The Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) has a
grading system for brake pad
friction material (SAE
J866). The test
applies the brake pads to a
rotating drum until the
temperature of the pads
reaches 650 degrees F.
In general terms, the test
assigns a two-letter code
where the first letter
designates normal
temperature friction and the
second letter designates hot
friction. The letters
correspond to numbers in the
table at left.
TCB "Traction Control
Brake System"?:
We've received several
questions about the TCB
"Traction Control Brake
Systems" device. I
have discussed this
device with several
experts and this is from
"B.C.":
"Apparently, the device
they are selling for $79
is a replacement banjo
bolt for the front
caliper. In effect, it
adds sponginess to the
brakes by allowing the
variations in puck
pressure to modulate
back and forth in a
bladder inside the
device. This is
like having an air
bubble in your brake
lines, the last thing
you want.
I would
say that if the front
rotors are that warped,
then they need
replacement. The
TCB product has no
relation to true
traction control, which
is a very sophisticated
system whereby a
computer controls engine
speed, combustion,
timing and possibly ABS
braking and monitors the
wheel spin at thousands
of times per second.
Note
that the company uses
what I consider to be a
nonsense term, "traction
control brake system".
There is no such thing.
Traction control is
traction control, and
anti-lock brakes are
anti-lock brakes.
Note that although they
talk about ABS brakes,
they never come right
out and say their device
is an ABS system,
because it isn't.
Their nonsense term
makes no sense to me and
I have never heard this
term used anywhere else.
The
bottom line is that
brakes are one of the
most important systems
on a motorcycle, and
modern motorcycle brakes
are incredibly powerful
and are precision
systems.
Personally, I would
absolutely not mess with
the factory designed
brakes on my bike with a
product like this."
TCB sent us this
response; let us know
what you think:
"With the unit on, the
levers do feel
different, but not the
same as spongy. Most
likely you would need to
ride on a bike to feel
the difference.
Some common questions
answered:
Q-Why are manufacturers
not equipping their
bikes with the unit?
A-The reason why
manufacturers have not
included it on their
motorcycles is because
we are just formally
launching the product
next week. Even without
officially launching the
product we already KTM
evaluating the product.
Q- Why does know one
carry the unit?
A- Even before our
official launch the unit
has been picked up by
two of the largest
distributors in the
world; Lockhart Phillips
and Zodiac (the largest
distributor in Europe).
Obviously neither of
them would pick up a
product that did not do
what it is said to.
Q- Is anyone happy with
the product?
A- Everyone who uses it
love it. There are
currently a number of
professional and semi
pro riders that very
happily using the
product with, the
limited number of Parts
Managers, Service
Managers, and Mechanics
at dealerships who have
tested the unit now have
it installed on their
bikes, there are only
positive reviews that
will be published in
industry magazines, etc.
Q- Why have I not seen
anything about the unit
on TV?
A- It is coming soon,
ESPN watched a
professional rider show
the difference with the
unit on and off the bike
at speeds over 100mph.
Although something that
sounds so good often is
not really as good as it
sounds, this really is.
People had doubts about
seat belts, airbags, etc
and look where they are
at now. You might
want to test a unit out
before you make a final
judgment."
