Just got my 2014 and love the bike but the back brakes feel like they have wood for pads.Not much feel in them, it seems like you have to push hard to get any brakes then you hit lock up. I am big on trail breaking as I enter corners and like to use the back to make minor speed adjustments as I ride. I am thinking maybe a change from the factory pads will help? I have bled the brakes and have fresh fluid and have checked the whole system and everything is in good shape. What say the experts?? New to the zx14r but 45 years of riding and wrenching on a bunch of bikes.
Thanks for any help

Pads probable won't help. You might try the softest pad, but probably it's in need of a master to change to a more sensitive pedal. Then there is the human factor and adapt to the change and adjust from there.

I am thinking maybe a change from the factory pads will help?

The stock rear brake doesn't grab hard until it is applied quite hard. I can see how using it for sport riding could be a little sketchy. I think the stock brake setup is all fine except for riders who need instant grab for improved feel. The flipside is that the weak rear brake might discourage riders from relying on it because it can result in a highside crash if the rear wheel locks. I agree with Hub, the master cylinder is what needs to be changed or else just get used to all the throw in the pedal before it grabs hard enough. Racing people prefer instant grab so there is no searching through the throw for the right amount of braking.

I was looking at a Beringer rear brake MC which comes in three bore sizes. It can be equipped for a thumb lever or used with the foot pedal only. I think you can have both hooked up. I was planning to mount the Beringer MC to the forward muffler hanger bracket bolt. Use a longer bolt and position the upper heim joint on that to the inside of the frame, put a nut on the other side of the heim joint. It might work if the MC isn't angled back so far that there is a possibility of the brake pedal swinging all the way around. I guess you could always raise the brake pedal if it was necessary to prevent that or maybe you'd need to fab a bracket for optimum positioning of the upper heim joint. Optimum is probably almost straight up and down like the stock MC. It's safe at least. Not very fancy and not very powerful but it's safe for most riders.

Thanks very much for the input, guess I am some thinking to do.I may try a different MC that I have and see how that works out. Will report back if anything works out. Thanks again!!

I have a C14 and a ZX14R. Was having trouble with my rear dragging on the c14, bled multiple times etc. I had to activate the ABS by locking up the brakes multiple times. Fixed the dragging rear brakes and I like the pedal feel better now. I'm going to do the thing on the ZX14R. Was amazed how short and straight the fat ninja stopped. I locked front and rear brakes same time probably 25 times anywhere from 5 to 70 mph. Good for brakes and good panic stop practice.

* Last updated by: RBRBBB on 4/19/2022 @ 12:57 AM *