Custom Triumph Bonneville T100, fitting new front brake disc and pads

[@chrisbryan3624]

Thanks Stuart for this very clear, concise and instructive video. Have never undertaken a front disc replacement before but having just watched this l’m confident that my 2012 T100 will receive its next new front disc and pads care of my own two hands. Also your chosen disc looks great on the bike. Delighted to see the air cooled Bonnie back on your work bench! Cheers.

[@bonnytrippler2966]

Hi Stuart - changing front disc and pads was on my list of jobs for my 2015 T100 Bonnie. However, fitting Hagon fork springs has had a an additional benefit of greatly improving the braking performance. I now agree with with you that the original front brake set-up is not as bad as some would have us believe. Changing the disc has moved down my priority list. Thanks for another great video.

[@stuartfillingham]

yes those springs do have a rather magical effect!

[@JonathanBijos]

As always, very high quality information and wonderful video editing. Thanks for making these kinds of videos for Bonneville owners!

[@hollowaysteve]

Big fan of EBC HH pads here. Been installing them on my bikes since the early eighties. One of the best mods one can make to a bike. They might wear the disc a little faster but I’ll happily take that trade off for confident braking.

[@stuartfillingham]

great minds think alike Steve, been doing the same myself, and disc wear is no problem it gives you and excuse to fit something more exotic!

[@alanbrookes6637]

Very useful, Ive recently acquired a 2008 Triumph America, the front brake “pulses” slightly and I’d love to fit a new disc like the one featured.

[@RHP-pw8xt]

Excellent video as usual, well done Stuart.

[@SuperMarge123]

Thank you very much . Very detailed information. Copper grease very old school ,love it. Regards Gareth Wiltshire.

[@andrewhannam.]

Great content as always! Completely agree about the "two finger" riding and like you found the Mag wheel Bonnie brakes and the Thruxton brakes adequate even riding spirited. Cheers.

[@chrisheggie952]

Once again great video, thanks. I would however argue that using all four fingers is by far the safer practice as there is the very real chance of trapping the fourth and fifth digits between the lever and the bar (and thus reducing further the available breaking force as well as being very painful...) in an emergency breaking situation, especially with the amount of lever travel evident with your Bonneville!

[@scottygdaman]

Two fingers for the brakes allows a gentleman's pinkie to obey etiquit. Hehe.. oh ya

[@michaelevans1658]

That's going to be one sweet ride Stuart .

[@stuartfillingham7011]

Thanks Michael, plenty more to do yet!

[@Sonnybee01]

Finally got it off had to go get torc Alan bit to use with crescent wrench Did torc it has manual said hopefully did not strip the head it sort of spun after it clicked. Fingers crossed

[@tinks43]

Gotta love EBC, looks good 👍🏻

[@michaelcomerford5509]

Hello Stuart would those brake disc improve the 2017 Triumph Bobber Thanks Michael Great Vid

[@glasgowharleyrider]

Same for bobber black uncle Stuart ? Wee spring out first , dual discs as you know . Do you have a video or just same principle ?

[@scottroberts4551]

Great video, thanks. Question, the EBC website calls out the FA196HH for the wc Bonnevilles (2020 T120) but all the distributors call out the FA142HH. TheFA196HH is a little bigger (101,39,9.8) than the FA142HH (101,35,9) - your thoughts on this? Is the FA142HH a newer pad and has just not been updated on EBC's site?

[@ostekuste3646]

Hello and thanks for another great video! Stuart, do you see any need to open the fluid reservoir when pushing the caliper pistons back in, just in case it is a bit over filled? This might keep the pistons from pushing back in to some degree, or am I over complicating things?

[@hopgood007]

Hey Stuart - Happy New Year! Great video - any plans for something similar on the T120 or do the same rules apply? Taking mine through it's second winter of daily commuting after its' full-Fillingham winter prep. Will give you the usual update in the spring sir.

[@Mikey__R]

Hi Stuart, which torque wrench do you recommend I buy? Halfords do a few options, or will I need something a bit more special?

[@stuartfillingham]

Hi Mikey, ive started investing in king Dick tools (expensive) but I think halfords use britool as a supplier for torque wrenches which should be good!

[@Mikey__R]

@@stuartfillingham cheers! First job is to fit engine crash bars.

[@Leifenguard]

My concern with the T100 is that it is one disk instead of the two disk braking system in the t-120. For a motorcycle that is only slightly lighter, having twin disks really does seem to help.

[@stuartfillingham]

one disc is enough for a bike like this!

[@Walt_G]

@@stuartfillingham I agree with you that one disc is enough but like Leifenguard I would prefer two on a bike of this weight, its a shame that Triumph don't do at least one model in that engine size with twin discs for those that would prefer it. At least I don't think that they do one.

[@scottroberts4551]

Great video. question, on my 2020 T120 the oem pads had shim plates on the back. Am I to transfer those shims to my new EBC pads (which came without anything on the back)? Thanks!

[@scottroberts4551]

Stuart, do you recommend transferring the oem shim plates on my 2020 T120 to my new pads?

[@lasseh1576]

I see you can get a Brembo kit as well. Would you, or will this suffice? I'm thinking about a water cooled t100, but as you say, it's getting a lot of flack for the brakes. That has somewhat put me off it. Quality video as usual! Thanks!

[@stuartfillingham]

Hi Lasse, the Brembo kits are very expensive! The last time I looked around £1400. and my honest opinion is you wont get £1400 worth of upgraded performance. as I said in the video criticism of the brakes is usually unfounded and based on silly , unrealistic expectations, upgrades like better pads, a more stable brake fluid and braided hoses can go a long way to improving things.

