Better front brake master cylinder? (for Quota)

[usedtobefast]

So rather than try to rebuild my stock front brake master cylinder, I'm thinking of buying a better one instead.  This is for a 2000 Quota 1100ES.  And I plan to get a new brake line hose from the master cylinder down to the junction "box" on the lower fork triple clamp, so I will need to match up that hose with the master cylinder. 

I want one with the built in rectangular fluid reservoir vs. the sport bike remote reservoir and hose set up.

Good candidate bikes?

Keep it in the family bikes:
- no go with Tuono's or Caponord, looks like they all have the "pee in a cup" remote reservoir
- Aprilia Mana or Shiver - looks right, but are their brakes any good? 
- Stelvio - looks right, any good?

Or go Japanese:
- Kawasaki ZRX 1200 or Z900 or Z800
- Suzuki V-Strom 1000 (2014 and newer have good brakes)
- Suzuki GSX-S 750/1000
- Honda CB1000

Any thoughts/suggestions on this?

[Murray]

You need to work out what size master cylinder you have vs what you want, do you want more initial bite? Do you want more feel nb radial sizes do not translate to axial sizes. Then go see what fits the bill, most of the italain stuff and some Yamaha models and HD for that matter are fitted with generic brembo stuff.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The original master cylinder is a "PS16" - 16 mm bore.

Maybe this one?
https://www.oppracing.com/product_display/30738-brembo-oe-front-brake-master-cylinder-ps16-black-wreservoir-wlever50-wmicroswitch/

If not, there are others to choose from.

[usedtobefast]

The original master cylinder is a "PS16" - 16 mm bore.

Maybe this one?
https://www.oppracing.com/product_display/30738-brembo-oe-front-brake-master-cylinder-ps16-black-wreservoir-wlever50-wmicroswitch/

If not, there are others to choose from.

That's a great site ... I think I'll call them up and see what they suggest.  They have a lot with a 16mm bore. 

[usedtobefast]

Looks like MG Cycle has the same one: http://www.mgcycle.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=110_112&products_id=2909

For some odd reason, there doesn't seem to be any 16mm rebuild kits.  Lots of 15mm rebuild kits. 

Reason for the "swap" idea was seemed like a good time to try a better front master cylinder. 

Backing up a bit ... it started out ... bought used Quota, front brakes just so-so, kind of weak.

Bleed brakes, fresh high quality fluid, brakes still just so-so.

Disc are fine, not really worn, no warping.  (bike has 20K miles, stored indoors, no rust, etc)
Calipers are clean, pistons move freely, brake pads clean and near new.

Seems some guys swapped out the master cylinders to get stronger braking ... but they went the "pee in a cup" reservoir route.  I'd rather stick with the more stock look built in rectangular black reservoir.  Also assuming that would work better with my hand guards. 

So if I go with a new stock/OEM master cylinder, hum, maybe things will be better, maybe they'll be the same. 
 
And to get really scientific about it, I guess I need the bore & stroke of the master cylinder, right?  I could have a 16mm bore, but short ish stroke vs. a 15mm bore and longer stroke ... so the 15mm would move more fluid, provide stronger braking? 

Hate to spend ~$125 ish to get new stock/OEM and have still have so-so brakes.

[Murray]

Generally they have similar stroke as this dictates lever travel, so a smaller bore will require more lever travel to create the same displacement where a larger bore will require less travel. The other obvious question and I can't remeber if the Quota runs linked brakes? I've got a 16mm brembo sports bike master cylinder driving a set of 4 iston calipers off a 999 and its pretty effective however if the master cylinders with intergrated resivor have the same stroke as remote resivors IDK you'd think not as there is a reason to do it.

[Turin]

This is tho one I like. There is a bleeder up top, makes life easy.  https://www.gothamcycles.com/ducati-brembo-16mm-complete-front-brake-master-cylinder-late-style-748998-ss.html

[Murray]

This is tho one I like. There is a bleeder up top, makes life easy.  https://www.gothamcycles.com/ducati-brembo-16mm-complete-front-brake-master-cylinder-late-style-748998-ss.html

Thats what I'm running on my 1100 sport with the 999 calipers although I thought the latter 998 had a 17mm master cylinder (im using a 916), however this is a remote resivor style with the op as expressed some resistance to.

