Better brakes - options?

[Strebe]

On my to do list for resurrecting my Z1 is improving the front brakes.
Currently it has original 1970s discs which are hopeless in the wet. On my Z1000 I fitted EBC discs and that improved the wet braking markedly - there was no longer a 2 second wait for the brakes to work!
The braking in the dry on the Z1 seems pretty poor compared to modern brakes (hardly surprising with 50 years development since the Z1 hit the road!) so I was wondering whether there was an affordable caliper upgrade.
I see that Webike in Japan offer a kit of discs and what look like AP callipers, plus adapters for about $1800 US before shipping.
I have a pair of blue spot Yamaha callipers, but doubt that they can be made to fit.
I’m keeping the original front wheel and forks (albeit hopefully with Maxton internals): what do people recommend?

[warren3200gt]

Braided hoses make a huge difference. I can lock the front wheel with stock discs and calipers with full braided hoses.

[Mr Bump]

New pads can make quite a difference, and degreasing the discs after you wash the bike. It's always a good idea to make sure the stock kit is in good condition before judging whether or not its inadequate.

Other than that, I noticed that the bolt hole spacing on my z1000a1 was probably the same as that on unitrac calipers. Unitrac calipers work well and are a decent upgrade over earlier kit. Might be something worth looking at if you want to engineer something yourself on the cheap.

If ebc discs worked well for you before then you might as well do it again with fresh pads and fluid. Got to be a good start.

Olly

[Robw]

I use AP calipers on my lawson and endurance bike, absolutely fantastic. You will need adapter plates making, which is pretty straightforward. No doubt someone on here will have a set for you to copy. Not overly expensive for what you get. Grimeca do copies which are cheaper, but just as good.
Rob

[ADRIAN H]

I have AP racing calipers on brackets on my Z1000A2, a lot better than stock.

[Strebe]

Thanks chaps, all useful advice, as usual.
I’ll try to find a pair of AP calipers. Currently the bike has Z900 forks, wheel and calipers, and I have only a single Z1 caliper and disc, so would need to source a second disc and Caliper whatever I do (assuming that I want a double disc setup - which seems like a no brainier if one is going to ride “enthusiastically”).
Currently there is no splitter, the two calipers are each fed by a long dedicated braided hose from the master cylinder. I was planning on reintroducing a splitter but using braided hoses rather than historically correct hoses, but what’s the opinion about that?
And is the original two-disc master cylinder a sensible choice for use with AP calipers - or should I plan on changing the master cylinder too?
@Adrian H, what do you use with your APs?

[Strebe]

A few too many typos tonight… a few too many beers perhaps? It is 10pm here in Bangkok!

[ADRIAN H]

@Adrian H, what do you use with your APs?

EBC discs.

I could mark up a template of the brackets if you like.

[Z1streetfighter71]

Iv been hovering over buying a set myself here are linls to buy the AP
https://www.part-box.com/product/ap-alu ... 2696-38e0/
and the Grimeca copies
https://www.britishbikebits.com/ap-racing-alloy-caliper
If some one has an adapter that they can share the measurements too i can CAD it out and share no problems.

[ADRIAN H]

Iv been hovering over buying a set myself here are linls to buy the AP
https://www.part-box.com/product/ap-alu ... 2696-38e0/
and the Grimeca copies
https://www.britishbikebits.com/ap-racing-alloy-caliper
If some one has an adapter that they can share the measurements too i can CAD it out and share no problems.

I can provide a CAD file if needed - just would need to know which type of CAD file required. IE dwg, dxf.

[Robw]

I use the AP master cylinder on my Lawson and a zrx one on the endurance bike, both work well and look good
Rob

[Z1streetfighter71]

Iv been hovering over buying a set myself here are linls to buy the AP
https://www.part-box.com/product/ap-alu ... 2696-38e0/
and the Grimeca copies
https://www.britishbikebits.com/ap-racing-alloy-caliper
If some one has an adapter that they can share the measurements too i can CAD it out and share no problems.

I can provide a CAD file if needed - just would need to know which type of CAD file required. IE dwg, dxf.

If i could get a copy in DWG or DXF i would be able to add that to my next laser cut, what mm plate did you make them from?

[ADRIAN H]

I bought them from this forum. They are made from 10mm plate.

[Z1streetfighter71]

I bought them from this forum. They are made from 10mm plate.

Ah ok. i wont be treading on any toes reproducing them? i need about 6 made you see.

[Strebe]

Thanks for the further information, and for the possibility of some aster brackets.
Adrian H, nice bike! I’ll be using Z1 forks: do your CAD files cope with that?
And us that a standard Kawasaki master cylinder I see?

These people seem to offer Grimeca calipers for £125 plus vat, with pads extra.
https://www.triumph-spares.co.uk/grimec ... s-gri-0001

@Z1streetfighter, if you were able to knock up a couple of extra brackets I’d gladly pay for your time and materials.