[@hollowaysteve]

Lasse Helland The callipers aren’t the best on the T100LC and have been improved on the 2019 model. Just replacing the pads for EBC HH and perhaps installing braided hoses will make an improvement. But don’t forget, as Stuart rightly states, these bikes aren’t designed for ‘sports bike style thrashing’. Having said that however; I myself like powerful/efficient brakes that don’t need a massive pull on the lever. Last year I purchased a 1500 mile Guzzi Griso and the brakes were so appalling that I changed the pads for EBC HH after 500 miles and the difference was night and day. The standard set up used Brembo FF pads. They shouldn’t have been as bad as they were so perhaps the previous owner had glazed them over but as a rule of thumb, one can’t go wrong with EBC HH and the kit that Stuart has fitted here will make a big difference

[@johnswayround]

I've been thinking of doing similar to my t120. Have you come across any suitable / affordable discs to do so? Cheers, John

[@stuartfillingham]

there are discs available John try the EBC search tool, or failing that I believe British customs have an option.

[@johnswayround]

@@stuartfillingham Cheers Stuart, I'll have a gander.

[@walttanner5813]

Question, what is the yellow lube that you have used on the chain when you put the new one on that came with chain. Reason for asking when I do off my caliber I popped off the the rubber that the one of the metal rod / piston not sure what you call it. It had a bunch of it in there that fell out. I need to replace that lube. I need a name so I can order it. I did put in some white lube/greese for now, is that okay?

[@stuartfillingham7011]

Hi walt wow that's a big topic at the moment! It's chain grease I uses that comes with the chain. There are specialist brake greases widely available. Your local motoring supply shop will have some.

[@carlberg6918]

Stuart ......... what is the difference between Nissin and brembo can find a real good explanation . Floating v solid I'm just about up with. And is it worth an up grade to Brembo . you obviously dont think so, or am i just being Picky aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh You always do things in depth and easy to under stand..

[@bill_4359]

Stuart, I was installing a Tec tail tidy with Motone black turn signals and ran into a problem. I was getting ready to shrink tube the tail light and turn signal connectors when I spotted some copper wiring at the rear light connector from Tec Bike Parts. One of the tail light wires came out of the crimp pin. Do you know the name of the mfg and part numbers for the female pins? Also can you recommend a crimp tool to help me crimp a new pin. I am a retired electronics engineer and if I was still working I would take the wiring harness to work and crimp a new pin on the wire. Of course nowadays you cannot return to your workplace due to security requirements. Any help would be appreciated. Bill . I live in the USA.

[@stuartfillingham]

Hi Bill, Im sorry but im not familiar with the tec tailtidy! I would have thought that it would be a standard 2.5 mm red automotive bullet connector but thats just a guess. if it is a cheap and cheerful crimping tool should do the job. sorry I cant be of more assistance.

[@bill_4359]

@@stuartfillingham no, it is the other end ( 6 pin mating connector) into the bike's wiring loom. The same connector that Motone uses.

[@stuartfillingham]

​@@bill_4359. Ah i see. if you have a very thin awl or something similar these can be pushed back in, they are simply an interference fit!

[@bill_4359]

@@stuartfillingham I have a set of precision screw drivers which I believe will work . Any of the smallest three will reinstall the pin. Thanks for your time. Take care and ride safe.

[@stuartfillingham]

@@bill_4359Actually i nearly suggested something similar, good luck with it Bill!

[@Sonnybee01]

How in the hell do you get the screw for caliber out with an Alan key. It just will not buge

[@stuartfillingham]

Hi Sony mine was fine as it had been treated with anti seize in the past. but if yours hasn't it may have seized in. if it definitely wont move try dampening it with some maintenance spray or similar and leave it over night to do its job. just be very careful not to get any on your pads or disc! it may take a few attempts but keep at it, and fingers crossed it will come loose eventually!

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

When people mention 2 finger braking I’m pretty sure they are referring to great stopping power for very minimal effort and not as a technique for leaving two fingers wrapped round the throttle.

[@stuartfillingham]

I think that goes without saying Terry.

[@philreadman1412]

Hello mate great film. Copper grease on the back of the pads??? Not for 30years read the instructions! EBC & Brembo DON'T recommend putting grease on the pads.this is a safety point Never put copper grease near your pads. Pad technology has moved on. Sorry mate but if the information your giving is about rider's safety it must be correct.

[@stuartfillingham]

Hi Phil, I was expecting this! EBC technical department instructed me to use CG on the rear of these pads as there is no anti squeal shim fitted to the AC bonnies. Haynes also advise it in their manual, and there were traces of it on the rear of the original factory pads I took off.

[@philreadman1412]

@@stuartfillingham I stopped doing this about 25 years ago on my bike's and never had a problem with squiking. My dad would insist on using cg it's one of those I've all ways done it my dad all ways done it so it must be correct. Not manufacturing of these components and materials used have changed. Just thinking about it your spraying cleaning fluid all over the calaper and flushing grease over the.disk

[@stuartfillingham]

Thanks for your concern and your comments Phil I did look at this very closely before producing this video as I am aware of the controversy over this practice. ive done it this way for over 30 yrs without any issues and mainstream advice is still that it should be used. Any literature ive able to find to the contrary seems to be of spurious origin. Just do what works for you!

[@hollowaysteve]

Lots of braking systems come with anti-squeal shims these days but if they don't, using copper grease is fine. What 'isn't' fine is using copper grease when there is a shim. also it shouldn't be used between disk and hub. As for not putting grease near the pads; Just make sure you're careful and don't get it on the pad material.

[@34979Charlie]

@@philreadman1412 That´s why he finished off with giving the disk a once over with the brake cleaner .. to remove any possible greasy residue ;)