2015 GSX1250FA Front Pads recommendation.

Hi
I have always been a two finger braking sort of Rider.
But over the years I have developed overuse tendon strain in my right arm.
They actually call it "Tennis elbow" but it basically means that I find it hard to apply my front brakes hard
on my 2015 GSX1250FA.

So what brand and type are the front pads the 1250 comes with standard?

What brand and type of front pads do you guys recommend to give me more bite so I can get my two finger braking back?

Thanks
Richard

This thread has a pretty useful discussion.

https://nswbandits.forumotion.net/t5442-brake-pads?highlight=brake+pads

If I had changed mine I would have gone OEM spec but included braided lines (no ABS) you might have to look at a more powerful master cylinder if you can't operate the lever how you'd like too.

Trying to stop a Bandit with two fingers? You're lucky you've only got epicondylitis and haven't torn the tendons clean off. I use two hands.
These brakes on these things are extremely average.

I have the most common master cylinder upgrade for these - Brembo 19RCS.

They don't make the brakes work any better or reduce the required lever pull.

They do have better feel than OEM and, for me, have completely cured the dreaded ABS braided line replacement woes.

I've used both EBC and Metal Gear (cos they're Australian) sintered, both worked well. The Metal Gear seemed to have a shorter life than the EBC.

#Tag wrote:Trying to stop a Bandit with two fingers? You're lucky you've only got epicondylitis and haven't torn the tendons clean off. I use two hands.
These brakes on these things are extremely average.

I have the most common master cylinder upgrade for these - Brembo 19RCS.

They don't make the brakes work any better or reduce the required lever pull.

They do have better feel than OEM and, for me, have completely cured the dreaded ABS braided line replacement woes.

I've used both EBC and Metal Gear (cos they're Australian) sintered, both worked well. The Metal Gear seemed to have a shorter life than the EBC.

what are these braided line woes you speak of? I was considering getting this done on my FA, please share!

It started way back here    https://nswbandits.forumotion.net/t3147-abs-spongy-brakes  and has continued ever since.

Everybody who has replaced the front ABS lines with braided on the original 1250 model has had the most godawful problems with bleeding them and then they go soft again quickly if you ever manage to get them right.

The lines from the forks to the ABS unit are steel with a few small runs of rubber where the lines go around bends and so would never need replacement and would outperform braided anyway (apart from the few rubber bits).

Nobody can work out why, it just happens to everybody who does it.

I have a suspicion you may be ok with replacing just the lines from the front forks to the calipers (and a non ABS kit may fit ) but I don't know of anybody who has done it so caveat emptor

I suffered for 50000kms till I replaced the oem master cylinder with a Brembo and it instantly cured the problem. Again, nobody knows why

Suzuki must have known about the problem because they added an extra pair of bleed nipples to the lines at the fork clamp junction in the GSX and this may cure the problem.

You could take one for the team and install them on yours and see how you go.    (I only suggest this because there's a big bit of water protecting me if it turns to shit for you, too)

Well i am going to change master cylinder with brembo 18X19 cylinder and put sv1000 04 calipers. I hope that bandit will have now good brakes.

Bandakias wrote: ....and put sv1000 04 calipers...

I'd be very interested in a report if you go ahead.

#Tag wrote:It started way back here    https://nswbandits.forumotion.net/t3147-abs-spongy-brakes  and has continued ever since.

Everybody who has replaced the front ABS lines with braided on the original 1250 model has had the most godawful problems with bleeding them and then they go soft again quickly if you ever manage to get them right.

The lines from the forks to the ABS unit are steel with a few small runs of rubber where the lines go around bends and so would never need replacement and would outperform braided anyway (apart from the few rubber bits).

Nobody can work out why, it just happens to everybody who does it.

I have a suspicion you may be ok with replacing just the lines from the front forks to the calipers (and a non ABS kit may fit ) but I don't know of anybody who has done it so caveat emptor

I suffered for 50000kms till I replaced the oem master cylinder with a Brembo and it instantly cured the problem. Again, nobody knows why

Suzuki must have known about the problem because they added an extra pair of bleed nipples to the lines at the fork clamp junction in the GSX and this may cure the problem.

You could take one for the team and install them on yours and see how you go.    (I only suggest this because there's a big bit of water protecting me if it turns to shit for you, too)

lol, that water can be crossed
interesting story, I had no idea!

Hi
Looks like I need to spend some money to get back to my 2 finger braking.
Thanks
Richard