DP M-8 Clutch Kit and 410 Stainless Rotors
2023 saw British sintered brakes pioneer DP Brakes celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the business as a spin-off from Dunlop Aviation , a subsidiary of Dunlop Tires . In the early 1980s , the legendary ( then ) British tire company started to divest a number of the ' adjacent ' businesses that the Dunlop brand had embraced at various stages in its storied 20th century history . Those brand diversifications stretched from tennis rackets and golf balls to the application of the sintered braking and friction management technology that Dunlop had developed for aircraft brakes - specifically for the Concorde . The application of that sintered brake pad technology in the then fast changing motorcycle industry resulted in Dunlopad - the brand and product line that Dunlop sold in the 1980s . This was the era of the emergence of Japanese superbikes and a street performance riding culture that was quickly beginning to think that there must be better ways of controlling speed and cornering than the historically " approximate " technology that had characterized motorcycle braking technology up to that point . Specifically , if sintered brakes could stop Concorde in the wet , then it should be able to do better on motorcycles than conventional organics . That is where Phil Ayliff Products came into the market . Ayliff and his trusty band of ex-Dunlop fellow travelers bought the Dunlopad brand . Continued product development saw Dunlopad established as the first motorcycle brake pad brand to successfully harness the stopping power of sintered friction material into a safe , reliable , stable and durable motorcycle brake pad . The name was changed to DP Brakes , and it has remained the only motorcycle brake pad range to be entirely focused on sintered pad technology ever since . DP Brakes remains a true pioneer . The new name was chosen in order to link the new generation of products to the origins of sintered material development at Dunlop in the UK , and friction management and stopping power have remained the core competency ever since . The British head office and factory is now under third generation family ( and original employee and fellow ex-Dunlop man Frank Edwards ) ownership , with founder Phil Ayliff ' s son Trevor taking over from his father in the 1990s and now , in turn , grandson Graham having taken over running the UK operation from his father . The North American operation was started by ex-
Left to right : Trevor Ayliff , Graham Ayliff , Larry Mills
Dunlop Tire North America man Tony Mills and , in turn , that too is now headed-up by his son Larry , operating the Williamsville , New York , DP Brakes
This new clutch kit for M-8 applications ( DPHK607 ) is made using an exclusive , asbestos-free , high-heat friction material that contains a state-of-the-art blend of carbon and aramid fibers . It gives fade-free performance , achieving higher performance and greater durability than the original equipment plates .
North America . To come right up to date , that 40-year-old sintered compound DNA and friction management core competency is captured in these DP clutch friction plates . The tech may be 40 or more years old , but there is nothing out-of-date about the advanced and exclusive high-heat friction material used . Containing a blend of carbon and aramid fibers , they give fade-free performance , achieving higher performance and greater durability than the original equipment plates that they replace - without using asbestos . They comply with all the latest regulations and come ready to install - there is no need to soak in oil - and are designed " to ensure ultra smooth power delivery " with friction compounds to suit all Harleys . The DP steel plates " are precision-made to exacting tolerances , from the finest quality steel , and heattreated for maximum life and to provide an unrivaled smooth progressive clutch action . DP clutch kits are designed to eliminate fade and slip and allow all the available horsepower that the engine makes to get to the rear wheel . " The clutch springs are precision-wound using the finest chrome silicon wire and heat-treated and shotpeened for maximum life . Each spring set is individually designed to provide no slippage - without the need for super strong spring rates , ensuring they are easy to operate with great lever feel ." Also seen here , DP ' s USA made brake rotors ( DP1907F ) are direct OEM replacements and deliver " improved performance , feel and stopping power - a perfect combination for use with our marketleading DP sintered brake pads for maximum stopping power performance and precise , reliable feel and feedback ." Manufactured from high quality 410 stainless steel , they are 100 % laser-cut for precise fitment and compatible with all brake compounds and aftermarket calipers . They are high-quality Blanchard ground ( rotary surface ground ) for precise flatness of down to 0.001 " - Blanchard grinding is also popular for the characterful , attractive ' engineering-cred '
surface finish it produces . The rotors fit new seven spoke mount ' 20- ' 22 FLHR and ' 20- ' 24 FLHTK / FLTRK . Here is another couple of DP Brakes factoids for you . The company was the first to use a ceramic heat shield on motorcycle pads - to reduce heat flow to the caliper . Having been the first to produce pads that really could stop 800 lbs Big Twins before the end of time ,
Brake rotor DP1907F , fits new seven spoke mount ' 20- ' 22 FLHR and ' 20- ' 24 FLHTK / FLTRK .
the company was also the first to produce a genuine a noise and dust-free compound for heavyweights . All DP brake and clutch components are distributed exclusively through Drag Specialties throughout North America and are available through Parts Europe .
DP BRAKES Nuneaton , UK Williamsville , NY , USA info @ dp-brakes . com www . dp-brakes . com
48 AFTERMARKET MOTO DESIGN - JANUARY 2024 www . AMDmag . com