[wirespokes]

What Murray said. If your master is working, those are the brakes you get with that size. A master cylinder either works or it doesn't. If it leaks internally, it'll act like there's air in the system. If it leaks you'll see it, but it'll still work and operate the brakes.

So if your master isn't leaking and the lever comes back hard, then it's working.

How much lever travel do you have? If it's 1/4", then you'll have more leverage and better feel with a smaller diameter master.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The other obvious question and I can't remeber if the Quota runs linked brakes?

No linked brakes on the Quota. The front m/c operates a pair of 30/32 four piston calipers.

[usedtobefast]

What Murray said. If your master is working, those are the brakes you get with that size. A master cylinder either works or it doesn't. If it leaks internally, it'll act like there's air in the system. If it leaks you'll see it, but it'll still work and operate the brakes.

So if your master isn't leaking and the lever comes back hard, then it's working.

How much lever travel do you have? If it's 1/4", then you'll have more leverage and better feel with a smaller diameter master.

I believe it is leaking internally.  Any way to stop/fix that?  I couldn't find a 16mm Brembo rebuild kit. 

[wirespokes]

Leaking internally would feel the same as air in the system. The lever would go fairly hard, then gradually go farther. Is that what's happening?

If so, I'd work on ruling out air in the system. Sometimes it's frustrating getting it all out, but can be done.

I don't think, of all the bikes I've had, any master cylinder failed internally. Can't say it couldn't, but I'm more inclined to bleeding the system as the fix.

[usedtobefast]

Got great brakes now!

I kept looking at possible bikes and what was on eBay ... ended up buying a 2015 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 front brake master cylinder, lever, bolt for $40.  Then bought a new brake hose to go from the Suzuki MC down to the brake hose junction box thing-ie, that was $10.  Had a bunch of new brake hose washers and some brake fluid around.

Swapped it all out, went for a test ride, and great brakes now!  For $50, I'm happy with that.

The front brake light connectors on the Q were too small for the tabs on the V-Strom switch, so I had to snip them off and put on some wider connectors to get that sorted.

Q mirror bolts right into the Suzuki mirror hole.

I should take a pic, but was getting dark.  After the Q test ride, the Griso wanted to go out too ... so that cut into my mechanic'ing time.   

[Roebling3]

2 very good things about remote reservoirs: You can monitor brake fluid levels easily and you can mount them sothey are level when filled. It saves that chance spill which may ruin your day and any painted surfaces.
I converted my V7 to a radial mc. The stroke is much shorter with exceptional feel / modulation. s/s brake lines were on the bike from the factory. Don't skimp on brakes. Once the proper hdwe is in place you're good for a very long time, with only pads and fluid costs.  R3~

[usedtobefast]

I know I got good advice from multiple people saying "go for the urine sample brakes"     

But, this is a Quota ... so spirit of the bike and all that ... so to me, a racer replica type front brake system off a Ducati 1098, just didn't seem to fit in.  And, I don't have monobloc calipers or anything like that.  And I just need good/great brakes, not crazy stoppie brakes.

And the bike has hand guards on it ... and I don't see a way to get them to work with the more modern style MC.   

[John Warner]

2 very good things about remote reservoirs: You can monitor brake fluid levels easily and you can mount them sothey are level when filled. It saves that chance spill which may ruin your day and any painted surfaces.
I converted my V7 to a radial mc. The stroke is much shorter with exceptional feel / modulation. s/s brake lines were on the bike from the factory. Don't skimp on brakes. Once the proper hdwe is in place you're good for a very long time, with only pads and fluid costs.  R3~

Same here, fitted a Suzuki GSXR Radial Caliper to my Stelvio, and Brembo M4 Monobloc Calipers, night-and-day difference, but I get where usedtobefast is coming from with wanting to keep the look 'Old-School' on the Quota.