getting stiff after a few days...

Does your bike get stiff to move if you've not moved it for a couple of days...and I mean a couple of days?

Just wondering if it's normal or if I have a brake or bearing issue that needs sorting

Originally Posted by shutdown

Does your bike get stiff to move if you've not moved it for a couple of days...and I mean a couple of days?

Just wondering if it's normal or if I have a brake or bearing issue that needs sorting

Look at the brakes. Sounds like they are binding. Service should sort them.

Mine becomes harder to move but only when it's in gear and I'm moving it my just holding the clutch in. If I put it in neutral it moves a lot more freely.

What Scoobs said.

On mine it was the rear brake. I couldn't work out why I was getting all in a sweat when pushing the bike into the garage until I worked that out

Tris

Yup sounds like brake binding, I am suffering from this at the moment. It could be dirt around the pistons not allowing the piston to move back out after braking. I know of a fellow who had constant brake binding and could not source why it was binding. Eventually he took it to the dealers who stripped the calliper, there was crap behind the oil seal on the pistons.

Take the calliper off the disk. (No need to strip it down). Take out the pin and the pads. pump the brake lever so that the pistons move out. Be carefull not to pump them out to far. Stop when you can see the rubber dust seal in the piston. Clean the pistons and push them back in. Fit the pads and the pin, relocate the calliper to the bike and test ride. Don't forget to pump the brake lever before you set off.

This may cure your problem. If not you may find that you will need to strip the callipers and clean the pistons behind the dust seal. If you do this you will first need to get some rubber grease if you have not already got some. Strip them right down and service them. Re fit and your problems should no longer be a problem.

When or if you strip them, check the pistons for signs of wear. Pits and grooves. If excessive, no amount of cleaning will sort your problem out and you will probably need a new piston and seal kit. Approx £50 to £60.

Hope this helps. It certainly helped me.

Oh and to find out which calliper is binding, left, right, rear or a combination. spin the wheels and listen to which one is giving the scraping sound. If you cant tell which calliper at the front it is. Push the calliper in towards the wheel slightly, that will spread the calliper open a little. The spin the wheel, if it sticks and scrapes still you know that the other side is a sticking calliper. Re apply the brakes and do the same operation on the other side. This will tell you if its just one or both. As for the rear, well thats a bit easier, obviously.

SV's fine, though it does happen to me if left sitting around. Left knee joint binding quite badly and has been known to seize after just 30 mins!

Had a good go at it with New Hinge Seals about 14 years ago and it's stood up well until the last few years. Suggestions on possible modern replacements would be gratefully received.

Please bear in mind though I am working to a tight budget - three other bikes to look after y'see!

cheers big ape i think i'll have to take it somewhere to do all that as I really wouldn't know where to begin

i should try to learn but as it's my only bike i'll be better leaving it to experts

Thread title suggest you want to sort yourself out with some Viagra mate, a few days is worrying!