The more that a person studies motorcycles, the more he or she realizes that all braking systems are not created equal! This segment of Corbin's Ride On takes a look at QTM, suppliers of Brembo brakes for Harley-Davidson type motorcycles. According to the company's website, "Since the early 1960s, Brembo has earned its reputation for excellence on racetracks as well as streets around the world. Brembo is the original equipment supplier to many of the most prestigious vehicle manufacturers in the world including Ferrari, Porsche, Ducati, BMW Motorcycles, Aprilia, and Dodge Viper" ( www.qtmi.com/about_us.htm ). QTM, Inc. was founded by John (an engineer) and Tara (a former Brembo employee) Para as they recognized the need for a better braking system for American cruisers, particularly Harley-Davidsons. Today, QTM, Inc is the exclusive partner of Brembo brakes in North America and its function is to cosmetically refinish their calipers (chrome) as well as to engineer and manufacture all the bracketry and disc centers required to fit Brembo parts on these types of bikes ( www.qtmi.com/about_us.htm ).

Performance is the name of the game at QTM, and according to Tara Para, the difference in stopping performance is huge! Tara says that Brembo brakes can reduce stopping distance from 30% to 45%! On a 0-60 mph stop that could be as much as 30-50 feet! And according to Kevin Para, along with performance comes safety as well. With that reduction in stopping distance, it is easy to see why the two elements go hand in hand. Tara also mentioned that longer pad life can be expected with Brembo brakes and that a rider could expect between 25, 000 and 40,000 miles from the first set of pads! She explained the reason that Brembo is superior to other systems in that there is a floating movement from side to side that allows the disc to run true. Tara also noted that heat dissipation is better with Brembo brakes and that is what leads to longer life and better performance.

Another great feature of Brembo braking systems from QTM is that all the parts are direct bolt-on. In other words, all calipers, brackets, and discs come with everything necessary, and all QTM/Brembo brake systems are compatible with stock master cylinders! So, there you have it. Better performance and longer life, and that means more safety for you. It's a win-win situation! If you would like to know more about Brembo brakes from QTM, you can give them a visit on the web at www.qtmi.com .

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