Better front brake

Viney, you're quite right that the SV's brakes are enough for it's needs. It's that I've rode other bikes more powerful than the SV and their brakes felt that you didn't need to have that much travel to have the same braking. I like that. It's better for my riding as I sometimes have to keep the brake lever covered due to our road layouts and traffic in Malta. It gives better piece of mind. True that you have to be more careful when you have more responsive brakes. I just prefer that feel. However, I don't have the same requirements when riding abroad where the roads are longer and better.

From what i've heard, fitting a radial brake master cylinder will improve the feel, but dont quote me

Goodridge S/S braided hoses, EBC HH sintered pads, caliper rebuild and new fluid = Vastly improved brakes for under £100. Matris fork internals mean you can actually use them without winding up skating down the road too.

Originally Posted by Viney

The only other thing is cable tie the lever to the bar over night. This should remove the final bits of air from the system.

I dont understand how that works to be honest... I mean where can the air go? It cant go past the master cylinder to the reservoir. Only thing I can think it does is compress the air so the bubbles are smaller. Doing that is a short term fix and the problem will come back.

Please correct me if im wrong though!! But Id guess getting the bleeding right is the only real way.

As to master cylinder it may help that you can put more pressure on the pads but if the pads dont grip the disc's well then it wont help.

First thing imo is better pads!!! EBC HH pads I think are great. I love mine. So start there. If you have them aleady then erm... Doh.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I dont understand how that works to be honest... I mean where can the air go? It cant go past the master cylinder to the reservoir. Only thing I can think it does is compress the air so the bubbles are smaller. Doing that is a short term fix and the problem will come back.

I think the idea is it puts the fluid under pressure, making it more likely that the air bubbles will rise to the top. Then when the lever is released, they go into the reservoir as normal.

This is complete guesswork on my part btw.

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I dont understand how that works to be honest... I mean where can the air go? It cant go past the master cylinder to the reservoir. Only thing I can think it does is compress the air so the bubbles are smaller. Doing that is a short term fix and the problem will come back.

Tying the lever over night does make the bubbles smaller due to the increased pressure in the system. The smaller bubbles move easier through the brake system and float up until there are behind the master cylinder piston. You're right they can't go anywhere.

The important part that people omit is that when you cut the cable tie you release the lever very slowly (so you don't disturb the bubbles) and then don't touch it for about 15-20mins.

During this time the bubbles that are now at the top of the brake system and make their way into the reservior through the open master cylinder.

If done properly this will release the air from the system permanently.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I dont understand how that works to be honest... I mean where can the air go? It cant go past the master cylinder to the reservoir. Only thing I can think it does is compress the air so the bubbles are smaller. Doing that is a short term fix and the problem will come back

Well I don't understand it either but it does work! The problem does not return. I dunno if it encourages the air to collect in the m/c or compresses all the little bubbles into less bigger bubbles that can move more freely... but I do know if you watch the reservoir when you release the cable tie you will see a few bubbles come out.

I reckon it's voodoo!

Ah right, cheers all, I might give it a test as my lever can come back to the bar when its been left standing for a little while, seems to get more firm after a little use, weather that is the air being broken up or more oil being pushed into the system with the pumping I cant say...

Ill let you know if it helps... not that you'll care I guess.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

Does sound plausable... but still not great. Best think would be to fit a vibrating apliance to the lines surly?

I think they recommend giving the calipers/lines a good tap as well.

I go with voodoo

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

Ah right, cheers all, I might give it a test as my lever can come back to the bar when its been left standing for a little while, seems to get more firm after a little use, weather that is the air being broken up or more oil being pushed into the system with the pumping I cant say...

Ill let you know if it helps... not that you'll care I guess.

If there is air in the system breaking it up will not increase brake performance. If you have 1 big bubble or 100 tiny bubbles it will have the same effect.

I would guess that your seals are pulling the pistons back into the bores more than they should. Stripping down the calipers and fitting new seals should help.