Longterm Test: 2010 Kawasaki ER-6n

My biggest complaint about the ER-6n has been the lack of braking power. The stock brakes are unresponsive and need a great deal of effort to stop even under normal riding conditions.

I started the upgrades by swapping the stock rubber lines for a set of steel braided lines from HEL. The HELs are available in a rainbow of colors and fittings, and to flow with the red accents that are already on the bike I chose red lines and banjo bolts. The stock brake lines run one line into the caliper, then cross over to the left side. HEL runs two separate lines down to each caliper. Keep in mind when replacing lines they shouldn't be too long or they can get tangled in the wheel-a potentially dangerous situation. Take your time and double check the routing.

Next on the list was a set of more aggressive brake pads from Galfer. The pad swap couldn't have been easier and took about five minutes to complete. Even before the pads were bedded in I could immediately feel a huge improvement. After about 50 miles, the pads had fully seated and I was in business. With pads and lines installed, the ER stops like a proper sportbike. Why I didn't change these sooner is beyond me.

For the last little bit of fashion mixed with function, a set of red Pazzo brake and clutch levers were mounted. Not only did they finish off the red accents, but they also gave me more adjustability. Pazzo also makes red preload adjusters so I went ahead and added a little extra billet.

Next month, it's back to the cosmetics. I'm attacking the front of the bike to try to make it less insect-esque. I think when I change the mirrors and headlight it'll take on a more aggressive street stance. We'll see...

Coming next month:
Front end cosmetics