Should I swap Tokico 6 pots for Nissin 4 pots? This is a question we get asked all the time…
The answer is not necessarily. It’s usually the case that people who do swap the Tokico 6 Pots for the Nissin calipers are swapping tired, old calipers for newly rebuilt ones. In truth, if you swapped any old caliper for newly serviced items they should feel better!
Manufacturers generally put a 3-year service interval on the Tokico 6 pot brakes. We’ve seen calipers which have been left on the bike for 20+ years without a service. – It’s no wonder they underperform!
Which ‘brake’ better?
The Nissin brake calipers will always give a ‘harder’ lever, as they have a shorter pad length (meaning less surface to flex). The swept area behind the pistons is pretty much identical between the Tokico & Nissin, so both are as powerful. The difference comes down to ‘feel’ and that is a personal preference.
We find that pad choice in the Tokico calipers is very important as they have a large amount of flex. We recommend SBS pads for the job. Generally, the Nissin’s give a ‘harder’ lever, which is nice, though it can feel a bit ‘on or off’. The Tokico’s give more feedback & feeling – Which most people prefer.
Kawasaki & Suzuki used these Tokico’s on their Flagship models; The ZX-12 R and Hayabusa – Nobody complained that the brakes let these models down.
Which is better quality?
In terms of build quality, the Nissin brake calipers are undeniably better. The Nissin calipers are anodized internally, this helps to keep the aluminium oxide at bay. With fewer components the Nissin calipers are also cheaper to service.
We do love the Nissin brake calipers, however the Tokico 6 pots can feel superb if they are serviced regularly. The bikes they were fitted to are becoming rarer, so keeping them original could prove to be beneficial.
Every time we rebuild a set of these Tokico brake calipers, the customer calls us afterwards as they can’t believe the difference! (Seriously, be careful – we’ve had customers say they nearly went over the bars!)
We feel the Tokico calipers have a bad reputation which they don’t really deserve ~ So why not try a rebuild? We think you’ll be surprised and marvel at the fact that Kawasaki & Suzuki did know what they were doing when they bolted these brakes to 210kg / 170hp+ machines!
How can we help?
Interested in a brake rebuild for your motorbike then see our brake caliper rebuild services page.
Are your calipers under-performing and looking tired? We offer a brake caliper full refurbishment service. This is the same as the rebuild, but we also media strip & recoat the casings.
You can buy parts to rebuild your own brake calipers in our online store (or give us a call).
Find out why you should choose Brakemastersâ„¢ seals here.
Finally, if you would like to rebuild your own brakes, we’ve written a how to guide.
(We can also Rebuild Brembo Brake Calipers)
