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Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
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Soft brakes
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Topic: Soft brakes (Read 2928 times)
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Fat Rat
Administrator
Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 17542
Bloke/Geezer/Fella
Bike: DL650A L6, K8 DL1000 & Tenere 700
Location: Carmarthenshire, West Wales
Soft brakes
«
on:
July 03, 2016, 23:44:46 »
The front brakes (non ABS) on my K9 DL650 are soft they stop the bike but there is more travel in the lever than I'd expect.
I have bled them with a Mitivac and I have left the lever cable tied overnight but no change. How much travel should I expect?
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greywolf
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5262
Location: Evanston IL USA
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #1 on:
July 04, 2016, 00:12:43 »
The lever can get pretty close to the grip. If you can touch it to the grip, flush your brake fluid with new stuff. When you tied the lever back overnight, did you leave the bars at full left lock to make sure the master cylinder valving was the highest point in the system?
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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s
kwackboy
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6937
Bike: BMW F800GS Adventure, Honda SH300i squirt and go...!!
Location: Londonistan
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #2 on:
July 04, 2016, 09:13:58 »
I had the same with my Vee, did everything. Changed seals, brake lines, piston kit in the master cylinder, Nothing worked.
I put it down the the tokiko calipers , I see the same issues on a lot of bikes that use those caliper type.
In the end I junked the hole lot and got fireblade calipers and mastercylinder , problem solved .
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Fat Rat
Administrator
Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 17542
Bloke/Geezer/Fella
Bike: DL650A L6, K8 DL1000 & Tenere 700
Location: Carmarthenshire, West Wales
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #3 on:
July 04, 2016, 10:25:50 »
Thanks,
Yes Pat, bars at full lock when lever tied, the lever doesn't touch the bars under normal use but I reckon I could force it.
I have flushed the system twice and no change.
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SuzukiSte
Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 2321
Location: UK
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #4 on:
July 04, 2016, 11:08:08 »
Same happened on my when I took the mudguard off in the end I bled it from the master cylinder banjo bolt worked at treat all the air was in the piston in the master cylinder.
.
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greywolf
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5262
Location: Evanston IL USA
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #5 on:
July 04, 2016, 13:40:23 »
You can try cracking the master cylinder banjo bolt open for a bit with a rag around the junction and the area underneath covered. It's likely there is a little air trapped in that area. Clean the area afterward as brake fluid can do nasty things to paint and plastic.
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Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s
kwackboy
Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6937
Bike: BMW F800GS Adventure, Honda SH300i squirt and go...!!
Location: Londonistan
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #6 on:
July 04, 2016, 15:35:06 »
I'm sure you would have done this but if not You could check that the calipers are moving freely on their mounts, often the bottom mount seizes up which is caused by corrosion building up between the caliper and the rubber seal, this can cause free play in the lever .
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roganjoshing
Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 239
Loving my first Vee Twin
Bike: DL650 L0
Location: Frome
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #7 on:
July 04, 2016, 17:46:45 »
I had a Hornet before my wee and couldn't believe how poor the brakes are in comparison. You get used to braking earlier.
.
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Moo
Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 275
Location: Northamptonshire
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #8 on:
July 04, 2016, 18:27:15 »
Mine are exactly the same. Really soft feeling, I did wonder if braided hoses would help mine, but for the abs they're expensive. Don't think I'll bother if others said it doesn't help.
I may go the route of using other calipers in the future. On my previous bike, an XJ900 Diversion I fitted Yamaha blue spots, which absolutely transformed the bike!!
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Brockett
Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 8710
Bike: 2022 Moto Guzzi 850 V7 special in blue, 2022 850 V7 Stone in darkest black, 1998 XJ600n in red. 2021 Royal Enfield 500 Classic stealth.
Location: Tendring in the Far North East (of Essex)
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #9 on:
July 04, 2016, 19:42:42 »
How old are the lines? Old lines do swell up a bit under pressure.
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This doesn't last forever, so do it while you can.
joderest
Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 577
Our other Strom, Daughters pony
Bike: DL650 K6
Location: East Sussex
Re: Soft brakes
«
Reply #10 on:
July 04, 2016, 20:51:54 »
Just to add, I have just installed braided lines on front of Wee, bled twice, lever held back over night, to me they feel soft, have fitted EBC pads as well, however, it does really pull up well, but it does feel soft.
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Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050
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V-Strom specific discussion
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V-Strom specific discussion
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Soft brakes