Caliper Pistons

[MPittma100]

Where is the best place to buy caliper pistons? Are the Standards and Specials Different sizes? Does the 650 piston fit the XS1100s? I've looked at some different online stores and am getting confused.

MP

[bikerphil]

Standards and Specials are different. The Special rear (except LH) is the same as the Standard fronts. Seems like the fellas like these SS ones the best...

http://www.hvccycle.com/brake-caliper-pistons.html

[MPittma100]

Caliper Pistons

Thanks Phil. I checked with Partsnmore and they stated that these were out of stock for a few months. Then went to Frank Jahnke (twowheelsfrank). He had them for around $22.00 each. So I got some coming from him.


MP

[jetmechmarty]

Thanks Phil. I checked with Partsnmore and they stated that these were out of stock for a few months. Then went to Frank Jahnke (twowheelsfrank). He had them for around $22.00 each. So I got some coming from him.


MP

Good choice! For the record, Mike's XS has the pistons for the rear and the front standard. http://www.mikesxs.net/product/29-0516.html
I have never seen a complaint about anything that came from Frank. I can't say the same for Mike's XS.

[MPittma100]

Mikes XS

When I looked at Mikesxs website, the caliper piston that I saw said that it fit the "650". I sent an email asking if this was the same for the "1100". His reply was that he would check with his technicians and let me know.

Have not heard further from them yet.

MP

[crazy steve]

I've bought stainless caliper pistons from both Frank and HVC; Frank's are good, but the HVC ones have a bit better finish....

IIRC, because of shipping costs from Germany, the price for a set was within a few $ of each other.

[jetmechmarty]

When I looked at Mikesxs website, the caliper piston that I saw said that it fit the "650". I sent an email asking if this was the same for the "1100". His reply was that he would check with his technicians and let me know.

Have not heard further from them yet.

MP

The XS650 and the XS1100 standard have the same calipers.

[Bonz]

I went through this on the 80G refurb.... Buried in a thread about buggered airscrews this question came up

Yes, the caliper pistons are the same as the XS650 and I do believe the special pistons are the same all around as well, just a difference in caliper design on the fronts, correct?

I emailed Mikes XS last winter about the fact the pistons were indeed the same, but don't hold your breath or expect some special confirmation from them when they say a technician will get back to you.... They said thanks for the input but we cannot officially substantiate the interchangeability so we cannot advertise the piston for the 1100.

[MPittma100]

Just like you said Howard

I went through this on the 80G refurb.... Buried in a thread about buggered airscrews this question came up

Yes, the caliper pistons are the same as the XS650 and I do believe the special pistons are the same all around as well, just a difference in caliper design on the fronts, correct?

I emailed Mikes XS last winter about the fact the pistons were indeed the same, but don't hold your breath or expect some special confirmation from them when they say a technician will get back to you.... They said thanks for the input but we cannot officially substantiate the interchangeability so we cannot advertise the piston for the 1100.

I got an answer from them. First they said that the 650 piston does not fit the 1100?. So I asked them if they offered one for it. They said "I am sorry we do not carry that part". I think I will correct them so they may be enlightened.

MP

[jetmechmarty]

I can not confirm what Bonz said about the Special caliper using the same piston because the parts catalogue does not list it separately. I will confirm that the XS650 front calipers are identical to the XS1100 standard calipers.

It has never worked out for me to contradict Bonz, so I won't. I just can't offer confirmation on the Special.

[Bonz]

jetmech, sorry I've been a hard guy to contadict... Either I am really accurate (doubt it) or really strong in my beliefs, accurate or not (more like it...)

As for the Special vs. Standard Caliper pistons, I see the pistons listed as "XS1100, 78-81" on Partsnmore, which would say to me they are the same and I haven't seen anything to the contrary when taking apart calipers in general.

Mikes XS has some good parts for us, so we have to keep them around, per se.

Otherwise, they are idiots not willing to listen to folks like me who have measured the caliper pistons for the 650 and they are dimensionally identical to the 1100 caliper pistons.

Parts n More has the XS 1100 piston listed as 38mm width x 41.3mm

Mikes XS has the XS650 piston listed as 38.15 width x 41.3mm long

The actual measurements of the XS650 caliper piston match up to the stock caliper piston I was replacing.

I have an 80G to prove it, they are the exact replacement.

[jetmechmarty]

jetmech, sorry I've been a hard guy to contradict... Either I am really accurate

Usually proves to be the case.

[crazy steve]

....Yes, the caliper pistons are the same as the XS650 and I do believe the special pistons are the same all around as well, just a difference in caliper design on the fronts, correct?....

The Special front caliper pistons are bigger in diameter; 42.8 mm vs 38 mm for the standard fronts and all rears (except the LH/XJ, which do use the Special front pistons in the rear). The LH/XJ front pistons are the same 38 mm diameter as the standards, but are different yet again as they don't have any provision for the XS external dust seal which this caliper doesn't use.

HVC cycle carries all three types....

[Bonz]

Thanks Crazy Steve for the correction of my err! Have you seen a source for the Special front pistons?

[crazy steve]

Thanks Crazy Steve for the correction of my err! Have you seen a source for the Special front pistons?

http://www.hvccycle.com/brake-caliper-pistons.html

The way they have them listed isn't all that clear as to what fits what ((F/R), but these are the puppies....