recommend me a master cylinder.

[greg78gs750]

Hi All,

I am playing around with bars on my 1100 es and I'm quickly realizing that the stock rectangular master cylinder has some limitations with regards to placement/angles etc. Anyone have any suggestions for a new m/c? I am running the saltymonk twinpot calipers. I am looking for a remote/positionable reservior (so I can put a totally sweet sweatband around it like a streetRossi), IDEALLY an adjustable lever (cause they look tacti-cool), and decent quality. Oh, and a less than $50 price tag. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

[cowboyup3371]

I don't know if it will work for you but I'm using a master cylinder from a 1997 Kawasaki Concourse like one suggested for Salty Monk's design. It's worked well for me so far I think

[gsrick]

Just look on Clist and find someone parting out a sport bike or Ebay. Most clip on bars are 7/8" and will work. For general info the wrist bands are used to protect the plastic res for UV damage.

Edit: as mentioned by Nessism, make sure it is from a bike with duel discs like yours is. Good news is there are a lot in your price range.

[limeex2]

Decent quality and less than $50? Come on, they are your brakes!!! Read todays posts about "Guardian Angels" and then talk to us about $50 master cyls. I'm being sarcastic here so please don't take this to heart, but like the old Bell helmet ad used to say. If you have a $50 dollar head wear a $50 helmet.

All handlebars except Harleys and new adventure bikes use 7/8" bars. Everyone of the used ones I have bought were simply wore out from zero maintaince. I use Triumph's cause I have a bunch of them, look stock and work well. Other wise, look for ZRX1200, EX500, GS500.

[greg78gs750]

i hear you on the 50 buck part, but everything i have heard/read/etc says that a m/c is perty simple part that the chinese can mill for low dollars. I really haven't looked around too much yet cause my bike budget is zero dollars this year to compensate for the head work/top end rebuild last. My bride is blissfully unaware of the total for all that.... But really, i think brembo's would be a waste on a bike that is worth more in parts than complete. Thanks for the input so far!!

greg

[Dogma]

Well, just the adjustable lever can cost more than $50. Or half of a $30 lever set that won't adjust out far enough. Like Scott, I'm using the Concours master that came with my calipers. It had the fancy Click-n'-Roll lever on it already.

A remote reservoir might be nice, so I wouldn't have to rotate it on the bars when it's time to flush, but it's no biggie. Come to think of it, the integrated reservoir has been working well for me. I would have destroyed two remotes by now.

Did you get that bike with a stock master? It had a "universal" el cheapo eBay special on it at one point that I would totally recommend replacing. It had a stroke adjuster that could actually block the return port, which once led to dragging calipers and then boiling fluid. I could smell it 2 or 3 bikes back in WV. Ah, memories.

I think the cheapest master I would trust would be something used from eBay, either stock from some sport bike or a reputable 3rd party. What that should be I don't know. Maybe one of the middleweight ninjas from 15 years ago has a remote and appropriate bore.

[Tom R]

Also pay attention to the size of the piston. My '80 gs1100 has 5/8 stamped on it, which is roughly 16mm. Yours should have a number stamped on it as well. Going to a 14mm piston will give you more stopping power, but you'll have longer lever travel, maybe too much. Since I switched to stainless lines on mine, it has a much firmer lever and not much travel, I may be able to get away with a 14mm master cylinder, hard to say until you try it out. But, for me, that would have to be a winter project.

[Nessism]

The EX650 masters such as linked below work well. The reservoir sits on an angle and they have a threaded mirror lug.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/06-Kawasaki-EX650-EX-650-A6F-Ninja-front-brake-master-cylinder-/272529022673?hash=item3f73feded1:g:6JIAAOSwnHZYgjGe&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/08-2008-KAWASAKI-EX650-EX-650-NINJA-FRONT-MASTER-CYLINDER-BRAKE-Y8-/351957043513?hash=item51f2464939:g:3GYAAOSwA3dYeXjS&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/08-Kawasaki-Ninja-EX-650-EX650-Front-Brake-Master-Cylinder-109D-/361846384971?hash=item543fb9a94b:g:1kwAAOSw5cNYLmPW&vxp=mtr

[greg78gs750]

I have the stock suzuki master on now, rebuilt maybe 4 years ago or so. I was just screwing around with bar angles and control placement and I got worried about sucking air or leaking fluid out the top of the fixed reservoir, thus the idea for a remote that would allow for more flexibility. After a pad change and bleed today I am less worried about sucking air, but I still feel like a remote master would let me experiment more with bar angles/bends without worrying too much about the master sitting just so. Dale, are you going to Gingerman in August?

[hillsy]

Just look on Clist and find someone parting out a sport bike or Ebay. Most clip on bars are 7/8" and will work. For general info the wrist bands are used to protect the plastic res for UV damage.

Edit: after looking I see a lot of clip on sets on eBay are 1/2" not 7/8" so look carefully or be prepared to do a little modification with a Dremmel to enlarge the clamping diameter. Good news is there are a lot in your price range.

Are you confusing MC bore size with bar size? I've never seen 1/2 inch bars.

[gsrick]

I must be. I was scanning the available list just for the going prices and saw this one. It is for a single disc bike. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Master-Cylin...5TnIU4&vxp=mtr

[Nessism]

Need 5/8" or 16mm bore for a dual disc GS bike.

[gsrick]

Need 5/8" or 16mm bore for a dual disc GS bike.

Edited, the one shown in my post is for a single disc. Good call.

[salty_monk]

As long as you don't also want a mirror mount you have a lot to choose from..... I don't think I've ever seen remote reservoir & mirror mount combination.

You will likely have to re-make or bend the reservoir bracket on anything you get due to bar angle.

Something like this is probably a 5/8" bore you'd need to research it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/07-08-SUZUKI...1ZVFf~&vxp=mtr

I use the one that Nessism links to above.

[Dogma]

...
Dale, are you going to Gingerman in August?

Yes, I bought my spot back in May. I still need to decide on lodgings. Wow, August is coming up fast.