New Member-Hi!

Hello Everyone,

I have been browsing this site for the past few days and finally made the decision to sign up! I am 19 years old and have been riding motorcycles for the past several years. I had numerous dirt bikes during my younger years and then bought a Ninja 250 when I turned 16, which I rode for 6 months and then bought a 2005 GSX-R 600. Unfortunately, that bike had to be sold (I put 10,000 miles on it) when I left for school and upon returning home I bought a 2003 Blue SV 650S one week ago. The v twin is a total blast to ride and very different from my previous GSX-R.

Yesterday while riding and coming to a quick stop at a red light (lady in front stopped very fast) I was applying relatively strong pressure on the front brake lever and heard a slight thunk come from the front region. Upon accelerating and then stopping again at the next light the front brake felt different. After I heard the noise at the light the brakes seem to "grab" about 1/4 of the way through the front lever. I suppose the best comparison to the feeling is similiar to the ABS system activating in a modern car...except I don't believe the 2003 SV's have ABS installed. Sorry for the vague description. I bought the bike from a dealership and was told that everything was thoroughly checked. Maybe I am just imagining the change in braking, but since they are a crucial component I wanted to post the problem.

I was just curious if there were any known issues with the SV's brakes or if there is something I might be able to do in order to diagnose any problems with the front brakes/suspension?

Thank you and I look forward to spending lot's of time on this site!

-AT

If you bought this bike a week ago then take it right back to the Dealership and calmly explain that this bike is defective on the brakes , and is a deathtrap and that they "checked it over thoroughly" , this normally means somebody was munching a biscuit/cookie whilst pulling and prodding at things and stating "yep it`s good enough to sell" . Thoroughly checked over usually means they cast an eye over it , kicked some tyres , looked for anything obvious like a shonky head bearing and then passed it off as ok and moved on to the next bike . Welcome to the site by the way

+1 for taking it back

oh, and hello and welcome

Originally Posted by crzylanesplit

Hello Everyone,

I have been browsing this site for the past few days and finally made the decision to sign up! I am 19 years old and have been riding motorcycles for the past several years. I had numerous dirt bikes during my younger years and then bought a Ninja 250 when I turned 16, which I rode for 6 months and then bought a 2005 GSX-R 600. Unfortunately, that bike had to be sold (I put 10,000 miles on it) when I left for school and upon returning home I bought a 2003 Blue SV 650S one week ago. The v twin is a total blast to ride and very different from my previous GSX-R.


-AT

Hi mate and welcome.I take it ur not in England,otherwise you were a bad boy riding a 250 at 16.Oh and also a 600.

hi and welcome...good choice of bike, as said previous id go str8 back to the dealer and have them sort it.....

how old are you? i may be completely wrong but i thought the 250 ninja was a new bike (like a few months ago?)...or maybe that was just in this country i dont know!!....

[jambo]

I'd guess he's from the US. The American's have continued to sell the old GPX250/GPZ250 (I forget which) as the Ninja 250. Don't laugh too hard, it has more power than the current UK Ninja 250, and much of the running gear is the same.

First off check the bolts holding the brake calipers are on securely and you can't see anything obviously wrong. You're quite right to be worried, but it'd be a bit daft to go over the handle bars on the way to the dealers to complain wouldn't it?

Call them, preferably get them to pick it up if possible as you have the right to feel unsafe riding it until this issue is solved.

Jambo

Hi again,

Thank you for the informative responses. To answer some questions:

1) I am 19 years old.

2) I live in California.

--I went outside to check the calipers and there seems to be a little bit of movement on the calipers (both sides) when i push/pull on them. The movement is very slight maybe 1 cm or less. I don't know if that is normal but later today I will pull out the tools and make sure all the bolts are tight.

Is it normal for the calipers to be able to move a little bit?>

Thanks

Are the disks straight and true and what condition are the pads ? Is there any sideplay in the calipers or do they rock back and forth in line with the Disk , put the front brakes on and rock the bike back and forth , see if a friend can spot any excessive movement there .

[dizzyblonde]

the calipers do have a very slight amount of movement on them, if you waggle em over the disc, but nothing on the fork leg. Welcome aboard

Thanks again for all the responses. I went outside to check calipers-they move very slightly 'side to side' and do not move at all 'back and forth' along the discs. The bolts all seem to be tight and adjusted.

Also, on the left side there is a small screw in between the two big main bolts that hold the calipers in place. I do not have this screw on the right side, nor is there a place where it would fit. Doesn't seem like it would be causing the problem, but nevertheless was wondering if everyone had the same setup?

Thanks