Brakes

momoru · July 31st, 2014, 06:00 AM

So I've noticed my front brakes feeling weaker lately, but only today did I realize I can't really stop the bike in a reasonable time at low speeds with just my front brake, so I'm thinking something is up with it.

Going to order new pads, but I also did change my tires about 500 miles ago, so it's possible I effed something up putting the caliper back on. As someone who hasn't done a lot of brake work in the past, what else should I be looking for, or is this most likely a pad issue?

choneofakind · July 31st, 2014, 07:46 AM

What color is your brake fluid? When's the last time it was bled?

Does the lever feel squishy? If so, can you make the firm lever return after squeezing the lever HARD a couple times?

When you do new pads, get sintered pads. I've had very good luck with Vesrah pads, both at track pace and street pace. They definitely work better once they have some heat in them though. Before installing new pads, be sure to use rubbing alcohol to clean the rotor to get all oils off of it. do not touch it with your bare hands, ever. If you do, clean it again.

The best you're going to do without major mods (larger rotor, different caliper/MC, etc) is going to be SS brake lines, good sintered pads, and a really good brake bleed with DOT5.1. If that's not good enough, just realize that there are limitations to the brakes on a 250. They will stop you just fine without fading issues, but they require some amount of the incredible hulk on the lever.

also try moving the MC as far in towards the triple as possible on the handlbar. This will make you grip the lever closer to the outside, giving you a slightly longer lever. Leverage is key when applying force. You'd be surprised how much more effective it is to squeeze the lever from the end than to try to go hulk on it from the middle.

momoru · July 31st, 2014, 08:23 AM

The lever doesn't really feel squishy I don't think, and there doesn't seem to be any noticeable difference after squeezing a bunch of times. It just feels like it doesn't provide much stopping until all the way in. When it's all the way in, the bike will stay stopped.

The fluid is orange I guess, I see something in the little sight glass over the handle bars. It hasn't been bled since I've owned it. Just bought it ~700 miles ago, so who knows if the pads or fluid has ever been changed.

M42 · July 31st, 2014, 09:41 AM

Fluid needs to be like a light yellow, definitely flush it.

csmith12 · July 31st, 2014, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M42

Fluid needs to be like a light yellow, definitely flush it.

This depends on brand and type. My friend has blue brake fluid and mine is 100% clear. But yea, fresh run of the mill brake fluid has a yellow hue to it and darkens with age.

M42 · July 31st, 2014, 11:16 AM

Whoa! What type is the blue brake fluid? Sounds trippy!

momoru · July 31st, 2014, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

This depends on brand and type. My friend has blue brake fluid and mine is 100% clear. But yea, fresh run of the mill brake fluid has a yellow hue to it and darkens with age.

Ok, well I'm going to do fresh fluid and pads and see if that fixes things!

momoru · August 10th, 2014, 07:26 AM

Just an update, the pads had a ton of life on them, but the fluid was definitely due to be replaced (probably the color of watered down cola). So I replaced that... feels about the same, maybe a bit smoother, so perhaps the original behavior was in my head. Thanks for your help, I had no idea I should be changing brake fluid that often.

July 31st, 2014, 06:00 AM	#1
momoru ninjette.org member Name: Phil Location: Pittsburgh Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250R Posts: 60	Brakes So I've noticed my front brakes feeling weaker lately, but only today did I realize I can't really stop the bike in a reasonable time at low speeds with just my front brake, so I'm thinking something is up with it. Going to order new pads, but I also did change my tires about 500 miles ago, so it's possible I effed something up putting the caliper back on. As someone who hasn't done a lot of brake work in the past, what else should I be looking for, or is this most likely a pad issue?

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July 31st, 2014, 07:46 AM	#2
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	What color is your brake fluid? When's the last time it was bled? Does the lever feel squishy? If so, can you make the firm lever return after squeezing the lever HARD a couple times? When you do new pads, get sintered pads. I've had very good luck with Vesrah pads, both at track pace and street pace. They definitely work better once they have some heat in them though. Before installing new pads, be sure to use rubbing alcohol to clean the rotor to get all oils off of it. do not touch it with your bare hands, ever. If you do, clean it again. The best you're going to do without major mods (larger rotor, different caliper/MC, etc) is going to be SS brake lines, good sintered pads, and a really good brake bleed with DOT5.1. If that's not good enough, just realize that there are limitations to the brakes on a 250. They will stop you just fine without fading issues, but they require some amount of the incredible hulk on the lever. also try moving the MC as far in towards the triple as possible on the handlbar. This will make you grip the lever closer to the outside, giving you a slightly longer lever. Leverage is key when applying force. You'd be surprised how much more effective it is to squeeze the lever from the end than to try to go hulk on it from the middle.

July 31st, 2014, 08:23 AM	#3
momoru ninjette.org member Name: Phil Location: Pittsburgh Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250R Posts: 60	The lever doesn't really feel squishy I don't think, and there doesn't seem to be any noticeable difference after squeezing a bunch of times. It just feels like it doesn't provide much stopping until all the way in. When it's all the way in, the bike will stay stopped. The fluid is orange I guess, I see something in the little sight glass over the handle bars. It hasn't been bled since I've owned it. Just bought it ~700 miles ago, so who knows if the pads or fluid has ever been changed.

July 31st, 2014, 09:41 AM	#4
M42 Wrench wench Name: The Stigette Location: DC/MD/VA Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): TWO HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT CUBIC CENTIMETERS (R.I.P.), SIX HUNDRED FORTY FIVE CUBIC CENTIMETERS Posts: 415	Fluid needs to be like a light yellow, definitely flush it.

July 31st, 2014, 11:16 AM	#6
M42 Wrench wench Name: The Stigette Location: DC/MD/VA Join Date: Jun 2014 Motorcycle(s): TWO HUNDRED FORTY EIGHT CUBIC CENTIMETERS (R.I.P.), SIX HUNDRED FORTY FIVE CUBIC CENTIMETERS Posts: 415	Whoa! What type is the blue brake fluid? Sounds trippy!

August 10th, 2014, 07:26 AM	#8
momoru ninjette.org member Name: Phil Location: Pittsburgh Join Date: May 2014 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250R Posts: 60	Just an update, the pads had a ton of life on them, but the fluid was definitely due to be replaced (probably the color of watered down cola). So I replaced that... feels about the same, maybe a bit smoother, so perhaps the original behavior was in my head. Thanks for your help, I had no idea I should be changing brake fluid that often.