weak stopping power

[Nigel Bruce]

I recently got myself an '83 Aspencade, and I find that the stopping power on the foot brake to be pretty weak. The pedal is firm, but I feel like I would literally have to stand on the pedal if I wanted to screech the tires. Is this normal, or perhaps a function of **** brake pads?
Bike has around 86,000 km, so not sure if the pads are oem or not.
As a reference, I also have an '82 Yamaha Maxim 1100, and its brake setup is similar to the Honda, with foot brake operating rear disc and one front. The difference is beyond compare..
Thoughts?

[newday777]

You know that your 83 has linked brakes don't you? The right front caliper is linked to the rear caliper.
That is the difference to the Maxim which has rear wheel brake only.

There is a distribution block on the swingarm that might be plugged if the bike sat unused with old fluid in it or the metal lines could be plugged too. I had that on my 83 Aspencade that sat in the desert heat shed it sat in for 13 years before I rescued it. I had to clear the lines out and open the D block to clean it(no rebuild kit available!). You'll need a special driver tip from a security tip assortment from harbor freight to open it up. Mine was all gummed up and I made a new gasket.
Did you rebuild the calipers and master cylinders?

Get stainless steel hoses to replace the rubber hoses on your bike to get rid of the flexing in the rubber hoses loosing pressure to the calipers you are experiencing.

The other thing you can do is get a rear master cylinder off a gl1800 and replace your rear master cylinder and the D block as the 1800 rear master has 2 lines out, one to the rear(get a new stainless flex hose made to bypass the D block direct to the rear caliper) and one to the front.
I think there is a post on doing the 1800 master swap in the how to section above.

[indianakid]

ND777 before criticizing a member on this forum please note that the OP stated...........

"As a reference, I also have an '82 Yamaha Maxim 1100, and its brake setup is similar to the Honda, with foot brake operating rear disc and one front. The difference is beyond compare..
Thoughts?"

There are members on this forum that do know what they are talking about and are asking for help.

[newday777]

ND777 before criticizing a member on this forum please note that the OP stated...........

"As a reference, I also have an '82 Yamaha Maxim 1100, and its brake setup is similar to the Honda, with foot brake operating rear disc and one front. The difference is beyond compare..
Thoughts?"

There are members on this forum that do know what they are talking about and are asking for help.

Where do you come off saying that I "criticized" him???? I stated the facts between the 2 bikes....

[indianakid]

the fact is you are incorrect about the differences between the two bikes........

If you were trying to be factual you should have stated "The difference between the two bikes is that the 83 Goldwing has the right front caliper linked to the rear brake / caliper. Where as the 82 Maxim has the left front caliper linked to the rear brake / caliper."

Merry Christmas every one !!!

[newday777]

ND777 before criticizing a member on this forum please note that the OP stated...........

"As a reference, I also have an '82 Yamaha Maxim 1100, and its brake setup is similar to the Honda, with foot brake operating rear disc and one front. The difference is beyond compare..
Thoughts?"

There are members on this forum that do know what they are talking about and are asking for help.

Again...... What did you come off with the criticism from????

[CT1100]

Nigel Bruce,
I am the original owner of my 83 Interstate. I have used both OEM and aftermarket brake pads along with regular brake maintenance. The rear master and the all the caliper’s have never needed to be rebuilt. With that said I have never thought of the brakes as being weak. They have always been more than adequate even when the trailer is in tow. I do agree that it would take an excessive amount of foot pressure to lock up the rear wheel (why would I want that) so maybe that’s by design. On the other hand my HD Ultra can easily put the rear tire into a skid.

[Nigel Bruce]

Thanks CT1100
I'm new to the Aspencade as mentioned. I don't want to necessarily lock up the wheels, just would be nice to know that if I can, and this does not feel like I could do that. The Yamaha definitely could, as would most any other bike I've owned over the years. So was just wondering about the coefficient of friction, not knowing at this point who's brake pads are on it.
Just like cars, there's a huge variation of this factor depending on the mfr of the pads. German pads for example have a lot more "bite" than any Japanese, Chinese or North American-made pads, and consequently the front wheels on German cars are always dirty if they are running oem pads.
I believe that the hydraulics are working just fine and there's no sign of leakage or binding. I'll admit that after 37 years it is possible that the hoses could use replacing if not already done.
So was just asking if there is any pad that is superior, if anyone has a recommendation.

[CT1100]

Nigel Bruce,

From what I’ve read the general consensus from those on this forum is to stick with OEM.

[Wingsconsin]

Nigel

My experience with many of these old bikes (Goldwings and others) is that a lack of maintenance by previous owners brings new owners issues -
Likely the brake system would benefit from a complete fluid exchange as well as possible some new brake lines (stainless steel are best but NEW rubber would be better than OLD rubber)
Fluid Flush - New Hoses - New Pads - and a good caliper cleaning will make those brakes stand that bike on it's nose (if you want it too) -
Do yourself a favor and spend some time going through the braking system to make sure it's working well

My 1983 Suzuki GS850GL transformed once I did all the deferred maintenance including caliper refreshes with new rubber bits -

However the brakes we experience now on the GL1800s are way better