Splitting the combined front/rear brakes on '82 XJ1100J...

[mikeames]

I have an '82 XJ1100J which has the rear and one front caliper combined on the right foot pedal with the other front caliper on the right hand lever...Not sure if any of the other Maxims are this way, but this model is.
I'm wondering if anyone has ever split them up like normal brakes (rears on the foot and both fronts on the hand lever). What kinds of issues did you run into? Did you have to swap out to a different front master cylinder to have enough pressure to have good front brakes?
Any thoughts?
Mike

[trbig]

If you keep the stock rear brake line, you'll have to disconnect the line that goes to the front and cap that off. I used a bolt with the proper threads and some teflon tape to seal it. But by using the stock line, you'll have to run it through the proportion valve still and you won't get much back brake at all. That valve will still be trying to send it to the front. That valve has a small metal line going into the master cylinder with a flared fitting. You'll need to get an aftermarket (Preferably stainless) line with one end normal that a banjo bolt goes through for the back calipers and an end for the M/C that has the small flared end. They are both 10mm.

On the front, there has been questions about the capacity of the XJ's M/C to run dual calipers. Most seem to think it would be fine as long as you ran stainless lines and got rid of the rubber ones. I'm still running on the single front right one, but like you, would eventually like to have dual fronts.

Tod

[justme1100]

???

Wondering why you want to do this? I love this set-up.

[blue giant]

Wondering why you want to do this? I love this set-up.

I was thinking the same thing.

[CatatonicBug]

I have the same braking system on my MNS. As it was explained to me, the difference is like driving a cage with an automatic transmission. It works great most of the time, is especially useful for those who don't need/desire the extra control, and almost never has issues. But for those who want that extra edge of control over which wheel gets brakes, splitting it is the only way to do that.

I personally love the linked brakes, but that's just me.

[justme1100]

I find that I have more than enough control and i have seen riders over brake with duals up front. I find that in turning corners it handles like no other bike I have ever rode and I have been riding for years. If I need to stop fast I still have control over which tire gets how much brake as one caliper is operated by the hand and that is plenty. If I ever build another bike from scratch I would use this system to keep my bars clean and old school. But this is just my opinion and like a##holes everybody has one.

[trbig]

Read here and you'll understand why some people do.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21166

If you like how it works, that's fine, but there are reasons to disconnect it. How many serious performance bikes do you think have a linked system? There's a reason for that. A normal cruising style of riding will probably benefit from a linked system most of the time, but there are situations that come up where I think it could be detrimental. This is taking into account though that you aren't the type to panic and lock up tires. If this is the case, a proportion valve would be safer for you. The difference in the linked when I got the bike to the un-linked I have now... it is a much more controllable bike for MY personal riding style.

Like I said.. if you like it and it works well for you.. by all means keep it.

Tod