Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge braking distance for SM and BA.

I know the Speedmaster has triple disc brakes, but does anyone know the stopping distance in feet between the SM and BA? Is the third disc really that important. If not, I'd prefer the '07 America for the better pillion seat.

From the nonscientific experiences of BA.com members. It seems to have little difference in real world applications. And I have seen bike magazine reviews saying the same thing.
I have a speedy, cause it fits me better. We don't ride two up, the wife has her own bike. If your doing any 2 up, just know the pillion on the speedy is lacking.
So the stock answer around here has been sit on them, look at them. And decide which one you like more. And buy that one.

I rode a speed Master and the next day rode the America I didn't notice much difference in braking. I bought the America seemed to fit me and my riding style better. The dealer in Lynchburg Virginia was great rode both bikes for over an hour @ his request.

The single disc brake on my America sucks, especially if you are going to do some spirited riding. It's my opinion, that the reason the rear brake pad wears so fast on the America's is because the front brake is so bad. If the Speedmaster was available when I bought mine in 02, that's probably what I would have purchased. Plus the 07 SM's now have the cool slash exahust.

Perhaps you have a problem with them Paul?

I've had no issues with my brakes other than a pain in the butt bleeding them!

as a every day America rider can say that there is nothing wrong with front brake!!!! and about rear can't remember when last time changed rear pads still lot left and I'm not using them that much
as long as there is no****** on the road , front brake will stop you

IMHO not a significant difference. The single front disc is more than adequate for the bike. If you buy the America and you want more braking just add the other brake.

I am an America Rider and can say that the 3 brakes on my bike are fine...the front, the back and the engine. If none of these does the trick then Im going to fast for the road conditions

10k (UK miles)before pads changed if that helps

I got the America and it stops just fine. I have had over 2 dozen bikes and this stops a good as any of them (seat of the pants comparison). I switched to the metalic brake lines after 4 years, rather than replace the stock rubber ones. I have about 6,000 miles on my rear pads now, miked them and probably have another 3,000 miles to go before replacing them. I love my America, and would not swap it.

That's entirely possible, Phil. I'm on my third set of pads for the rear, counting the originals at 20,000 miles on the odometer. I was going to get the scintered pads last time but the after market dealer I went to was out of them. Could be I'm just using the rear brakes too much too,
or I've been riding too fast trying to keep up with Donny and Blast and wearing them down. I rode Donny's Thunderbird Sport and the brakes on that bike, just really seemed to stop on a dime in comparison to my TBA.

Neither one is a sportbike, and unless you're going to practice "stoppies", don't worry about it...

My 650lb H-D only has one front brake, and it's not even one of the heavy cruisers...Stops just fine, even in panic stops...

You would do better to worry about important things, like which farkles you're going to buy first...<G>
Mary
Mary

You would have to be riding very hard on a closed track to notice any difference in the brakes. The possibility of locking the front wheel on the Speedmaster is slightly greater and, after several laps at Laguna, the America brakes may fade slightly more.

As for the brake pad life, someone at Triumph decided that it was most important for the rear brake to be smooth acting and quiet, so they come with relatively soft pads that wear out around 10 - 18 Kmiles. That isn't a real problem because you can get a very good replacement here, http://www.newspeedmaster.com/html/ebc_brakes.html

Rear brake on my America needed pads at 9000 miles, front was good....