Anyone run with just a FL rotor?

[FloppaEnjoyer8067]

For some context, my bike is a single rotor, so the rotor is on the right. I bought a 2000 ducati monster brake caliper and was going to mount it, but I’m an idiot and bought a FL instead of a FR. I’m debating just moving my rotor to the left side and setting it up there. Has anyone done this? Anything im missing that would make this a bad idea?

Obviously I’d need to rebalance the wheel

 

[Signal]

Should work fine, will need a longer brake line but you were probably going to replace it anyway.

Now its my turn to miss something, why do you need to rebalance the wheel?

 

[Raymond]

I'm probably missing something here, but would it work to reverse the fork lowers (swap the forks) and keep the brake on the right?

 

[FloppaEnjoyer8067]

Should work fine, will need a longer brake line but you were probably going to replace it anyway.

Now its my turn to miss something, why do you need to rebalance the wheel?

The static unbalance may be fine, but the dynamic unbalance will be incorrect

 

[FloppaEnjoyer8067]

I'm probably missing something here, but would it work to reverse the fork lowers (swap the forks) and keep the brake on the right?

Maybe. That’s a good idea, I’ll look into it

 

[Wingedwheel]

I'm probably missing something here, but would it work to reverse the fork lowers (swap the forks) and keep the brake on the right?

Might work but it would make the caliper trailing instead of leading. Would that affect performance?

 

[Raymond]

Might work but it would make the caliper trailing instead of leading. Would that affect performance?

IIRC it was late 70s manufacturers started fitting the caliper on the trailing side of the fork. They had some argument about keeping the un-sprung mass closer to the centre of rotation of the forks or similar bollox but it must work as that's where they generally are on sports bikes? I certainly can't see it would lead to the fork being loaded in a direction it's not meant to be.

 

[Its been a long time]

I'm probably missing something here, but would it work to reverse the fork lowers (swap the forks) and keep the brake on the right?

Might work but it would make the caliper trailing instead of leading. Would that affect performance?

Not an issue at all for the brake. Speedo drive could be a problem?

 

[Wagner73]

For some context, my bike is a single rotor, so the rotor is on the right. I bought a 2000 ducati monster brake caliper and was going to mount it, but I’m an idiot and bought a FL instead of a FR. I’m debating just moving my rotor to the left side and setting it up there. Has anyone done this? Anything im missing that would make this a bad idea?

Not an issue at all for the brake. Speedo drive could be a problem?

I think IBALT is correct, the speedo will be a problem, as the boss on the LH fork leg for the speedo drive "stop" is not on the RH fork leg.

If it were me, I think I would resell the FL caliper and purchase an FR unit.

 

[MacMcMacmac]

IIRC it was late 70s manufacturers started fitting the caliper on the trailing side of the fork. They had some argument about keeping the un-sprung mass closer to the centre of rotation of the forks or similar bollox but it must work as that's where they generally are on sports bikes? I certainly can't see it would lead to the fork being loaded in a direction it's not meant to be.

Probably stronger to put the mounting bosses in compression instead of tension.

 

[Its been a long time]

If it's a recent purchase, contact the supplier and tell them you bought the wrong caliper. Maybe they'll swap it for the correct one. Nothing lost just by asking.

 

[Grimly]

Probably stronger to put the mounting bosses in compression instead of tension.

And the man wins a coconut!
Exactly that. The bike makers spotted that fractures would happen sooner or later and neatly side-stepped the issue and potential litigation.
Castings in tension are a shit idea, going all the way back to the Tay Bridge and forwards to Boeing.

 

[Jan_P]

The static unbalance may be fine, but the dynamic unbalance will be incorrect

View attachment 361680

Dont get it .. Maybe missing something.
I am not sure about why the re balancing is necessary
If the disc and wheel is balanced on the right side
Why would it be in Dynamic unbalance mounted at left side
Depending on fabrication accuracy in mounting point
But the disc itself is symmetric and made in a lathe.
Typically in screw mounting there is some edge that centers the item here the disc at mounting and the bolts have a bit play

 

[vexsed]

I had the same issue a while back. Removed european twin disc (lhs) from one bike and refitted it to a different bike, on the lhs. Results - 2 single disc systems - large reduction in unsprung weight - removal of hose splitter - major improvement with addition of braided hoses and smaller master cylinder on both. I had a mental issue with location of brakes front and rear on opposite sides of the bike but no noticeable twisting of the ride-and I ride hard even at my age (at my gate is a 25km twisting run through the forest, each way, winding up and down over ridgelines and river tributaries perfect between coffee and breakfast). There again most of my braking is done through choice of gear with adjustments per front brake. It's a 60km run to the nearest supermarket, mostly flattish with some nice curves, a faster ride with braking mostly for oncoming cars passing on narrow roads, stray cattle and the odd p-freak off their tits - also no issues (except for the wasted lives)
Edit: I don't see any reason to rebalance the wheel but if it gives you assurance go for it.

 

[Wagner73]

For some context, my bike is a single rotor, so the rotor is on the right. I bought a 2000 ducati monster brake caliper and was going to mount it, but I’m an idiot and bought a FL instead of a FR. I’m debating just moving my rotor to the left side and setting it up there. Has anyone done this? Anything im missing that would make this a bad idea?

Obviously I’d need to rebalance the wheel

My initial response in this thread was concerning swapping the fork legs side-to-side which would be problematic as pointed out.

That said, there is absolutely no reason that I can see that you can't mount a left side Brembo caliper on the left fork leg assuming an appropriate adapter bracket and rotor spacer. After all the left fork leg has the bosses for mounting, and of course there were factory dual disc versions that obviously had a brake system on both sides.

 

[jetmechmarty]

there were factory dual disc versions that obviously had a brake system on both sides.

For the record, I have an XS1100 that has a brake assembly on each side of the front wheel. There’s also a speedometer drive on the left side. When did the XS650 first get two front brakes? I would not anticipate any issue.

 

[650Skull]

For the record, I have an XS1100 that has a brake assembly on each side of the front wheel. There’s also a speedometer drive on the left side. When did the XS650 first get two front brakes? I would not anticipate any issue.

Europe 75B 265mm
Oceania 76C 295mm

 

[Its been a long time]

Europe 75B 265mm
Oceania 76C 295mm

Yes, UK/Europe got twin discs in 1975 on the 650B. Same time the frame was revised to Percy Tait's recommendations.

 

[650Skull]

Yes, UK/Europe got twin discs in 1975 on the 650B. Same time the frame was revised to Percy Tait's recommendations.

Frame was revised for the 74 TXA but Europe never got that model for some reason

 

[Its been a long time]

Frame was revised for the 74 TXA but Europe never got that model for some reason

Yes, you're right. Can't speak about Europe in general but as far as I remember there were no XS1 officially imported to the UK. We got the XS2. But nothing more until the XS650B arrived. (We never got the TX750 or 500 either but that was no great loss!)

I guess Yamaha saw no point going against the British bikes with a bike that was universally hated by the press here in the UK. For perspective on that, when I bought my 650C in 1976, I never saw another 650 Yamaha in the time I owned it. There's far more 650 Yamahas around now in the UK than ever there was in the 70's.