Upgrading the master cylinder to a radial (pref Brembo Race Radial) is always the first step for me as it gives you so much more feedback through the lever so you know what the brakes are doing. Second step is then to change the pads. This will give you better initial "bite" and more "grip" on the disks. My preference is for Carbonne Lorraine (now known as just "CL") SBK5 pads. These are supposedly "race" pads but I've never had an issue with them on the road. The SBK3+ are the "road" equivalent but they didn't feel as good to me! If you're not satisfied with that then look at your calipers. Really there's nothing wrong with the standard P34 Goldline calipers - they'll still have you over the front! Switching to a P4 setup will give you more stopping power and improved feedback again as they are 4-piston with 4-pads (pad-per-piston) rather than 4-piston but two pads like the P34s. If you find you're still wanting more, then switching to a radial caliper is the way to go. You'll either need to find some replacement fork bottoms (the subject of radial mount converters is controversial!) or swap forks completely. Over the next few issues of the Club's "Pronto" magazine, we have some articles on this very subject, with Chris's converstion using fork bottoms, and mine switching the forks out for 1098 forks. Obviously, all that depends on both budget and mechanical ability!! |