Swapping front Calipers - replacing Tokico with Brembo

[RiceBurner]

Has anyone done this?

I have a Rockster (front end is same as R1100S) and it's fitted with Tokico calipers - which I'm sick of. They bind up EVERY year and I've rebuilt them more times than I care to think of.

So - I want to swap to the Brembo calipers as fitted to bikes with the EVO brakes.

I've checked the parts fiche at realoem.com (see findings below) and it looks to me as if it's a straight swap - but has anyone on here any experience?

Findings from fiche research:


The Rockster is specced universally to use the Tokico brake calipers
Left p/n : 34117722525
Right p/n : 34117722526 .


These parts are also used by a few other bikes of the same period - specifically these two
R21 (R 1150 GS Adventure)   (07/2001 — 09/2005)
259 (R 1100 S, R 1100 RS)   (12/1996 — 07/2005)


Looking at the R1100S fiches they specify 2 calipers:
Left:
p/n 34117722525
p/n 34117670391


Right:
p/n 34117722526
p/n 34117670392


The first pair (matching those specified for the Rockster) are specified where ABS is fitted, and the other parts are specified where ABS is NOT fitted. (looking at the 2004 model year iirc).


When ABS is specified - Tokico brake pads are specified.
When ABW is not specified - Brembo brake pads are specified.


So - the 2nd part numbers are Brembo calipers. ( part numbers 34117670391 & 34117670392).


With me so far?


As far as I can see - the fork legs and disc rotors are consistent across the years for the R1100S (where EVO brakes are fitted - could be wrong). But regardless - the brake calipers are BOTH specified for overlapping years.


The same information match-up seems to follow for the R1150GS Adventure.


I know from speaking to BMW personnel a few years ago that Tokico and Brembo calipers were used 'almost at random' on bikes and this seems to bear that comment out (but with more detail as to why).


So - it appears to me that I can do a straight swap for the Brembo calipers ( part numbers 34117670391 & 34117670392), for my Rockster.


These calipers are also used on the following models :
K26 (R 900 RT, R 1200 RT)   (11/2003 — 11/2009)
K28 (R 1200 ST)   (05/2003 — 11/2007)
K29 (R 1200 S, HP2 Sport)   (11/2004 — 12/2006)
K40 (K 1200 S, K 1300 S)   (04/2003 — 08/200
K44 (K 1200 GT, K 1300 GT)   (11/2004 — 09/200
R21 (R 1150 GS)   (09/1998 — 11/2003)
R21 (R 1150 GS Adventure)   (07/2001 — 09/2005)
R22 (R 850 RT, R 1150 RT, R 1150 RS)   (01/2000 — 03/2006)
259 (R 1100 S, R 1100 RS)   (12/1996 — 07/2005)
K41 (K 1200 GT, K 1200 RS)   (03/2000 — 07/2005)




In terms of matching the caliper to the rotor and (perhaps more importantly) the master-cylinder - the Rockster uses the following part for the Master Cylinder:
p/n 32727657182


This part is shared with these bikes:
R21 (R 1150 GS)   (09/1998 — 11/2003)
R21 (R 1150 GS Adventure)   (07/2001 — 09/2005)
R28 (R 850 R, R 1150 R, Rockster)   (11/1999 — 07/2007)
R22 (R 850 RT, R 1150 RT, R 1150 RS)   (01/2000 — 03/2006)
259 (R 1100 S, R 1100 RS)   (12/1996 — 07/2005)


And looking at the brake rotor P/n 34112338228
This is also used on:
R28 (R 850 R, R 1150 R, Rockster)   (11/1999 — 07/2007)
R22 (R 850 RT, R 1150 RT, R 1150 RS)   (11/2000 — 11/2004)
259 (R 1100 S, R 1100 RS)   (12/1996 — 07/2005)
K589 (K 1200 RS, K 1200 LT)   (06/1997 — 07/200




In regards to the wheels - it's a bit hard to match up - HOWEVER - the SILVER coloured wheel that some late model Rocksters used is p/n 36317650026
That part is shared with :
R28 (R 850 R, R 1150 R, Rockster)   (03/2002 — 07/2005)
259 (R 1100 S, R 1100 RS)   (12/1996 — 07/2005)
K41 (K 1200 GT, K 1200 RS)   (03/2000 — 07/2005)


