What front calipers are a straight swap

[Fastmongrel]

I am a hefty chap and I feel a bit more oomph from the front brake might be a good idea. So I was thinking what caliper, master cylinder combo is a straight bolt on swap without needing a mounting bracket made of unobtanium or costs more than the bike is worth.

I have searched the forum but everything seems to be about exotic Italian or six pot mega brakes needing custom machined mounts, new wheel or fork.

So assuming such a thing exists what relatively easily obtainable brake system is a bolt off bolt on swap that fits my otherwise bog standard Hawk.

[6]

I am a hefty chap and I feel a bit more oomph from the front brake might be a good idea. So I was thinking what caliper, master cylinder combo is a straight bolt on swap without needing a mounting bracket made of unobtanium or costs more than the bike is worth.

I have searched the forum but everything seems to be about exotic Italian or six pot mega brakes needing custom machined mounts, new wheel or fork.

So assuming such a thing exists what relatively easily obtainable brake system is a bolt off bolt on swap that fits my otherwise bog standard Hawk.

The six pot is not an expensive or hard upgrade...... Assuming you can find the mount. The calipers are easy and cheap. Tl1000 ones work. The brackets are around if you keep an eye out. After Steve made them Garry made them.. Simien on here may even have the design

Other than that throwing a braided line, some EBC pads and an EBC rotor on the stock setup is a passable street brake afaiac.

I just learned yesterday the hawk got a 4 pot over in England... Go figure. Not sure what else is bolt on.

[Talon]

I seem to remember reading somewhere (it was likely here on the forum) that a CBF1000 caliper is a direct fit. Pretty much everything else will require some sort of adapter if keeping the stock lower forks.

[6]

The easy route to good brakes is new forks.

Sounds silly, but it's not hard to get a set of f2 forks and wheel cheap and that's more brake than most people will ever use on a hawk on the street.

Very rarely if ever am I on stock hawk brakes with good pads and braided line out on the street and squeezing that lever for all I'm worth wishing for more.

Not a lot of "hehehe" factor in the stock brakes, but they are good enough for street riding afaiac.

That said, I'm not very heavy, I'm 185, and with a passenger on the bike, I've noticed their limitations... But when I'm in that situation, I shouldn't be... That's for sure. Haha.

[Zanderk]

I am a hefty chap and I feel a bit more oomph from the front brake might be a good idea. So I was thinking what caliper, master cylinder combo is a straight bolt on swap without needing a mounting bracket made of unobtanium or costs more than the bike is worth.

I have searched the forum but everything seems to be about exotic Italian or six pot mega brakes needing custom machined mounts, new wheel or fork.

So assuming such a thing exists what relatively easily obtainable brake system is a bolt off bolt on swap that fits my otherwise bog standard Hawk.

Ok it’s not a direct answer to your question but one thing that is beneficial is to fit the adjustable brake lever from a ‘98 Honda Hornet CB600F. It allows you to dial in more feel and power than the standard lever and goes straight on to the Hawk master cylinder.

[Captain 80s]

I don't think anything that will bolt on would be considered an "upgrade". It will essentially be the same caliper. Although different sized pistons might give a feel / bite that you like better.

1990 - 1997 VFR caliper is bolt on. CBR600F3 is as well. They both use smaller pistons than the Hawk.

[Fastmongrel]

Ok it’s not a direct answer to your question but one thing that is beneficial is to fit the adjustable brake lever from a ‘98 Honda Hornet CB600F. It allows you to dial in more feel and power than the standard lever and goes straight on to the Hawk master cylinder.

Cheers that sounds like a good idea. I will have a nosy on fleabay

[DrPMC]

If your bike is a Hawk rather than a Bros then fitting the 4 piston caliper standard on the Bros would be a significant upgrade and a straight swap.

[JanM]

If your bike is a Hawk rather than a Bros then fitting the 4 piston caliper standard on the Bros would be a significant upgrade and a straight swap.

It is not a direct swap using a Bros 4 pot caliper on the Hawk forks - you need the Bros fork lower or a different fork using that caliper (very few options).

[JanM]

I am a hefty chap and I feel a bit more oomph from the front brake might be a good idea. So I was thinking what caliper, master cylinder combo is a straight bolt on swap without needing a mounting bracket made of unobtanium or costs more than the bike is worth.

I have searched the forum but everything seems to be about exotic Italian or six pot mega brakes needing custom machined mounts, new wheel or fork.

So assuming such a thing exists what relatively easily obtainable brake system is a bolt off bolt on swap that fits my otherwise bog standard Hawk.

There are posts on fitting a 3-pot sliding caliper from other Hondas, but a well serviced stock Hawk front brake, with good quality pads, good fluid and braided line is quite capable. Also remember that maximum braking requires good technique and loading the front is key, not locking it, so a too aggressive brake is not that good. An adjustable lever is a good way to make the system fit you well.

[Yoshihns]

If you want a true upgrade worth the effort, the F2 fork/wheel swap for dual rotors, or 6-Pot with adaptor. Or a modern front end swap.

I did the 6 pot conversion with an R6 front master. $110 for the adaptor. Think $30 for caliper. Had a friend strip and cerakote with new seals, so my sheet shows $115 total for the caliper. Core-moto front line was $78. New pads were $35. So excluding the master, it cost me ~$330 to upgrade, and probably around $250 if you remove cerakote cost. Add in $170 for a new rotor if you like.

Not sure how that compares to buying F2 forks, wheels w/rotors, calipers, and new brake lines. I'd have to guess more. Definitely more labor.

[Fastmongrel]

. An adjustable lever is a good way to make the system fit you well.

I have ordered an OEM adjustable Hornet lever. I haven't had much experience with modern brake systems so never even considered an adjustable lever A lot of my bikes have had Ye Olde Drume brakees some have been of the squeeze and pray variety
I think the Hawk is the most advanced road bike I have ever have ever owned

[Fastmongrel]

If your bike is a Hawk rather than a Bros then fitting the 4 piston caliper standard on the Bros would be a significant upgrade and a straight swap.

The Bros is a pretty rare bike in Britain I think it was mainly a Japanese market bike.

[DrPMC]

The Bros is a pretty rare bike in Britain I think it was mainly a Japanese market bike.

It turns out that I was wrong about it being a straight-swap.

As to the Bros, I'd say that its much more common in the UK than the Hawk version. Neither was ever sold into the UK by Honda but many Bros 650s and 400s came over in shipping containers of second hand machines from Japan, mostly in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

[Hawk04]

Beringer has a straight swap.

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