What is the difference between axial and radial mounting of motorcycle caliper?

Brakes are a vital part of a motorcycle, and a life-or-death part. A good motorcycle should not only run fast but also be able to stop in time. Brakes are an important part of a motorcycle's performance, and many riders focus on the brake calipers. Do you know the difference between radially mounted calipers and axially mounted motorcycle calipers?

Motorcycle caliper mounting position

Axial caliper is fixed on the shock by bolts perpendicular to the disc, the position of the bolt is basically parallel to the front shock, or with the hub of the central axis installation direction is the same; while the radial caliper is installed directly on the top of the inverted fork, the bolt in the direction and the hub of the circle is radial, so it is also called radial caliper. So essentially, the position of the mounting bolts determines whether the brake is radial or axial.

The difference between axial and radial motorcycle caliper mounting

First, when modifying a larger disc, it is not necessary to replace the entire motorcycle caliper, only the mounting bolts need to be lengthened to complete the job. Secondly, radial mounting usually provides better caliper and disc alignment, and is much stronger than axial mounting. Radially mounted calipers offer greater braking capacity, and due to their construction, radial calipers allow for more even pad wear, providing better braking feedback during braking, which in turn allows for better adjustment of the front brake. This effect is difficult to observe on casual rides in or around town, but an experienced rider on an intense ride or race can tell the difference. The downside of radially mounted calipers, however, is that the higher cost leads to an increase in the price of the entire bike.

The structure of axial motorcycle calipers is very unique, the bolts are parallel to the lateral axis of the motorcycle, the bolts that hold the caliper are located in the upper and middle of the caliper, when braking, the brake pads near the bolt side have very little force, the brake pads away from the bolt have more force, this causes an uneven distribution of braking force, making the friction is discounted, over time because of the uneven force, the brake pads appear thick on one side and thin on the other. In time, the brake pads will become thicker on one side and thinner on the other due to uneven force. However, the cost of traditional axially mounted calipers is much lower, so they are very common on small displacement models and low-end models.

At present, the vast majority of models are axially mounted calipers, only in some few high-end models will be equipped, do not blindly pursue the brake caliper configuration, these are linked to the total price of the vehicle, the brakes are good enough after all, not everyone needs the ultimate control.