Modern caliper for CB550

[Shooter]

Has anyone ever fitted a modern caliper to a CB550 with original rotor? How did you do it ? (pix?)

I am brake obsessed but making progress.

Ditched the original Master Cylinder and lever (after installing a new kit inside it).

Have fitted a new MC that I got from Ebay ($79 USD) and now run a one piece braided line direct to the original caliper via the original steel pipe. This bypasses the stop light sensor because it has a microswitch at the lever. (far more responsive than the old sensor). Result is a much firmer lever and improved braking performance but still not quite good enough for me.

I can now sense that the caliper and the rotor do not have enough bite/friction/drag. Kind of a "glassy" feel if that make sense.

If a modern caliper can be fitted (via a fabricated bracket) I want to try that next. I do not really want twin front rotors because of the unsprung weight.

 

[dentedvw]

This is great, my buddy was just wondering the same thing yesterday. His OE brake lever was broken, and I guess it wasn't working well anyway. He is wondering the same thing.
But, ahh.. what about the brake light switch, are you bypassing it entirely?

 

[Swagger]

Sure it can be done, I'm planning the same upgrade myself for my 500T.

You can go a couple ways....

first: Have your rotor turned down to the thickness of those found on newer bikes. Looking at my Triumph SuperIII it's discs are 5mm and the disc on my Honda measures roughly 7mm thick. I do wonder about material and if this will cause warping since there's been 20 years of metallurgy between the two discs.

second: Add a spacer to the caliper halves. I see on my triumph part that the cal is actually two machined halves with thick bolts locking them together. My plan is to machine a 2mm spacer that'll add the needed room for my stock thickness rotor.

a bracket can easily be milled to suit by any machinist worth his salt......I'm a custom machinist/fabricator by trade and I can do it....and i'm a little salty myself...

I choose these two bikes because I'll be using the extra Triumph cals I have since i upgraded it, but any sportbike caliper should be workable.

 

[Shooter]

This is great, my buddy was just wondering the same thing yesterday. His OE brake lever was broken, and I guess it wasn't working well anyway. He is wondering the same thing.
But, ahh.. what about the brake light switch, are you bypassing it entirely?

I made a new cable from the micro switch (at the lever) to the existing stop light cables and threw away the sensor switch.

That old sensor switch is a spongy type device by definition of how it works.

Thanx Sqwagger - I will follow up as per suggestions