Soft brakes

[Fat Rat]

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?

[greywolf]

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?

[kwackboy]

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 .

[Fat Rat]

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.

[SuzukiSte]

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.

.

[greywolf]

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.

[kwackboy]

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 .

[roganjoshing]

I had a Hornet before my wee and couldn't believe how poor the brakes are in comparison. You get used to braking earlier.

.

[Moo]

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!!

[Brockett]

How old are the lines? Old lines do swell up a bit under pressure.

[joderest]

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.