Four pots or Six pots Callipers?
Are six pot callipers better than 4 piston callipers. Well no actually. The number of pistons in the calliper is just one of the factors that go into producing power. Some of the bike producers like to fit 6 pot callipers in an effort to convince the buyer that they have bigger brakes to help sell the bikes but this is largely just a marketing exercise. If not, then why not have 8 pots or 10 pots or even 12 pots?
The things that go into the mix that makes up braking power and feel are, the size and stroke of the master cylinder, the area and shape of brake pad contact with the disc, the size of the discs, the number and size of pistons in the callipers and one or two other things. Not just the number of pistons. In most cases if you change four pot callipers for 6 pots without fitting a bigger master cylinder you will get lower braking pressure and less braking effect not more.
They exact ‘balance’ of all these parts and their dimensions are determined by the brake system manufacturers but the case certainly seems to be proven in favour of four piston rather than 6 piston callipers. Sixes are heavier, more complicated and use more components making them less reliable. After prolonged and exhaustive testing Brembo do not produce any 6 piston motorcycle callipers for road, off road or racing bikes and have won many thousands of races with the four pot design. In WSB and Moto GP all of Brembo’s front callipers are four piston designs.
Some people prefer the aesthetics of the six piston design because they think they look more ‘butch’ but as for them producing more power, we think not!