Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Radial forks/brakes

[Desmondo]

Jon is the man to talk to

[Rob B]

Alan at AJR also lists a kit on his website.

Rgds, Rob

[sharpo]

Does anyone know why radial brakes work better cos I can't see how they would.

I personally don't like the look of em either.

[Lee1980]

Main reason i believe is the fact that the caliper is bolted rigidly at each end so the caliper flexes less under braking

[Jools]

For what it's worth, road testers in nearly every rag reckon that radial brakes offer no great advantage over conventional ones. Just like every other braking set up there's good and bad in terms of power and feel and a good conventional setup is better than a mediocre radial one.

If you had a top notch Brembo radial setup against a top notch Brembo conventional set up I doubt that any one of us would be able to notice the difference because we can't use what we've already got to it's limits anyway.

So IMHO radials are just bling. Very nice bling, but a very expensive 'upgrade' if you only want the look.

[Pete A]

Back in 2001 when the Reve Racing team first put radial brakes on their bikes I had a chat with John Reynolds and asked him what he thought, his response was that he couldn't feel any difference and his lap times were near enough identical, although it was early days and they had more testing to do. But, the main benefit to the team was being able to quickly switch front wheels with different diameter discs, just by adding or removing the spacers between the caliper and fork bottom.
Incidentally in the recent MCN test of various 600's the bike with the best stopping distance was the only one without radial brakes - it was the Triumph complete with own brand conventional caliper set up!

[Simon Reed]

jon is the man to talk to

i sold im those Ap's,to make way for the brembo's !!



[Edited on 3-3-2005 by Simon Reed]

[chris99]

But they look SO so so gooooooooooood

[Ray]

I can't see how you would need anything more than the 4 pad "normal" type ( P34??) brakes on a road bike or even a road bike used on the track.

I love the look of the radial set ups but not enough to splash that much cash!!!

Ray.

[Nattyboy]

Brembo do a radial conversion kit for dukes which utilises adaptors..ill leave it to you guys to make comments but suffice to say, I think it a) looks bloody stupid, and b) defeats the (alleged!) object of having radials in the first place...

Nat