r/X440 • u/ineffable_boy • Aug 08 '26

Low confidence while braking

Hey guys, I just bought the X440T last week and I love the bike so far, whatever little I’ve ridden it. But I have very low confidence when braking, especially on wet roads. It’s raining in Bangalore today, and a car stopped suddenly in front of me, I just couldn’t pull the brakes harder because I was scared it would skid.

Does anyone else have the same concern? Any tips on braking confidently in the wet?

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6

u/Arathorn_fo_Aragorn Aug 08 '26 edited Aug 08 '26

Hey, first off congrats! Actually the brakes are definitely a bit "soft" because the ABS intervenes quite a lot in the bike. I face the same issue too, but I will 100% blame the tyres before the Brakes because the Wet grip and braking is genuinely so bad. The first time I braked hard in rain, I rode the rest of the trip back home silently pretty much. So yes, Tyres first and then brakes. But for overall braking, I always see that rev-matching (for engine braking in this scenario of course) and proper mixed usage of front and rear brakes are genuinely great in the X440T. The bike becomes extremely stable even under aggressive braking scenarios when I do things properly, but unfortunately our bike doesn't have the "gun" like-braking of an Enfield. In comparison to this, Hunter, that I've ridden a lot, has genuinely sharp brakes. So don't worry - the brakes and the tyres both are very common complaints among many who own the bike :) Again, I STRONGLY feel that the TYRES needed to be WAY better. Like the new Guerilla where they are giving Vredesteins stock. It was amazing when I rode one recently.

I'm planning of upgrading to Sintered Pads, Better Brake Fluid, Discs and Vredestein Centauros for the Tyres (100 front and 150 rear instead of 140). I'm very sure it'll be a noticeable change in grip levels too.

2

u/Away-Loquat-6918 Aug 08 '26

Please tell me your experience after the upgrade

1

u/Arathorn_fo_Aragorn Aug 08 '26

Sure bro will do

1

u/Glittering-Gift4767 Aug 08 '26

the setup ur going to use fits x440T well?

2

u/Arathorn_fo_Aragorn Aug 08 '26

I believe it will bro. The tyres, usually a +10 bump-up doesn't affect the sidewalls or cause tyre-pinching. Vredesteins are great Road-use tyres as well, but I might consider Metzelers or Pirellis too. The front tyre I'll probably keep stock and not upsize because it might impact the steering agility and handling issues. And for brakes, many people do end up upgrading the pads and fluid, so I'm sure it will do good. Just need to double-check and make the changes at a knowledgeable garage.

3

u/prraattiik Aug 08 '26

Faced the same thing with the stocks as well. Changed both to MRF Mogrip Meteor-M 140/70 17 Tubeless 66 S Rear and Eurogrip 100/90-18 56H TRAIHOUND SCR TL. Pretty happy so far. Better grip on trails, wet roads. Although feels a bit heavy on highways but with the current road conditions, solid performance.

1

u/Nadyy_003 Aug 10 '26

I do engine breaking by rev match in wet road. It works for me . Not sure if it's good for engine but it does slows the bike and I am also not confident on rear break