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Front brake lever travel Thu Nov 29, 2018 5:50 am
audibob
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Hi All,
I can pull on my front brake lever a bit before the brakes are applied.
I do not mind it on the rear brake, but I prefer less free travel on the front.
What is the normal amount of travel on the front brake lever before it feels firm.
If I use one finger to pull the lever, I get 3mm between the lever and its housing.
Fairly firm pressure gives me a 4mm gap.
My first K100 was the same.
My system has been overhauled with a new master cylinder ( 13mm ) , braided lines, new fluid, new pads etc
and I have bled it several times.
I wander around the local bike shop now and again, and I have noticed some new bikes, even new ones, have
more travel on the brake lever than others.
Questions:
1. My new brake lever have an adjustment screw , If I use it to reduce the lever travel, I could get the brakes to
bind when the fluid cannot get back to the reservoir, so why the adjuster ?
2. Is my set up as it should be, or given the number of times I have bled the system,
could I still have air in it somewhere. I have tried all the usual "tricks "
3. Is there a possibility the ABS pumps are hiding something. I bleed the pump first , then the calipers.
4. Is there a way to force the ABS pumps to operate without riding the bike . I do not fancy a low speed
jaunt across a gravel path to get it to kick in, I recently dropped the bike whilst stationary,
do not want to do it again.
Bob
Thanks for any replies
Bob
I can pull on my front brake lever a bit before the brakes are applied.
I do not mind it on the rear brake, but I prefer less free travel on the front.
What is the normal amount of travel on the front brake lever before it feels firm.
If I use one finger to pull the lever, I get 3mm between the lever and its housing.
Fairly firm pressure gives me a 4mm gap.
My first K100 was the same.
My system has been overhauled with a new master cylinder ( 13mm ) , braided lines, new fluid, new pads etc
and I have bled it several times.
I wander around the local bike shop now and again, and I have noticed some new bikes, even new ones, have
more travel on the brake lever than others.
Questions:
1. My new brake lever have an adjustment screw , If I use it to reduce the lever travel, I could get the brakes to
bind when the fluid cannot get back to the reservoir, so why the adjuster ?
2. Is my set up as it should be, or given the number of times I have bled the system,
could I still have air in it somewhere. I have tried all the usual "tricks "
3. Is there a possibility the ABS pumps are hiding something. I bleed the pump first , then the calipers.
4. Is there a way to force the ABS pumps to operate without riding the bike . I do not fancy a low speed
jaunt across a gravel path to get it to kick in, I recently dropped the bike whilst stationary,
do not want to do it again.
Bob
Thanks for any replies
Bob
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Yamaha 90
Honda CD 175
Honda CB 360
Triumph T 140V Bonneville
Triumph T150 Trident
Honda CB750 F1
Cz 175
Yamaha XS 750
R 100/7
R 80
K100 LT
K100 LT current bike