How is everyone? I've been in self-imposed exile for quite a while.
Anyways...
I pulled the ole girl out of storage for the first time in cough*overayear*cough and got everything back up and ready to go....except I have no rear brakes. Lever goes straight to the floor, no feeling what so ever. Pads are pretty rough...not much left, but they aren't bare. Everything looks good, fluid is the right color (not black or dark brown) and there is plenty of it. My first though is a stuck valve inside the brake cyclinder, but I'm not sure
any help would be greatly appreciated.
She's a 2003 620 BTW. I had given up on riding...can't go much longer than 10-15 minutes before my wrist are pounding and my hands went numb. I've missed it though, so the cover is off and the oil is about to be changed. Might try some motocross bars or something to get any weight off my hands. I'm still working on that part of it though. Sucks being 27 and having carpal tunnel like I'm 80. [cheeky]
Flush and bleed the brakes, front and rear.
If the bleeder on the rear caliper is at the bottom, remove the caliper and flip it so the bleeder is up.
Remember to put something about 1/4" thick between the pads so the pistons don't push out.
2006 Sport 1000 and I run into the same issue periodically.
Flush and bleed and it's good to go for a while (6 months to a year.)
Starts getting squishy?
Lather, rinse, repeat.
look into monster city bars for a better riding position with little or no weight on your wrists
If surgery is out of the question, try and fit some apehangers. [cheeky] just kidding. I know your pain I get about 1hour before the pain and numbness. I have tried new bars and they have made a difference. Still not great. I would really like to try the Multi for a coulpe of weeks. Maybe that will have to be my next ride.
(http://bicycles2go.mybigcommerce.com/product_images/w/917/Hero-F_Purple_(500_x_375)__67629_zoom.jpg)
and the bonus is just pedal backwards and you have rear brakes [thumbsup]
Quote from: Raux on December 03, 2011, 07:55:42 AM
(http://bicycles2go.mybigcommerce.com/product_images/w/917/Hero-F_Purple_(500_x_375)__67629_zoom.jpg)
and the bonus is just pedal backwards and you have rear brakes [thumbsup]
PROBLEM SOLVED! ;D
Quote from: scduc on December 03, 2011, 07:52:27 AM
If surgery is out of the question, try and fit some apehangers. [cheeky] just kidding. I know your pain I get about 1hour before the pain and numbness. I have tried new bars and they have made a difference. Still not great. I would really like to try the Multi for a coulpe of weeks. Maybe that will have to be my next ride.
I was seriously considering a new bike. A multi or possibly the ole' hypertard. I almost boughta KLR 650 this summer just to cruise around on. I'm convinced that the dirtbike seating position might make it better, but I've heard a thumper will do the same things to your hands because of the vibrations.
I'm thinking I might do a bar swap to something a little more motocross like...possibly a set from a hyper, or a multi. Thats the plan for now.
Oh...didn't have time this weekend to do the brake bleed...I'm going to try to get to it this week sometime [bang]
Wait... You mean to tell me my Ducati has a rear brake??!!!
;D
[bacon]
Quote from: The Bacon Junkie on December 05, 2011, 06:34:57 PM
Wait... You mean to tell me my Ducati has a rear brake??!!!
;D
[bacon]
Yep!
You can use it to do awesome powerslides, just like when you were a kid on your BMX bike. Other than that, I'm not sure it has any other uses...
[Dolph] ;D
Quote from: Le Pirate on December 06, 2011, 06:43:56 AM
Yep!
You can use it to do awesome powerslides, just like when you were a kid on your BMX bike. Other than that, I'm not sure it has any other uses...
[Dolph] ;D
It certainly won't stop the bike. ;)
Quote from: Le Pirate on December 06, 2011, 06:43:56 AM
Yep!
You can use it to do awesome powerslides, just like when you were a kid on your BMX bike. Other than that, I'm not sure it has any other uses...
[Dolph] ;D
I thought that's what the throttle was for... [evil]
;D
[bacon]
Quote from: The Bacon Junkie on December 06, 2011, 07:00:44 AM
I thought that's what the throttle was for... [evil]
;D
[bacon]
Okay, so this is way off topic for the tech section...