Further - the axle is p/n 36312335577
shared with:
K14 (F 650 CS)   (11/2000 — 07/2005)
259 (R 850 GS, R 1100 GS)   (04/1993 — 07/2006)
R21 (R 1150 GS)   (09/1998 — 11/2003)
R21 (R 1150 GS Adventure)   (07/2001 — 09/2005)
259R (R 850 R, R 1100 R)   (09/1993 — 11/2002)
R28 (R 850 R, R 1150 R, Rockster)   (11/1999 — 07/2007)
259 (R 850 RT, R 1100 RT)   (05/1994 — 11/2001)
R22 (R 850 RT, R 1150 RT, R 1150 RS)   (01/2000 — 03/2006)
259C (R 850 C, R 1200 C)   (04/1996 — 07/2004)
259 (R 1100 S, R 1100 RS)   (01/1992 — 07/2005)
259C (R 1200 C Independent)   (05/2000 — 05/2003)
K589 (K 1200 RS, K 1200 LT)   (04/1996 — 07/200
K41 (K 1200 GT, K 1200 RS)   (03/2000 — 07/2005)




and the wheel 'spacer' pipe : p/n 36312335068
shared with
R28 (R 850 R, R 1150 R, Rockster)   (03/2002 — 07/2005)
259 (R 1100 S, R 1100 RS)   (12/1996 — 07/2005)
K589 (K 1200 RS, K 1200 LT)   (04/1996 — 07/200
K41 (K 1200 GT, K 1200 RS)   (03/2000 — 07/2005)






So - my logic tells me that the Brembo calipers above should be a straight swap - or as close as is possible.
given that the wheel axle, spacer pipe, wheel, and rotors are also shared with the R1100S (almost across the board) makes me pretty confident that the R1100S Brembo caliper should be a straight swap.

Any thoughts?

[Dog Tyred]

No idea about a straight swap on the mounting lugs but I think you will find the brake line ends (where they meet the caliper) are different angles so you will need new lines as well.

DT

[RiceBurner]

No idea about a straight swap on the mounting lugs but I think you will find the brake line ends (where they meet the caliper) are different angles so you will need new lines as well.

DT

The bike already has 2 Goodridge stainless hoses direct from the m/c, (with a bit of slack) so hopefully no worries on that score.

[nab 301]

Any thoughts?

You've done your homework , all that remains is to offer up a caliper....and see how it looks.

[dave the german]

James sherlock or motobins has a NOS caliper (only one but it's a start) for £85 - that's cheap!! might be worth a look

[RiceBurner]

James sherlock or motobins has a NOS caliper (only one but it's a start) for £85 - that's cheap!! might be worth a look

Got a link?

Not heard of NOS?

[RiceBurner]

Any thoughts?

You've done your homework , all that remains is to offer up a caliper....and see how it looks.

yeah - seems a bit expensive a bet, but assuming people's return policies are valid it should be doable.

[Blackal]

James sherlock or motobins has a NOS caliper (only one but it's a start) for £85 - that's cheap!! might be worth a look

Got a link?

Not heard of NOS?

Is it OS (Offside) and NOS (NOT Offside) ?

I would have used Nearside and Offside (if my assumption is correct )

Al

[SP250]

NOS = new old stock.

[RiceBurner]

NOS = new old stock.

ah - that makes sense.

[Dog Tyred]

No idea about a straight swap on the mounting lugs but I think you will find the brake line ends (where they meet the caliper) are different angles so you will need new lines as well.

DT

The bike already has 2 Goodridge stainless hoses direct from the m/c, (with a bit of slack) so hopefully no worries on that score.

I was referring the angle of the banjos. They may not fit the alternative caliper due to the angle change. One of them has a lug next to the banjo connection which requires a 90 degree banjo. The 45 degree will not fit because it clashes with the lug.

DT

[RiceBurner]

No idea about a straight swap on the mounting lugs but I think you will find the brake line ends (where they meet the caliper) are different angles so you will need new lines as well.

DT

The bike already has 2 Goodridge stainless hoses direct from the m/c, (with a bit of slack) so hopefully no worries on that score.

I was referring the angle of the banjos. They may not fit the alternative caliper due to the angle change. One of them has a lug next to the banjo connection which requires a 90 degree banjo. The 45 degree will not fit because it clashes with the lug.

DT

I'll see when they turn up.

Had a long conversation with Motorworks and they persuaded me that since the R1150RS was a) specced with the same Tokico callipers as the Rockster, but b) came with Brembo calipers sometimes... that a pair of Brembo calipers removed from an R1150RS 'should' go straight on.

According to them - the R1100S Brembo isn't suitable because of a disc-rotor offset - not sure about that tbh, but they seemed adamant.

Pair of R1150RS Brembo EVO calipers will therefore be arriving at mine hopefully soon!

[dave the german]

NOS = new old stock.

you read Classic Motorcycle Mechanics too?

[SP250]

No Dave - been dealing with old Daimler V8 parts since I bought my first Daimler Dart in 1978 (hence SP250).
At one time I had over £100,000 of remanufactured, NOS and second hand parts in my farm outbuildings, storing them for a mate who ran the business.

[dave the german]

That's some serious stock!!