The International CBX Owners Association

Hi gents,
Yesterday I drow more than 600km of funny mountain roads with my 80' CBX at a ver high ritm. All my mates drown modern bikes such as Bmw, Triumph, ...It was really fantastic but..... I arrived so tired due to the wood feel of my front brake master cylinder. I have metallic lines, new caliper and master cylinder seals, and new brembo blue pads. I bleeded quite well my lines but the final lever feel is still with a wooden soft taste.

I also own other classic bikes (Kz 1000, KZ650, KZ 400, ....) with a brake effectiveness not so effective as in modern bikes, but at least the front brake lever taste is so strong.

Does have any other alternate front brake master cylinder with a modern brake lever feel, fully compatible with the rest of my original low handlebar set?

Does you have any good references of such alternate front master cylinder?

Regards, Juan

There are probably a couple of dozen alternates - but you'd want to match the bore size to the dual single calipers for proper fluid displacement. I'm not a long-time CBX owner, but fluids are fluids. I'd estimate that a 14mm master would be about right. Please wait for a member who's "been there/done that" to confirm.

With that said, you may just need a good bleed to get the "feel" where you want it to be. Nothing really wrong with a properly sorted 40 year old Honda OEM master. The real work is done down at the wheel.

Sounds like a fun ride.
I think you would be better off upgrading the calipers instead of the master cylinder.
Have a read through this thread for some ideas. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9159

A later, radial type master cylinder with the correct bore size will cure your troubles.
Here is a link to an old thread here that is worth a good read.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9159&hilit=radial&start=30#p74626
Best,
Phil

A Kawasaki C-14 master cylinder will give you 2 finger stoppy powerful front brakes
I bought one on eBay for about $90
Best easiest mod going bolts on but also need universal mirror perch about $10 eBay also
Dig in forums others have done the same

I spoke to another cbx diver last week and he mounted a replacement pump from David Silver (only 35euro's) with much better performance compared to the original pump

Once i changed my brake lines to steel braided my front brake lever feels wooden and hard as well. It brakes fine it's just that hard wooden feel!

Sasha