BUT...True story:
Sunday afternoon, I was walking out of my local giant retail hillbilly hangout (wal-mart) and in front of me where two moderately attractive early 20's girls. This dude on a GSXR with a pink windscreen is rolling up out of one of the rows of cars, looks over at the girls in front of me, and gooses the throttle a couple of times to show how manly he is. He sits and waits for the mid 90's corolla carrying an elderly couple to pass, and then pulls into the main lane that passes infront of the doors. As he's making the turn out he HAMMERS the throttle and the bike slides right out from under him and up onto the sidewalk right in front of us (me, a chubby kid, an old man, and the two hotties). The girls scream and jump back to about where I'm standing...as me and the old guy are laughing like crazy [laugh]
I don't think anyone was impressed :P
BTW--nothing was hurt besides his pride, and his GXSR with pink windscreen
Isn't there a thread about taking the read brake off cause people think its useless?
Quote from: Skyshadow on March 08, 2012, 12:57:15 PM
Isn't there a thread about taking the read brake off cause people think its useless?
If there is one, it must be in a Harley forum... [laugh]
No way, first off Harleys use WAY more back brake then we do and I could of swore there was one started by Cupcake or someone. I just cant find it.
Quote from: The Bacon Junkie on December 05, 2011, 06:34:57 PM
Wait... You mean to tell me my Ducati has a rear brake??!!!
;D
[bacon]
Same here with my Aprilia - I swear Brembo had loads of scrap calipers kicking about they wanted rid of....
I think some people use the rear brake when doing a wheelie if you go a bit near or past the balance point - but I know that Harley gets a lot maybe most of their stopping power from the rear brake.
ANYTHING our rear brake can do, proper throttle control can also do! [thumbsup] I have yet to hear a reason to not take mine off. lol Think of the weight i would save. I believe I will do some stop tests next weekend to see the differences between A)front brake only, B)front and rear and C)front and down shifting. Just a simple distance test for 60-0.
I have talked to my buddy who races a Aprilla 250cc two stroke about it. He said he uses his rear brake when apexing out of a hard turn to stabilize the rear end while still on the throttle. But said he doesn't see a major use for it in street riding.
Depending on where you live, there's safety inspections that you won't pass without a rear brake.
So you won't get your tags....
Usually it's a requirement of a state Vehicle Code that a motorcycle has a rear brake.
So you could get a fix-it ticket.
Rear brake is very effective for holding a bike stopped on a hill.
If you *really* don't want your rear brake, box it up and send it to me, I'll pay shipping. ;)
Haa, Thanks Speeddog.. so very helpful of you!
Quote from: Raux on December 03, 2011, 07:55:42 AM
(http://bicycles2go.mybigcommerce.com/product_images/w/917/Hero-F_Purple_(500_x_375)__67629_zoom.jpg)
and the bonus is just pedal backwards and you have rear brakes [thumbsup]
HEY, HEY, HEY!!
I had one of those (as a kid)
Mmick
Since this thread has been all over the place and I (sincerely) believe I have something to add:
The early 2000 Aprilias were notorious for having a flacid rear brake: the solution, no shit, was to hang a weight off the rear brake lever overnight and - presto - good brake pressure in the morning. I didn't believe it so I had to try it myself and it actually worked when bleeding wouldn't. You don't have to believe me (it is kind of like a UFO story) but it has continued to work whenever I have the urge to have a functioning rear brake. word
As a MSF instructor, I've noticed the Harley (cruiser) riders in general don't like to use the front brake like a sport bike rider will. I have to coach many to trust that 70% of the stopping power on the tt125s they're riding is in the front.
Rear brakes come in handy when you find yourself no longer on the road and the grass/sand/gravel adds pucker to front brake application.
yawn.
Quote from: DTR on March 10, 2012, 06:01:28 AM
Since this thread has been all over the place and I (sincerely) believe I have something to add:
The early 2000 Aprilias were notorious for having a flacid rear brake: the solution, no shit, was to hang a weight off the rear brake lever overnight and - presto - good brake pressure in the morning. I didn't believe it so I had to try it myself and it actually worked when bleeding wouldn't. You don't have to believe me (it is kind of like a UFO story) but it has continued to work whenever I have the urge to have a functioning rear brake. word
As a MSF instructor, I've noticed the Harley (cruiser) riders in general don't like to use the front brake like a sport bike rider will. I have to coach many to trust that 70% of the stopping power on the tt125s they're riding is in the front.
Rear brakes come in handy when you find yourself no longer on the road and the grass/sand/gravel adds pucker to front brake application.
yawn.
Yep, same concept as tying the front brake lever to the grip overnight. In the applied position trapped air can escape through the open port.
Quote from: DTR on March 10, 2012, 06:01:28 AM
Rear brakes come in handy when you find yourself no longer on the road and the grass/sand/gravel adds pucker to front brake application.
Totally forgot about this fact... +1 for keeping the brake.