801 320mm brake discs

[a_muz_ed]

I've installed EBC FA-HH Series FA244HH sintered brake pads and after braking in, I notice they improve the initial bite.

I'll drive the bike a while with the new pads and I'll see how I like it in the long run and if I'll switch to larger disks or maybe a new radial pump. The brakes are definitely OK, but I really like a direct and responsive brake. The JJ-stuff still acks the sense of control of brembo brakes have and I've experienced when I test drove other bikes.

A question: it's my first bike with ABS, so I can't compare, but when braking hard (like in an emergency stop) the ABS kicks in and does it's job. However, I feel I loose quite a bit of braking distance. Especially near the end of the braking, when I'm almost coming to a stop, the ABS kicks in and lengthens the brake path quite a bit. Sometimes it happens at the start of the braking. Mainly the fact that I can't predict when the ABS kicks in and lenghtens the brake path, annoys me. Maybe I should brake less aggressive but I wonder is this normal behavior of ABS? Any tricks and tips?

 

[Tom]

I haven't noticed anything like that with the ABS so far.

 

[a_muz_ed]

Ok, good to know. thanks for your respons.

Did some more emergency stops from 80kmh to full stop both in road mode and supermoto mode. During my first attempt with abs in road mode, I experienced the same intervention of the Abs. When the brakes/tires got hotter, the intervention of the abs was less intrusive.

When switching to supermoto mode, the abs was almost not intrusive. I even could do some short rolling stoppies near the end of the braking. The braking distance was also a bit shorter compared to road mode. So I’ll leave it in supermoto mode for now.

 

[Tom]

That's a bit strange; to my understanding the supermoto mode just deactivates the rear ABS, but without changes to the front ABS; here a pic from the owners manual.

 

[a_muz_ed]

I don’t now for sure, but maybe in road mode the abs also tracks the relative speed of the front and rear wheel. So if the front wheel slows down faster compared to rhe rear wheel, the abs already starts to intervene. In supermoto mode, the front brake is not influenced by the rear, and you can ride more on the limit of the front tire when going heavy on the front brake.

At least that’s how I experience it on the road when braking strong on the front and not using the rear brake.

 

[Tom]

Yes, it seems you are right; "ABS remains active on the front wheel but is reduced. It is deactivated entirely on the rear wheel. Cornering ABS is also disengaged"

A pic from the KTM website; it should be the same with the 801; good to know!

 

[a_muz_ed]

Thanks for the info! Good to know, what supermoto abs actually means. With that in mind, using road mode when the roads are wet is still the more sensible choice.