Front brakes - no feel

[Dsanty]

Hi All,

Now I know people will say upgrade to R1/R6 calipers but I wanted to avoid and keep stock if I could but I can’t seem to get any feel out of the brakes. Also, the master cylinder feels HORRIBLE. Pull it in and it’s notchy and creaky. I thought it would just need bleeding up but after cleaning the calipers and flushing new dot4 through there and bleeding up over 2 days it’s the same.

Has anyone else come across this? I have not changed the pads but it’s the feel at the master cylinder/lever that’s confusing me.

[dicky]

So, I won't say the obvious, but instead ask 'compared to what?'

[Blimp]

It could be anything. Is everything standard? Are the pads moving freely in the calipers? Are the hoses tired and starting to bulge? Does the master cylinder need an overhaul? Bikes getting old now, so any of these are possible. What were they like before? Once had trouble bleeding a brake and it turned out to be a rusty hose clamp restricting the flow of fluid through the hose; once I removed the clamp the brake bled easily.

[Dsanty]

The brakes were like that when I bought it a couple of weeks ago. It’s almost like multi stages to the lever pull, certainly not progressive. Pads have been out, cleaned and put back. Calipers and pistons cleaned (pistons extended to clean and pushed back. Hoses are stock, as is the master cyclinder. If no one has come across it I’ll likely upgrade but was hoping to have gotten away with it.

[dicky]

It’s almost like multi stages to the lever pull, certainly not progressive.

That's not normal.
Wooden is normal.
Get some blue spots, I might even have a spare set somewhere.

[HolerTogni]

Hi Dsanty!

Maybe warped brake discs cause "multi stage" feel?

Guessing greets from Munich!

PS:
If you can rule the discs out I'd also go for blue/sliver/gold spots - or the brembos off a '95 model.

[Blimp]

I believe you would need to replace the reservoir, too (if you upgrade to blue spots) or the brakes will still feel wooden. Warped discs are a possibility, but wouldn't account for difficulty bleeding the system.

[HolerTogni]

Hi Blimp!

Never heard of the necessity to replace the brake fluid reservoir - replacing the master cylinder* is necessary for avoiding an even more wooden feeling.
(* the reservoir is separated from the master cylinder)

Original reservoir with blue spots and R1 master cylinder happily using greets from Munich!

[Dsanty]

Took it to a bike mechanic for an opinion before replacing everything and am embarrassed to say it needed a spray of lube on the lever. . That’s it! Problem solved!

However, front brake discs are at the minimum so will be looking at new pads and discs but the rest seems fine.

[Blimp]

Hi holer. I meant master cylinder. I've no experience of blue spots but remember reading that the standard m/cylinder wouldn't work with them.
Anyway, I've bought some 140 main jets and will drop them in this weekend (saying "drop them in" makes it sound less of the actual arse ache it really is. Going to attempt to do it without taking carbs off completely-ha). Can't see how going down from 140.2 to 140 is going to make any difference, but who knows? If that doesn't work I suppose i should consider the cdi box as the issue. Haven't got one spare, I suppose? Lol.
Regards, Blimp.

[HolerTogni]

... and am embarrassed to say it needed a spray of lube on the lever. . That’s it! Problem solved!
...

Then the more:
Thanks for telling us!

That reminds me of an old German saying of mechanical engineers:
"Schmieren und salben
hilft allenthalben!"

Trying to translate this while also rhyming:
"Greasing and lubrification
always brings salvation"

Poor poet greets from Munich!