Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Le Z Turbo]

Hi, which EBC brake pads did you take ? I've been to "EBC brake direct" on internet but cannot find the Zero Motocycle reference....
Laurent

[lolachampcar]

They were stock at my local bike shop and not from a Zero reference.  I would not think EBC even knows what a Zero is.

I'll dig them up (they are off the bike now) and try to get a number from them.  They are a good example of what not to use.  They stopped the bike very well (unlike the stock pads everyone seems happy with) but were very loud for the last five mph (quite before that).

[Le Z Turbo]

Thanks !!! Indeed there must be a bike using the same "Nissin" brake calipers than the Zero.
But there are several EBC brake pad materials: organic, sintered, and different use types: street, racing, touring, dirt..
Maybe we could get better luck with another type or maybe not as your experience proves.

[Richard230]

On all of my other motorcycles, when they needed replacement brake pads due to wear, I have been using EBC or DP sintered H-H pads and they seem to be working well.  Good stopping power and no squealing.  However, the stock Hayes pads on my 2012 Zero appear to be made of material that should last as long as the battery, so I doubt I will be searching for new pads to replace those during my lifetime.   

[lolachampcar]

The front pads I tried were EBC 185R.  They had fantastic one finger grip but squealed so bad below 5 mph I had to take them off.

[dkw12002]

The only problem I had with the brakes was when the regen braking and coasting were set low on Eco or the bike was in Sport with whatever default settings that has. I would find myself coming up too fast and close to cars waiting in line at traffic lights. Then I programmed everything for 100% including braking and coasting regen, so now the brakes work very well and pretty much like engine braking but without any downshifting and I only ride in eco mode. No squeaking. I almost always downshift and engine brake with a clutched bike, so these settings feel comfortable to me. The tires as someone pointed out are hard rubber, so unless you put on different tires from stock, the limiting factor in stopping might be the tires not gripping during a hard stop....just like they slip and slide a bit with an aggressive throttle. I'm used to that too though. If I did any upgrade it would likely be the front forks but even they are OK, just not great.

[Lipo423]

The 2013 brakes are a little better than the 2012, but still IMHO they are not powerful enough.
Unfortunately if you decide to make a modification in order to increase braking power -which I did- your next stop will be the front fork...

See picture(disk diameter is now 320mm), radial caliper, and brake, stopping power is far far better than 2013 Nissin, and ridiculous in comparing with 2012 one...it is not cheap though...

[protomech]

How easy would it be to just replace the entire front end - forks, brakes, etc with a sportbike front?

[Lipo423]

It should not be difficult, but cost is the main driver as mostly of the aftermarket alternatives are good quality, but not cheap
One of the reasons Zero choose this fork manufacturer is because it is "reasonable quality" for the low price you pay...and I have highlighted reasonable
The things to bear in mind are:

- Type (regular or upside down -this last one would be suitable)- Weight
- Road-bike designed (the one Zero uses is not...)
- Overal height (otherwise you could modify bike geometry)
- Bars diameter (you do not want to go backwards on this)

Installation should not be difficult at all as mostly of the components are bike std (this would include the brake calipers)

[lolachampcar]

That looks like a MY12 fork.  Can you share the disk part number?  Did you do a drawing for the adapter?  I've got a couple of those calipers from a 916 brake upgrade one of which I would love to put on my 2013.

[protomech]

Yes, that is Lipo423's MY12 bike.
http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=2250.0

[Lipo423]

Thanks for adding the link protomech 
Unfortunately the brake adaptor was "customized" in a local mill-workshop. First testing with aluminum, and afterwards final piece was made with high strength steel, there are no drawings available...sorry about that 
I have not got the Brembo disk serial number but it is a Supermotard-type std 320 disk.

After a few miles I have got to say that the std. fork is not up to the task  If you brake heavily (you could eventually lift the rear wheel), you get a very strong vibration in the fork

Please let me know if I can help in any other way.

[lolachampcar]

We really need to come up with a match from another application with the correct weight, length and tube diameter.  Swapping the whole front end would probably get us good brakes as well.

Man I wish the front end off my S1000RR would fit

[Lipo423]

Agreed.
I wish we could do that in an easy and cheap way...unfortunately it does not look that way. The best bet would probably be to look at the motocross-enduro or supermotard  available options and start from there.
If I had the time I would do it 

I bet you $1 this is one of medium term Zero's headache...getting a reasonable quality front fork + braking system to be fitted in the future models...Brammo already did the homework...

[Richard230]

I think the problem that Zero has is the cost of name-brand suspension and braking components.  The adjustable Italian and Sachs suspension components, like the Empulse uses, are relatively expensive and the less expensive Japanese versions, like the Japanese use for their run-of-the-mill models, have no adjustments and would look cheap on a $15,000 motorcycle.  The Fast Ace suspension is fully adjustable, has the specifications required for an expensive bike, are light weight and seem to perform OK for lighter riders.  But Fast Ace needs to up their interior component quality, give them more oil capacity and tune them for U.S. rider weight - all of these improvements would be a good thing for both Fast Ace and Zero.  If Fast Ace improved the quality of their suspension components, they might be able to make a larger penetration into the world-wide street suspension market . 

I think the only thing the 2013 brakes need are different brake pads to control the squealing. That should be very easy to sort out, considering how many types of pads are available and how few modern motorcycles have squealing brakes.