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 Post subject: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:11 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:32 am
Posts: 615
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Hi, new member. I bought my H2B out of my brother's estate, he bought it in Indianapolis, IN and shipped it to New Zealand, where he rebuilt it but never finished it, in 1991. It has sat ever since until this year. I live in Indy so am shipping it BACK here again, has yet to arrive.
So my question. I would like to upgrade the front brake on the H2, to modern calipers, and had heard that a year 2000 ZX7 caliper set might be a close fit. Anyone have a better choice there? Thanks.

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:26 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2011 6:43 pm
Posts: 316
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
The popular front brake upgrade is to use a EX500 caliper, with a small mounting adapter. Lots of info on here about the mod, as well as on the resource site:

http://kawtriple.com/mraxl/caliper/conversions.htm

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71 A7SS, 73 H1D, 75 H2C, 85 RG400
92 NSR250 MC21, 93 TZR250 3XV
03 ZRX 1200R


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:51 pm 
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Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:32 am
Posts: 615
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Thanks for the link. I would prefer a 2 caliper and disc setup if possible. The XV750 cafe bike I built in my signature has a 2 caliper setup and I still could use more brake than that, and that bike is the same weight as the H2.

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:55 pm 
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Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2011 11:34 pm
Posts: 9826
Location: North Central NC
You can get a pair of EX calipers (L and R) and mount them both on stock H2 sliders with adapters if you really want to. Most guys find that a single disk and 1/2" EX master cylinder give more than enough stopping power. In some cases, a double setup is too much. I rode a single EX caliper and 1/2" master on a friend's triple, and I had to use one finger to avoid locking the front wheel, after being used to my stock dual setup.

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If it surges, that's normal, upshift.


Last edited by Jim on Sun Oct 02, 2016 8:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 5:12 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:37 am
Posts: 10460
Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
This is with Avon road racing tires. I did the dual discs to race at Daytona. Wayyyy too much brake, went to a single. And you have to be careful, it is hard to get 2 sided calipers to clear the spokes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRlPvVhihzU

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Fri Sep 30, 2016 1:04 am 
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Joined: Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:32 am
Posts: 615
Location: Indianapolis, IN
OK, sounds good, I'll look for the single disc setup for my H2. I guess it will look a bit closer to stock that way too. I want to keep it as close looking to stock but make faster riding more fun, and safer, so this is a good start.

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1974 Kawasaki H2B 750, 1981 Yamaha XV750 Cafe, 1986 Kawasaki KDX200, 2003 Honda XR100, 2004 SDG140. 2006 Ninja 500R Turbo intercooled fuel injected.


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 10:16 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:44 am
Posts: 1159
Location: Bangor, PA
I will agree with ja-moo that modern 4 piston calipers will be hard to clear the spokes but it has and can be done if that is what you want. I will dis-agree that IF SETUP PROPERLY will be too much brake, and yes I have watched the video above.


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 10:25 pm 
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Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:37 am
Posts: 10460
Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
I'm sure one can adjust the master size to use dual discs, but adding the really unnecessary unsprung weight to a front wheel, by an extra disc and caliper, Is going backwards if looking for performance, and light weight. Of course there are many ways to do an upgrade, most prefer the simple (cheap) solution. ;) :lol:

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Sat Oct 01, 2016 10:44 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:44 am
Posts: 1159
Location: Bangor, PA
I will agree that the added weight and rotating mass of duals is probably not worth the braking gain vs. what you can get out of an upgraded single caliper setup.

It would also help if you would post this information to begin with when the topic comes up rather than posting the same video of your improperly setup duals and then stating.....

Ja-Moo wrote:
Wayyyy too much brake


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 Post subject: Re: H2B front calipers
PostPosted: Sun Oct 02, 2016 1:33 am 
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Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 6:37 am
Posts: 10460
Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Actually Oxford they were not set up improperly,. They were just like modern brakes and took very deft fingers to control. yes I tried different master sizes, but they got wooden or more powerful then this, very quickly. Your assumption was wrong that I don't know how to set up brakes. Ask anyone that has ridden my bike, they can tell you.

We all have the feel we like, that's the best feel I liked, and was just too powerful. Would it be better to put up the video of the guy locking up his front wheel and crashing because the dual ex calipers?

The fact is, most guys know the stock single disc leaves a lot to be desired, so usually figure dual's (stock) or with modern 4 to 6 piston calipers are the way to go. They aren't necessary, nor is dual discs with just the EX upgrade with a steel line and good pads.

The easiest way to show just how much power the dual's have is this video. It gets the point across.

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Twist the throttle, tilt the horizon, and have a great time. What triples are all about...........


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