoto will stand the bike on it's front wheel with one finger of effort.

By far the best brakes I've ever used.

The Shop

AS64
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2/8/2015 11:31pm
ktm brembos, by far.
How's the fitting going on your 500? Any updates? I've been watching that thread like a hawk!
Derpin' DJ
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2/8/2015 11:41pm
For some reason, the brakes on my KTM 350 EXC-F feel pretty ordinary. The brakes on my dads 250 EXC feel amazing though.
JBernard_401
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2/8/2015 11:43pm
ktm brembos, by far.
AS64 wrote:
How's the fitting going on your 500? Any updates? I've been watching that thread like a hawk!
thanks brother. that means a lot!
been busy with a lot of stuff, but will have an update within the next few days on it. some cool parts i've gotten made coming back in.
spent almost 2wks figuring out and making a set of Inconel 718 head and cylinder studs for it. so yeah....2 weeks of work...for head bolts and .01% of the bike build : /
but i'm getting closer!
mayzo
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2/8/2015 11:56pm
Derpin' DJ wrote:
For some reason, the brakes on my KTM 350 EXC-F feel pretty ordinary. The brakes on my dads 250 EXC feel amazing though.
Dj my 350 exc a frighteningly strong. I've been riding 38 yrs and they catch me out at times. Mostly in fast singles with those hidden turns hahaha
Derpin' DJ
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2/9/2015 12:16am
Yeah, they should feel exactly like my dads. The knob who owned the bike before me sprayed tyre shine in the front brakes. They barely worked when I first got the bike. Tried cleaning the pads, but ended up replacing them. Improved the feel, but they still dont have enough bite. Tried reverse bleeding the brakes, but that didn't help. Might need to do something to the rotor
mayzo
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2/9/2015 4:03am
Derpin' DJ wrote:
Yeah, they should feel exactly like my dads. The knob who owned the bike before me sprayed tyre shine in the front brakes. They barely worked...
Yeah, they should feel exactly like my dads. The knob who owned the bike before me sprayed tyre shine in the front brakes. They barely worked when I first got the bike. Tried cleaning the pads, but ended up replacing them. Improved the feel, but they still dont have enough bite. Tried reverse bleeding the brakes, but that didn't help. Might need to do something to the rotor
Replace the rotor, nothing will fix that.
gt80rider
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2/9/2015 5:50am
hillbilly
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2/9/2015 6:16am
Brembo are by far the best,dont understand why the manufacturers use the others.

When double leading shoes came out bikes actually had brakes,they worked pretty damn good
reded
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2/9/2015 6:18am
hillbilly wrote:
Brembo are by far the best,dont understand why the manufacturers use the others. When double leading shoes came out bikes actually had brakes,they worked pretty damn...
Brembo are by far the best,dont understand why the manufacturers use the others.

When double leading shoes came out bikes actually had brakes,they worked pretty damn good
.....or at least copy the design.
robkinuk
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Ashbourne, GB
2/9/2015 7:12am
Maico's had the fastest brakes going!Wink Laughing ...............................................because their drum brakes didn't slow you down anyShocked and were about as useful as a chocolate fireguard!Woohoo
enketchum
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Pasadena, CA, USA
2/9/2015 8:43am
they are going to brake
seth505
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SD, CA, USA
2/9/2015 8:56am
The new KTMs...awesome. Made my rm and yz brakes feel like they are from the 1800s
BobPA
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USA
2/9/2015 8:58am
Derpin' DJ wrote:
Yeah, they should feel exactly like my dads. The knob who owned the bike before me sprayed tyre shine in the front brakes. They barely worked...
Yeah, they should feel exactly like my dads. The knob who owned the bike before me sprayed tyre shine in the front brakes. They barely worked when I first got the bike. Tried cleaning the pads, but ended up replacing them. Improved the feel, but they still dont have enough bite. Tried reverse bleeding the brakes, but that didn't help. Might need to do something to the rotor
If the bike is more than a year old replace the line.
bigborefan
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Urbana, IL, USA
2/9/2015 9:59am
2008 KTM 690. Superbike brakes on a dual sport.
MarkF
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Colorado Springs, CO, USA
2/9/2015 10:07am
hillbilly wrote:
Brembo are by far the best,dont understand why the manufacturers use the others. When double leading shoes came out bikes actually had brakes,they worked pretty damn...
Brembo are by far the best,dont understand why the manufacturers use the others.

When double leading shoes came out bikes actually had brakes,they worked pretty damn good
I remember when the YZ 465 (?) came out with the double leading shoes. I put it on my YZ125 and loved it.
TailSoHard
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2/9/2015 10:09am
The hell do you need brakes for anyway?? All they do is slow you down?!
kevingent55
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Maryville, TN, USA
2/9/2015 10:11am
robkinuk wrote:
Maico's had the fastest brakes going!Wink Laughing ...............................................because their drum brakes didn't slow you down anyShocked and were about as useful as a chocolate fireguard!Woohoo
That's very true, rode my Maico on Saturday, at least you can turn that thing on a dime!

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