Front brake leaver travel

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Soldato
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Sorry to spam the forum with posts but I noticed today after riding a couple of bikes back to back that whilst my brakes grab, the front lever needs to be almost back to the bar at heavy braking, and it feels as though the first half of travel has no effect.

Had a 4k service today told pads were ok, it's been like it for the year or so I've had it I think (mostly) but may have been getting worse. Crone about 1000 miles this year and never bled them or anything.

It's a 2008 Fireblade.

Thanks in advance
 
Doesn't sound right to me, it should be solid by at least half way

My varadero was soft all the way but never to the bars, the disk was knackered and it had new pads and fluid but the caliper was just at the end of it's usefull travel and just felt spongy
 
I can't really comment as I have never had rubber lines. But would have thought something is deffo not right. Do a total fluid change with new DOT 4 fluid. Bleed the brakes, take the top off the front brake res and leave it over night, continue bleeding and see how it goes from there.

ags

p.s. Best result I have for bleeding is doing the top res nipple first. Then the bottom nipples. Each time, pump the lever 5 times and on the 5th, hold in, undo nipple, tighten back up. Repeat this at least 5 times on each nipple.
 
That sounds crap for a 2008 blade! as said I would bleed the system, or before doing that, get an elastic band/cable tie and leave the lever pully in over night.

Does the 08 blade have a lever position adjustement clicker thingy.. I think it does looking at the stock images, I think number 1 is best for feel..
 
Well on my way to get tires fitted I played with the adjuster - 6 settings 1-6, was on 4. Set it 2 and now it's perfect! That was sinpless!
 
Fireskull said:
4! no wonder it had bugger all travel :p
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There should be adequate travel to lock the brakes on any lever setting - it would be pretty pointless (and dangerous) to provide settings that meant the lever hit the bar before you could reach maximum braking effort. I suspect the OP needs to either bleed his brakes or free off a stuck calliper - changing the adjustment to get extra travel at the lever isn't fixing the underlying problem.
 
well, maybe i over exagerrated a wee bit when i said back to the bar, but there was too much travel for me. When you pulled them that far they stopped a-ok, just i wasnt happy with the travel. Doing this has meant full brake is applied after ~1 inch of travel now, which is how i prefer it
 
Just noticed this post and felt theres no need to start another. Mines does something random. One day I will go out and it feels like it is going further back than usual next time its fine. then will randomly do it again. Never had any loss of fluid or braking. Any ideas

Master cylinder rebuilt. Braided lines and caliper rebuilt. just for info
 
Dogbreath said:
Check front wheel bearings, any movement here will cause pad "knock off" and result in increased movement.
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Good thinking! didnt think of that!

I know you proably already have but check the disk for warping it might just be that you notice it more times than others?

You said everything been rebuilt.. I take it youve done that since the brakes have been funny and its made no difference? pads? some grease on the sliding pin, maybe the pads are sticking..
 
When i first got the bike there was a number of issues. I rebuilt the master cylinder and it would work for a day then come back and had no pressure in the lever could pull it and did nothing. So rebuilt calipers. again same happened. So then put braided lines on it and everythings been hunky dory. Its probably just me. its just when you initialy get on the bike. But when I think about it I have only ridden the bike once in about a month and that was 6 mins to work so probably all in my head. No issues when they are on. by god they stop you lol
 
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