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Convert to single disk?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mortation
  • Start date Start date
M

mortation

Guest
I have an 83 850 GLD. Looking to trim it down and chop it out. I want to ditch the left caliper and just use a single right caliper.

Anyone foresee any major issue with this?
 
thats one heavy bike being stopped by only one disk. 550 pounds is mine.
 
lol.

I was looking for real world input. really. What will happen? Why two? Its only one tire :P
 
mortation said:
lol.

I was looking for real world input. really. What will happen? Why two? Its only one tire :P
Click to expand...

Because each one is less than half big enough.
When they went dual they also went smaller, these bikes don't have enough braking anyway. They could barely lock up 1983 rubber, the braking available now with better tires is worth keeping.
 
While i have the stock single caliper on my old 750, the 850 is heavier than both the 750 AND the 1000. I would stick with the dual fronts. If im not mistaken, its the heaviest untill some of the fully decked out GSs.
 
Go to a dragstrip & look at all of the bracket bikes that aren't on the street also. Count how many have a single disc & then count the ones that have dual discs. Bet you MONEY there are way more with only ONE disc! Remember though, these bikes don't use the brakes very often or very far. My last dragbike chassis (before the one I run now) had only one disc but it only went through the traps at 145. There are also LOTS of street racers around that are only running 1 disc to get the weight off. These are usually guys that are involved in large wagering though. Try pulling one disc & caliper & brake line & taking it out for a spin. Just go slow & see how it feels. If it works well enough for you then fine. Remember, though, a PANIC braking situation may be very dangerous with only 1 disc & you may find yourself in a BAD situation! Whatever you do, be CAREFUL! Ray.
 
well I believe in a persons right to choose even if it is foolish and a good way to die a pianfull slow death.

to change to single disk you will need to change out at the very least the master cylinder as the stock one is sized to work two calipers.
remove one caliper and the leverage ratio will be all wrong and you will loose atleast 75% of your braking power.
the master for the older single set up has a smaller piston and will give the propper preasure at the caliper.

now to do it right so it looks correct and you dont have empty mounting lugs and caped splitters messing with the look, locate front end from a earlyer bike that was originaly a single disc bike.
 
In my obsessive quest to save weight on a GS550 I did the same thing. I did lose stopping power but not drastically and in my view as long as I knew how the brakes would react and rode accordingly I don't consider I was any less safe. Having said that, would I do it again? Probably not
 
What if you made the roters lighter by drilling holes in them, like the newer bikes have. In that case you can keep your braking and lose a little weight.

2cents

Cory
 
mortation said:
I have an 83 850 GLD. Looking to trim it down and chop it out. I want to ditch the left caliper and just use a single right caliper.

Anyone foresee any major issue with this?
Click to expand...

My 750T only had one disk. I wouldn't say it had great braking, but it wasn't excessively dangerous.

Remember that not so very long ago we were all running around with drums, and we somehow survived to tell the tale.
 
Commodus said:
My 750T only had one disk. I wouldn't say it had great braking, but it wasn't excessively dangerous.

Remember that not so very long ago we were all running around with drums, and we somehow survived to tell the tale.
Click to expand...

Heh. Let's take a survey. If you died because your bike had insufficient stopping power, post here. If there aren't too any many of you, we can assume that a drum or single disk is enough.

Seriously, please at least look into mounting a dual-piston caliper or something. It might fade faster by itself, but at least you'll have one good stop in it.
 
Dogma said:
Heh. Let's take a survey. If you died because your bike had insufficient stopping power, post here. If there aren't too any many of you, we can assume that a drum or single disk is enough.

Seriously, please at least look into mounting a dual-piston caliper or something. It might fade faster by itself, but at least you'll have one good stop in it.
Click to expand...

LOL thats what I have been thinking about, mounting one of those tikosumthin dual piston calipers on the right.
 
The single disc models, such as the GS750T, used a larger disc than dual disc bikes. The master cylinder piston is also smaller diameter to reduce hand force required. If you go single you might want to consider converting to pure single disc model parts for best performance.
 
"You can drive with your feet if you want to. That doesn't make it a good idea."
 
KRISTI'SGS550 said:
What if you made the roters lighter by drilling holes in them, like the newer bikes have. In that case you can keep your braking and lose a little weight.

2cents

Cory
Click to expand...

All 1980+ GS models have slotted rotors already.





My VX800 has a single front rotor, and the borderline inadequate brake is one of the most universally hated features of that bike. It weighs 70 pounds less than a GS850, and uses a larger diameter rotor and a dual piston caliper. Braking is almost barely acceptable with a stainless brake line, and only if you're not carrying a passenger or much luggage. Brake pads wear out every 3,000 - 4,000 miles, and the rotors don't last long either. Several VX owners have transplanted Bandit front ends just to get adequate brakes.


But hey, it's your bike. You don't know until you give it a try. You'd need a M/C sized for a single brake system and you'd likely want to make up a stainless brake line and new brake pads to get the most from a pretty marginal setup.

If you decide you like it, removing the caliper lugs from one of the fork legs should be trivial for a badass motorscooter chopper fella. Saw, grind, file, and polish.
 
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