Better brakes?

[57x]

I have tested many models of brake calipers, and find them many of them to be similar. As a starting point, you need a good master cylinder and braided lines. The SE has braided lines to start with. I find the brakes with OEM pads on the SE to be quite strong, but lacking initial bite. Smash on that lever and the power is great.

I have tested side by side the below calipers on my 01 GSXR 1000 race bike that has a Brembo RCS 19 master cylinder and braided lines. Each of these calipers I ran Carbon Lorraine race pads (also called CL Brakes). Carbon Lorraine makes two versions of pads, one called street, the other called race, so they are not rated GG, HH, etc. The wheels on my GSXR race bike are Marchesini running 320mm Brembo Stainless 5mm thick rotors with Galfer superbike braided brake lines. I find that suspension makes a big difference with braking. I run 2012 GSXR forks with Ohlins gas charged cartridges and an Attack triple. Rear shock is an Ohlins 46 shock. Front and back are sprung for my weight with correct sag settings.
2007 R6 Sumitomo monoblocks
2009 ZX6R Nissin monoblocks
2012 GSXR 1000 Brembo monoblocks
2014 Ninja 1000 Tokiko monoblocks (same calipers used on the H2 SX SE)
Brembo HP4-RX race monoblock calipers
Brembo HP4-RR race monoblock calipers

Excluding the bottom two non-OEM race calipers, all were fairly close in use on the track. My 01 GSXR does not have ABS, so I cannot judge if there is a difference with ABS. I found the Tokiko monoblocks on the Ninja 1000 to be the best of the OEM calipers, followed by the Sumitomo calipers. The OEM Brembos are just pretty much a sticker on the side of a hunk of metal. Great marketing, but nothing special on the track. The Nissin 09 ZX6R calipers have a crazy stupid level of initial bite since they are the only 4-pad caliper in the bunch. Initial bite on the ZX6R caliper was near the level of the GP4-RR, but had nothing more to offer and faded easy, so overall braking was a little better on other OEM calipers. Obviously the GP4-RR calipers were the best of all, consistent with no fade when heated up.

This is a balanced test on the same bike with the same setup for both brakes and suspension using the same brand/model pad except the HP4-RR which only has Brembo pads available at a stupid high price. I changed nothing else on the bike including suspension and setup. I did all this testing trying to find a superior brake caliper, so all the OEMs were run first before I started spending money on race calipers. Fortunately, I was able to borrow the HP4-RX calipers knowing I wanted the HP4-RR calipers, only having to buy new pads for them. I got lucky to get my HP4-RR calipers from a racer that was upgrading to full Moto-GP level Brembo calipers so I got them at a third of retail. I just have no desire to spend $6-7000 on calipers and will never be talented enough to use them even if I did buy them.

My simple take on this. Get a good master cylinder, brake lines and quality pads. I prefer Carbon Lorraine but there other quality manufacturers. I just put new Carbon Lorraine street pads on my H2 SX SE and am bedding them in now after cleaning my rotors. I am undecided if I need a master cylinder, but will probably install an Accossato master cylinder eventually. Accossato makes a fantastic master cylinder at a much more attractive price (owned by one of the founders of Brembo). I run the Accossato rear thumb brake on my race bike as I find it easier to trail brake with it and am quite pleased.

All of this is one guy's opinion. Take it as opinion, not fact. Use your own experience, relationships and judgement. Your experience may vary.

[57x]

I made a mistake mentioning the Accossato master cylinder. It is a quality clone of the Brembo master cylinder, but not the correct owner. I have run the Accossato master cylinder and cannot tell the difference from a Brembo. The company I was thinking of with the ex-Brembo founder is Discacciati. Also quality master cylinder, and the one that I have for a rear thumb brake.

[kman0066]

There's trade-offs to bigger rotors. Most of all, they cost more and weigh more. That bigger weight on the outside of the wheel directly translates to the bike feeling "heavier" at speed. So, you ideally only want as big a rotor as necessary. 320mm rotors are still, VERY large. Our bike is of considerable weight though, so at the end of the day, it's not going to feel like a supersport motorcycle under braking that weighs 100 lb less.

I spent some time yesterday on bike feeling the brakes after this discussion and I definitely think it is the pads that are lacking. I would try a good set of pads first and see how you like it or not. It's an easy swap and not too expensive. If you need some more power, pickup a Brembo RCS master that will allow you to try out a couple of ratios. I think the master is decent though, it's just the pads are very soft biting.

[biosed]

I would try a good set of pads first and see how you like it or not. It's an easy swap and not too expensive. If you need some more power, pickup a Brembo RCS master that will allow you to try out a couple of ratios. I think the master is decent though, it's just the pads are very soft biting.

What pads would you recommend for good bite and available in EU?

What RCS would work with it and have brake light working?

[57x]

Carbon Lorraine and Vesrah make great pads.

The RCS has a cable with it. There is only RCS and Cortecorsa that have the cables. The RCS is much cheaper. You will have to cut the ends of the cable from the RCS and crimp on pins to work with the OEM Kawasaki harness. I recommend trying only pads first, and if still wanting more add the master cylinder.

Remember, when you change pad types you need to scotchbrite both sides of your rotors and then bed in the new pads.

[kman0066]

I like the EBC EPFA pads and the Vesrah RJL pads, both are aggressive Street pads that do decent on the track. I'll be getting a set of one of those for my H2 SX soon. Both offer a high initial bite with consistent braking after. They're more pricey than standard sintered pads, but worth it, especially with how long brake pads last on the street.

[THOR]

I dont think H2 brakes ( m50 ) would fit the H2 SX as i heard SX SE has 108 mm brake calipers.