Brakes

Hi everyone

On the way home from Matlock on Bank Hol Mon I nearly ditched it as i came into a resonably sharp right hander on a down hill section, i grabbed what i thought to be a fist and foot full of brakes and the bike didn't seem to slow that much.

I ended up standing it up mid corner and really grabbin some brakes and kept pushin off the grass bankin on my my left with my foot. Double

After this i tested the brakes a few times and found for the fist say... 1/4 of the travel of the front lever nothin much seems to happen just a ttthhhhhh noise, after that it seams to stand on its nose.

Bearing in mind i was 2 up @ the time wi our lass on the back I count myself lucky we are ok n i didn't drop it. But i need to know if this is pilot error or if i may needs new pads or my brakes servicin for our safety.

Cheers Guys

Sorry its a bit text heavy here's a pic of silly man on sv to make up for it, i don't think he has problems with his brakes

[dizzyblonde]

your silly man has a huge dent in his downpipe though

Its easy enough to take caliper off to look at your pads, you won't break them. It won't harm to have the system overhauled. IIRC you've not had the bike long, so its service history could be a bit hazy?

thhhhhh noise? Air in there??

[Bibio]

was it raining???

Originally Posted by Bibio

was it raining???

yep but not chuckin it down.

[Bibio]

ttthhhh noise is nothing to worry about its just disc noise, you should hear my brothers duke..lol

when you are usually out and about how hard do you normally brake?? are you an early braker or late braker or usually use engine braking?

could be that your pads have hardened up.. and you encountered brake fade..

how have the brakes been today?

today they've sempt better.

i tend to use engine braking, brak into the corner the come off and turn. don't know if that's right.

I've had to teach myself to use the brakes as coming from my 125 the engine braking on that was so vicious i barley nedded the brakes.

[Bibio]

sounds like your pads/discs have glazed and hardened up.. try lightly sanding both sides of both discs to remove top glaze.. but if the pads have hardened up you will have to replace them...

Well I found out the other day when I got caught in a torrential downpour, that after 4 weeks of sunshine, brakes don't like working all of a sudden!

If it's wet I massage my brakes every so often just to keep them up to temperature and to make sure no water gets in-between pad and disk when I need them most. Overshot a junction once (didn't come off thankfully no harm done) and ever since I make sure...

I'd recommend a brake overhaul. Not too hard and would be a good thing to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon. Get some brake cleaner, a new set of HH Sintered pads (will cost about £50 for the front (2 sets), some new fluid and some braided lines!

Change the pads first. While you're there, take the calipers off and give them a good clean with your wire brush. Check the seals while you're in there. Put some copper grease on the BACKS of the new pads and stick them back in. Change the lines and bleed the system.

Viola~!, awesome brakes.

[Dave20046]

I had a peak at your pads custard and they had a bit of meat on them IIRC, not metal on metal or anything and your brake lever felt good.

Overhaul might be a good idea though seeing as I got the impression that bike hadn't had a good service in a while. Check ebay for the HH pads I got mine for £35 all in all or if not nissin pads are about £30.
If you want to go the whole length and do the lines then you can (By coincidence I have some waiting to be sent back to HEL right now but they would fit your bike).

If I was yu I'd take the calipers off give everything a clean, check the movement and possibly change the pads then see where you are.

[Viney]

Originally Posted by Jamiebridges123

Well I found out the other day when I got caught in a torrential downpour, that after 4 weeks of sunshine, brakes don't like working all of a sudden!

If it's wet I massage my brakes every so often just to keep them up to temperature and to make sure no water gets in-between pad and disk when I need them most. Overshot a junction once (didn't come off thankfully no harm done) and ever since I make sure...

I'd recommend a brake overhaul. Not too hard and would be a good thing to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon. Get some brake cleaner, a new set of HH Sintered pads (will cost about £50 for the front (2 sets), some new fluid and some braided lines!

Change the pads first. While you're there, take the calipers off and give them a good clean with your wire brush. Check the seals while you're in there. Put some copper grease on the BACKS of the new pads and stick them back in. Change the lines and bleed the system.

Viola~!, awesome brakes.

Where on earth are you buing your pads from!! £18 a set maximum. I use carbone lorriane pads form Hein gericke.