2012 1100 Evo brake problems

[Greg]

Rode the Monster to work today and noticed that the rear brake pretty much going full travel with almost zero effect. Tried pumping it but did not seem to make much difference. Maybe the rear made me a bit paranoid, but the front lever is seemed very spongy on the first pull and alsmost went to handlebar, but would firm up on a repeat pull. Ok so the front seems like air in the system and I should be able to bleed it, but not so sure on the rear, and it concerns that both systems seem to be having a problem at the same time, and no warning lights on the ABS system. Fluid levels are good in front and rear reservoirs.

Anything in particular to watch when I bleed the brakes, or other stuff to check or watch for?

Mileage is only 5,500

[SpikeC]

 I don't know about Ducati ABS, butt the BMW ABS that I had was quite difficult to bleed through the ABS system. Sounds like you have air in the modulator.

[SDRider]

The front and rear brakes are not linked so what is happening at the rear has no effect on the front.  As for the rear brake you need to bleed the system.  I had the same problem on my bike, really soft rear brake, got so bad I couldn't even hold the bike on a moderate incline with it. 

Bleeding the rear brake on this bike is tricky though.  You will need to unbolt the caliper and the guide for the rear brake fluid line and fish the caliper around the front of the rear wheel and through the spokes of the rear wheel and rest it on top of the brake disc and then bleed it normally.  The problem is the bleed valve is on the bottom of the caliper and air will get trapped above the bleed valve so you'll never get it out unless you turn the caliper upside down. 

You really want to bleed the rear brake, the front brake and the clutch once a year on these bikes.  Consider it routine maintenance.

[Howie]

2012?  Warranty.  The bike should go back to the dealer.  If needed, bleed the brakes first, but get the bike looked at and the problem on record at the dealer.  As SDRider the rear brake caliper has to be removed and held so the bleed screw is on top.  Something  about the thickness of the rotor needs to be placed between the pads.

[Greg]

Yes it is a 2012 so it is covered by warranty if necessary.

Last time I bled brakes was a LOOOOONG time ago, and we just used  asmall piece of hose from the bleeder into a jar. Are there any better methods or tools available now?

Thanks for the advice on flipping the rear caliper to assist in bleeding 

[nickshelby500kr]

Mightyvac. Best $40 I've ever spent.

[Greg]

Mightyvac. Best $40 I've ever spent.

Many thanks, will pick one up and tackle this sometime during the week.

[Greg]

Well I picked up a bleeder and did the brakes a couple weeks ago and did get quite a few air bubbles. Brakes were pretty firm, but after a couple more weeks the front is definitely soft again, will try it one more time and see what happens.

[Raux]

do the handle pulled overnight thing

[Greg]

Finally got tired of messing with this thing, brakes still going soft after bleeding them numerous times. Dropped it off at the dealership and will see what they find.

[jerryz]

Mityvac is great but I use a  $2 plastic  200ml medical syringe with a rubber hose and pull the fluid thru until all bubbles gone , bleeding never more than 5 minute job  especially easy for the rear brake and clutch

[Greg]

Took the bike into Ducati and they replaced the rear master cylinder, the front only required bleeding. We'll see if the front lever stays solid though as I've done it numerous times and it always relaxes after a while.

[Greg]

An update:

Front brake started becoming squishy and despite multiple attempts to bleed would never stay firm. Took the bike into Ducati right before expiration of the 2 year warranty (April) and they replaced the front master as well.

Went for a ride this weekend and noticed the front brake getting soft again. First pull on the lever will go all the way to the grips if I squeeze hard, the second pull is pretty firm. Not exactly great in emergency situations when you don't have time to pump the lever!

The good news is that the rear brake is still good, but I'm getting pretty pissed off with all the brake problems on this bike, especially as one of the reasons I bought the damn thing was for the ABS brakes.

Now I have to go back to Ducati and see if they will fix the front brake again under waranty, even though the 2 year warrantly has expired.

Anyone else having brake problems on the Evo's?

[SDRider]

I had the spongy rear brake but bleeding it cured the problem.  Other than that I've had no trouble with the brakes in 15,000 miles of running.

[Greg]

Well I dropped it off at the dealer, we'll see what they say