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How do you improve the brakes on the 82 GS300L?

  • Thread starter Thread starter buttonhook
  • Start date Start date
B

buttonhook

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I would like to know if there were any easy way to improve the braking(drums front and rear) of this little bike?
it there anything from another bike I could use, the back is fine but the front is terrible!!
 
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Put a GS500 later model front end with a disc brake on it! You will be AMAZED by the difference in braking! Ray.
 
I have been threatening this for a couple of years, but never found the parts cheap enough.

I have some of the data if you need it .. send me a PM.

Please post up what you do if you manage an improvement.

Mike
 
I know someone who might have a gs250t parts bike??? I guess If the forks are the same size I would need the left lower fork tube, rotor, M/C, caliper, lines, and wheel. Now the 250's only had the spoked wheels could I use a wheel from like a 400, 500,.....??
what else??
mike I pm'ed ya.
 
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Anybody know where I can find any information on what forks or triples are compatible with this model for direct replacement? Or any information on spec for the different front ends.
I believe I'm going to have to change at least the forks and front wheel so I can change from drum to disk in order to make any improvments.
 
I had a GS400 with a drum front brake, and it was not too bad.

Have you tried simply changing the brake shoes? The original brake shoe material isn't nearly as good as more modern aftermarket compounds.

It'll never feel like a GSXR or anything, but it's a perfectly adequate brake for a small bike.
 
bwringer said:
I had a GS400 with a drum front brake, and it was not too bad.

Have you tried simply changing the brake shoes? The original brake shoe material isn't nearly as good as more modern aftermarket compounds.

It'll never feel like a GSXR or anything, but it's a perfectly adequate brake for a small bike.
Click to expand...
I know it's never going to do a stoppie..ha ha a stoppie on a GS300 that makes me laugh just thinking about it...Anyway I normally ride an 07 ninja so maybe I'm just spoiled, but it sure seems like it does take alot of force on the lever to get it to stop. I have a new set of shoes sitting here ready to go on it but I will need a new wheel bearings also atleast according to the manual (you've got to drive the brearings out to change the brakes??). So I haven't done it yet. I did go out there today and lube the cable really good that helped some with the force needed but it still doesn't feel good to me. The back drum brakes feel like they have more stopping force than the front?? That shouldn't be I don't think?? I've never had a bike with drum brakes on the front so I don't really have anything to compare it to other than (my (3) honda interceptors which I've had, which BTW had some of the best brakes I've ever seen and my ninja which is not to bad either)


I was just thinking if I could change to a disk set up in the front it would be better and it would be easier to service as well.
 
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You should just be able to removethe axle bolt drop the wheel and brake assembly down and then remove the brake assembly from the drum, then it is just a case of putting the new shoes on. You shouldn't need to remove any bearings.

Now I am positive that you don't need to do anything with the bearings, after looking at theparts breakdown on bikebandit
 
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If you're used to a modern sportybike, then you are indeed spoiled rotten.

Whenever I ride a modern bike, the brakes are always the one thing I'd love to take back to my GS. My GS850's brakes are excellent for the era, but crap compared to the binders on any modern sport-ish bike.

However, with a new or freshly lubed cable, new brake shoes, and a strong right hand, the drum brake is perfectly adequate to safely control the thundering horsepower and mind-warping velocity of the mighty GS300. You just have to recalibrate your right hand when you go from one bike to the other.


Also, might I suggest...?
hand_exerciser_gripmaster-20080618-181211.jpg
 
bwringer said:
If you're used to a modern sportybike, then you are indeed spoiled rotten.

Whenever I ride a modern bike, the brakes are always the one thing I'd love to take back to my GS. My GS850's brakes are excellent for the era, but crap compared to the binders on any modern sport-ish bike.

However, with a new or freshly lubed cable, new brake shoes, and a strong right hand, the drum brake is perfectly adequate to safely control the thundering horsepower and mind-warping velocity of the mighty GS300. You just have to recalibrate your right hand when you go from one bike to the other.


Also, might I suggest...?
hand_exerciser_gripmaster-20080618-181211.jpg
Click to expand...

I do have a problem with the grip, but my wife is not as strong as me.
I just got done replacing the shoes, lubing the cable, greasing everything that should be greased, cleaning everything that should be clean, and then adjusted everything back to specks. It will stop but man you have to squeeze it hard!! I did get the front tire to lock up today (really hard to do) so I guess that's as good as it's going to get with the drum brakes.
I guess she'll get use to it, or I'll find a way to change them to disk brakes.
 
You can increase the length of the actuating lever on the brake drum, this will give you more leverage and less effort when using the front brake.
 
mriddle said:
I have been threatening this for a couple of years, but never found the parts cheap enough.

I have some of the data if you need it .. send me a PM.

Please post up what you do if you manage an improvement.

Mike
Click to expand...

Do you still have the information on the disc brake switch? I'd love some information!
 
bwringer said:
Whenever I ride a modern bike, the brakes are always the one thing I'd love to take back to my GS. You just have to recalibrate your right hand when you go from one bike to the other.
Click to expand...

Agreed, just rode an Aprillia, first touch of the brakes was at around 100mph, made the mistake of using two fingers instead of one. Not a stoppie but the back wheel did come up a tad, good thing I wasn't used to a GS300 or I would have gone over for sure.

Nice bike, tires made of glue, sweet engine, a spoiler for sure.
 
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