Beringer Aerotec Radial Master Cylinder
Beringer Aerotec Radial Master Cylinder
CW EVALUATIONS
Feel the power
WANT BETTER BRAKES? JUST FIT CALIpers with more pistons or bigger discs, right? Not so fast. Fact is, most modern sporty bikes already have large, powerful brakes with excellent stopping power. What’s missing in certain cases is feel at the lever.
French brake-maker Beringer, known in roadracing circles for its high-end machined-aluminum calipers and cast-iron discs, has a solution: its Aerotec radial master cylinder.
Radial masters often found nowadays on premium sportbikes position the piston perpendicular to the handlebar, reducing flex at the mount, resulting in more positive feel. Beringer goes one step farther, using roller bearings in the pivot mechanism to virtually eliminate friction.
Because Beringer chooses to focus mostly on race-replicas, installation on our long-term Kawasaki ZX-14 was not clear-cut. We had hoped to use the BRI2 with its tiny built-in reservoir, but it wouldn’t clear the stylized handlebar. So we instead opted for the BRI4 and an equally small, but sold separately, remote reservoir. Even then, we had to monkey with the supplied brakelight switch to achieve the desired fit.
The result was well worth the energy expended. Lever effort is exceptionally light and travel silky smooth.
Control is unsurpassed; you can now adjust your speed entering corners with a precision usually reserved for toplevel race machinery. Further, a large “micrometric” thumbwheel allows fine-tuning of lever span, even while wearing gloves.
Better braking without touching the brakes themselves? Exactly. □
DETAILS
Frog Specialties 4050 Spencer St. #1 Torrance, CA 90503 310/370-9856 www.beringerbrakes.com Price...$500
Ups
ALUMINUM body impeccably machined, fitted with two bleeder valves CHOICE of lever colors, lengths and shapes COMPLETE kits-brake/clutch master cylinders, levers, calipers and rotors—available
Downs
Designed mostly for racer-replicas; all apps not available Remote reservoir with billet-aluminum cap and stainless-steel bracket costs an additional $50 Great feel doesn’t come cheaply
