M50 Braking Power

[BlueMax]

Can anyone tell me how M50 brakes compare to other bikes? I mean how much distance does it take to stop from 60 mph? How does this compare to other bikes? How does it compare to other bike you have ridden? I am new to riding and just wanted to understand the braking capabilities of the M50 and other bikes or cars, Thank you for your input.

[tlwisner]

A lot of stopping distance is rider ability. I saw enough people dump their bikes at MSF during the emergency stop practice.

Brakes are also easy to improve, with better pads and stainless steel / teflon brake lines for the front.

[BlueMax]

Thanks, tlwisner. The technique I will use in a straight line stop is to get on the front brake as hard as possible without skidding them and then apply the rear brakes progressively harder until just above a skid. New stainless steel brake lines are planned for just after the windshield and saddle bags.

I hope that I can out brake any car and most bikes with upgraded pads and SS brake lines.

My car can stop (60 to 0) in about 125 feet. I have no ideal what I can do on the M50.

[JD HHI]

Originally Posted by tlwisner

A lot of stopping distance is rider ability. I saw enough people dump their bikes at MSF during the emergency stop practice.

Brakes are also easy to improve, with better pads and stainless steel / teflon brake lines for the front.

This may be a dumb question, but how do SS brake lines improve your braking?

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by JD HHI

This may be a dumb question, but how do SS brake lines improve your braking?

I think it has something to do with the regular brakes lines swelling and expanding , so then they are not pumping the brake fluid with the same amount of pressure so braking is effected. Something like that anyway ! I have heard from several different sources that they do improve the braking. Unfortunaley I am not much of a techie ( understatement of the year ) so even when i understand a concept I can't remember it well enough to discribe it.

[djump]

A swaged brake line take the spongyness out of the bake system. Therefore you can feel a lot more and more of the force that you apply at the lever has a direct effect on the grabbing of the brake to disc interface.

In short do this mod . I was very disappointed on the M50 brakes, but since the mod I’ve learnt to live with them as this "Feel” improvement has given me much more confidence of the bikes braking ability. When you squeeze harder it actually does something now!

As for out braking any car…..Don’t count on it, 4 wheel disc, ABS stops fast. Don’t forget your bike weights 260Kg plus yourself and will take time and distance to stop; leave gaps or have an out! Use your engine and back brake at the same time and you'll find your braking distances inprove.

[BlueMax]

Thanks djump, I intend to upgrade the brake lines. Also, I heard that Suzuki sets the rear brake so as not to lock it up. After I get use to the bikes breaking I might change the rear brake settings to allow me to lock it up.

Good luck and safe riding.

[djump]

No worries Bluemax, I adjusted mine so that it has only about 3/8" free play and that helps heaps, but you need to re-adjust every few hundred K's. Also in heavy traffic I tend to stay in a lower gear than I would if the road was clear, just to help with braking if I need it. The bonous is if you need to gun it; you've got rev's to do the work.

[S2Design]

The brakes on the M50 are horrible!

[ROCKMy50]

I would not say the brakes are horrible instead I would describe it as not very good.

That said the feel of the brake can be improved as djump says. Spending some time on a lonely street practicing braking front and rear individually and then together both in a straight line and then while leaned over in a turn will greatly improve one's ability to stop your bike.