| When it comes to my Fishhead Big Brakes, you get what you pay for and as rude as it sounds, you also pay for what you don't get, like the shavings that were removed from the brackets to make them fit your application. I have to pay for the aluminum stock to make thses kits, and if the alumunim stock has 1/3 of it weight removed,I dont base the price on the aluminum that is remaining. These are custom made and I don't have a "Mystery Machine" that I pull the bike into with the calipers,disc and aluminum stock, close the door, push a button and come back an hour later and its done. The brackets and associated parts are hand machined 1 peice at a time. For example, when milling the caliper brackets, my rotary table has 4 degrees of rotation for every complete turn of the handle.(manual mill, no CNC) This means I have to turn the handle 90 times to do a complete 360 degrees rotation, and I usually have to remove a small amount on each pass untill I get the desired dimensions. It is time consuming (no complaints though, I love this stuff). I also have to make jigs to mount the aluminum stock to be machined. If it were as easy as "it's simple, just make a bracket" everyone would be making big brake kits. If you were to completely rebuild your stock brakes you can easily spend $500 on them and still have the anemic brakes that were on the bike in the first place. My Fishheads are a nice upgraded alternative to the old brakes that were OK years ago when your bike was new. |
| TIPS: 1) Check the brakes for tight fasteners regularly. This is true with my Fishheads and the stock brake system. These are your brakes and should be regularly inspected for safety. While your at it, Check ALL the fasteners on your bike regularly (before a loose bolt can become a problem). 2) When replacing brake pads on my Fishhead Big Brakes, put the pads in and then work the lever to seat the pads on the discs. On some of my models, My Big Brake kits are very close to the wheel and may hit if the caliper has the pistons retracted in the calipers. 3) Get used to your Fishheads. Don't just slap them on and race down the road. Get used to them in all riding conditions (slow,fast,on gravel,etc). Especially going slow on gravel- these brakes have alot more stoppiing power than the old brakes that you had and may slide when going slow on gravel easier. Get used to them and their better braking power in all riding conditions. Most of my "Fishheads" come with adjustable master cylinder levers, play with the adjustment to get the feel that suits you best. 4)Check your brake fliud regularly. Change your brake fluid every 2 years or sooner. This keeps the brakes performing to their best. Brake fluid collects moisture and moisture can ruin the bores and moisture can mix with the brake fluid hampering the braking ability. Awesome brakes that dont work aren't so awesome, are they? |
| The "Standard" Fishhead Big Brake Kit usually comes with 2 piston calipers. They are usually less labor intensive to make and usually fit spoke or mag wheels. If you want 4 or 6 piston calipers, they require more maching and custom fitting, and usually cost more and can usually only be used with mag wheels. If you want 4 or 6 piston calipers on your spoke wheel, it will take more machining and cost more (if it can be done). Prices for the 4 or 6 piston caliper kits are usually higher and vary from machine to machine, and cant be done with all bikes and all wheels Most of my kits come with modified discs to fit the particular application. You wont find them at your local M/C supply house and would need to be ordered from me (modified discs work better than most bolt on discs). Some Big Brake Kits come with easily replacable stock replacement discs (Some Yamaha) If you want a single disc "Fishhead" Big Brake kit, it can be done, but you will have to call me to see what can be done for your particular application. |
| The ugly truth is that I make these kits as part of my business. I have done the research and bought many discs that could / and could not be used and I have spent the time to figure out what works and what doesnt. My lathe/ Mill wasnt given to me and I had to buy it. I'm not going to tell you what to use and how to do it, so please dont ask. If you want to do it it yourself, look at the pictures that I have posted and figure it out on your own. I know it sounds rude, but I didnt go in business to tell people how to NOT spend their money on my brake kits and tell them how to do it themself. On message boards, every time there is a mention of my brakes, people get upset with me when I dont tell them what to use and how to do it. That is why I rarely post on message boards any more. |