Can You Customize Motorcycle Brake Calipers?

Brakes are a crucial part of a motorcycle, and it is a matter of life and death. An excellent motorcycle not only needs to run fast but also needs to be able to stop in time. Brakes are an important component of motorcycle performance, and many riders focus on the brake calipers. So, how much do you know about the motorcycle caliper?

Custom the motorcycle caliper

Axial calipers are fixed on the shock absorber by bolts that are perpendicular to the disc. The position of the bolt is basically parallel to the front suspension or aligned with the center axis of the hub. However, radial calipers are directly mounted on the top of the inverted front fork, and the bolt is radial to the center of the wheel. Therefore, it is also called a radial caliper. Essentially, the position of the bolt determines whether the brake is radial or axial.

Almost all motorcycles with front hydraulic brakes (from small to large) have traditional "axial" master cylinders. In this arrangement, the hole of the master cylinder is perpendicular to the lever's stroke and seems to extend to the left from the top. The protrusions on the end of the lever push the plunger into the cylinder, forcing the brake fluid into the motorcycle caliper. Except for some high-performance models, axial master cylinders are still widely used, and they are very reliable after decades of use.

The hole of the radial master cylinder is parallel to the brake lever's movement. In addition to different types of piston movement, the radial master cylinder provides better feel to the brake and allows riders to get more precise feedback compared to the axial master cylinder.

Making the motorcycle caliper

The brake caliper body is usually made by casting or forging. Simply put, the mechanical strength of the caliper body made by forging is higher than that made by casting, while the cost of the cast product is relatively low, which is closely related to manufacturing costs.

The production of cast caliper bodies is assisted by casting molds. The molten aluminum is poured into the molds and allowed to solidify into shape, and the metal burrs, seams, and other substances are removed at the end of the process. One mold can realize mass production.

The performance of forging motorcycle caliper is excellent, and small batches can be produced for different models. In Taiwan and Europe and the United States, forging is mainly used for modification. On the other hand, cast calipers are more cost-effective and sufficient for daily street use.

How to change the color of the motorcycle caliper?

• The caliper paint needs to be sprayed with high-temperature paint. It is best to remove the caliper and spray it for the best effect. It should be noted that the brake fluid needs to be added or replaced when removing the caliper to avoid safety issues during driving.

• The basic principle of the brakes is to convert the energy of the rotating wheel into heat through the friction of the brake pads and then dissipate the heat to the air through the brake disc. As long as the frictional force and heat dissipation capacity are strengthened, the braking ability will be enhanced, and the modification products are designed for these two points. If you want to significantly improve the braking performance, then increase the size of the brake disc.

• The road traffic regulations only require the changed color area of the body, and there is no requirement for the color of the wheels and brakes, so changing the color of the wheels and brakes does not affect the annual inspection or roadside inspections.

Now, the main focus of changing the color of motor caliper is to clean the surface of the caliper with a carburetor cleaner. If it has rust or dirt, it can be brushed with a wire brush and dried before spraying high-temperature paint. After the paint is dry, spray a layer of gloss oil to prevent color fading and brake powder corrosion. It will not affect the safety of the caliper for 2-3 years.