Anyone try a 6 pot brake conversion?

[willie]

I'm looking into the feasibility of updating the brakes on my '83 1100E using 6 pot calipers. I haven't bought anything, yet.
I'd like to know if anyone else has tried this. If so, please post the lessons you learned or PM me so I can get some advice.
Thanks,
Willie

[GS1150Pilot]

I've heard less than stellar things about 6 pot calipers. The general consensus seems to be that 4 pots are the best overall.

[Joe H]

Never used them so take this for what it is worth (which is nothing), talking to guys who worked at buell years ago I was looking to go to 6 pot on my 1150 and was told by them that unless I had a larger brake rotor going to a 6 pot would not work as well. They were convinced the size of the rotor was way more important than the caliper. Of corse buell pushed that design to the limit.

[willie]

Interesting. Any one else want to add their opinion or findings?
Thanks a lot.

[Guest]

I have 6 piston calipers on my bike way better than original 1 piston but I am told the 4s are better. Something about the pad is too long on the 6

[Billy Ricks]

You get greater swept area with 6 piston calipers but they are said to flex a bit due to the length of them. 4 piston calipers for street use will be more than adequate and light years ahead of the single piston stcokers you have. You are going with floating rotors I hope.

[willie]

You get greater swept area with 6 piston calipers but they are said to flex a bit due to the length of them. 4 piston calipers for street use will be more than adequate and light years ahead of the single piston stcokers you have. You are going with floating rotors I hope.

I did the twin pot conversion on my last 1100G and was happy with the results. I was just looking for something better, if possible, this time around. I am/will be using floating CBR rotors. Thanks for your concern.

[Nessism]

I'm not an expert but I believe the problem with mounting opposing piston calipers on a stock GS fork is there isn't enough room and the caliper will hit the wheel spokes.

[Billy Ricks]

I'm not an expert but I believe the problem with mounting opposing piston calipers on a stock GS fork is there isn't enough room and the caliper will hit the wheel spokes.

That is part of the problem.

[Jedz123]

6 Pot is really not that great... That's why Suzuki upgraded the gen 1 Hayabusa brakes from 6 pot to 4 pot when the Gen 2 came out... Get twin pot, it's more than adequate. Not to mention the general consensus is 6 pot brakes are a pain to bleed.

[RichDesmond]

...They were convinced the size of the rotor was way more important than the caliper...

Exactly correct. Caliper/piston layout details do matter some, but rotor diameter (or more correctly, rotor/tire diameter ratio) is way more critical.

The biggest braking improvement I've ever made, on any bike, was when I changed the front rim on a mini motard bike from a 19" to a 16". Didn't touch the brakes themselves, but the increased leverage that the brakes had on the contact patch made a world of difference. Enough that I locked up the front wheel and crashed going into turn 1, on my out lap. (In my defense, it was 38? and raining. )