Radial just has to do with the direction of the bolts that mount it to the forks.

These are radial mounted brakes. The bolts go towards the axle like a "radius" of a circle.

This is a conventional mounted brake caliper. The bolts go in from the side:

The biggest difference is the strength of the mount allows for a stronger caliper without more costly materials. Some other benefits have to deal with better alignment between the pads and rotor, and also there are some internal differences that allow a more even distribution of pressure to the brake pads.

 

Radial just has to do with the direction of the bolts that mount it to the forks.

He asked what a radial master cylinder is, not a radial mounted caliper but that was a great explanation of that also

Here's a good explanation of a radial master cylinder:

http://www.oppracing.com/pages/articles_brembo_master_cylinders

 

I just realized that. (it's late) Now that I look at them, they just look like they apply a different direction of leverage on the mastercylinder.

EDIT: Hehe, I guess that's exactly what the OPP link says!

 

I just realized that. (it's late) Now that I look at them, they just look like they apply a different direction of leverage on the mastercylinder.

Yep, that's exactly it

Radial master cylinders make a bigger, more noticeable difference than radial mount calipers to the average rider.

 

Thanks for the info guys. So basicly the internals and "tech" is still pushing fluid the same way its just the mounting and leverage. Was hoping with all the hype it was gona be some new type of valving or internals what nots. So if you dont have a radial brake master cylinder setup on your bike your not that far off of someone that does - Fred Flintstone to hydralics was still a bigger jump in tech lol

 

:lol Yeah that's about right

Remember though that when most people change to an aftermarket radial master cylinder they're also changing to one with a different bore size that actual flows more fluid versus lever force anyway so they believe they have better brakes from the off. If they'd used a quality 'conventional' master cylinder with the new bore size I bet 75% of people wouldn't notice a difference between that and a radial unit.

But the good aftermarket ones are also better built, quality units that people will notice a difference with.

 

and back to master cylinders....here's the cheapy i've just bought.:crash
and yes they do make a difference in both feel and control.
kinda like dash 2 vs dash 3 brakelines.
i prefer the dash 2.

 

Yea exactly. I work at a shop and been getting requests for radial brake master cylinder "I got to have it!!" Alot of them coming in with stock R1 setups asking for installs. So i was like "Did i miss some real big advancment?" kinda felt like i sould have heard more about it if people were so set on the BIG upgrade to there bike. Hey i install them and make the money but now at least i know that although it is an advancement and nice to have its not something to put major coin into with better upgrades to be doing to their bikes.

Don't get me wrong, they will make a difference but in my book there's better pads and even discs that will upgrade a brake system for less money (for pads) and be more of a difference for people. Then go for a decent radial m/cylinder

Now Blur1's above is something very different and not to be confused with the 'normal' Brembo radial master cylinder. You'll have to ask Rossi how he likes his to understand that :fact

 

Yea exactly. I work at a shop and been getting requests for radial brake master cylinder "I got to have it!!" Alot of them coming in with stock R1 setups asking for installs. So i was like "Did i miss some real big advancment?" kinda felt like i sould have heard more about it if people were so set on the BIG upgrade to there bike. Hey i install them and make the money but now at least i know that although it is an advancement and nice to have its not something to put major coin into with better upgrades to be doing to their bikes.

 

One bad thing about the aftermarket brake cylinders is that now you have a different looking control on that side, and then you have to go fork out the money to get the aftermarket clutch lever to match.:lol

 

Thanks for the info guys i'm off to work got to fix the bikes of new riders that think 1000's are good starting point and that wheelies should be the first thing to try. Hey they keep dropping them and i keep fixin them keeps me making money!