FJR brakes - not as powerful as I thought...

[zenwhipper]

Folks -

New FJR rider here (08 model). I am a bit surprised the brakes are not as strong as I thought they might be. I remember an article in Motorcycle Consumer News that compared the FJR, ST1300 and C14 and the FJR brakes came out on top. But they seem a bit weak to me. What is the subjective opinions out there regarding the brakes? Is it just a new bike phenom and I need to 'scrub' them in or is this just the way the FJR is.

Kind Thanks

Hope I'm not starting a Friday dogpile or heading to the NEPRT! :drinks:

 

[keithaba]

How much do you trust the dealer that put fluid in your bike?

Maybe they got air in the lines.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Subject of previous lengthy discussions such as:

Clicky

 

[exskibum]

To me, the bike with ABS stops really well, but then, I'm not expecting it to stop like a sport bike that weighs 200lbs less. Any bike you get going fast enough is going to take a while to bring it back down, too. So . . . under what circumstances were you braking that you felt the FJR's brakes performed more poorly than expected?

 

[Ignacio]

Hope I'm not starting a Friday dogpile or heading to the NEPRT! :drinks:

What was your clue? Titling with "not as powerful as I thought" or "subjective"?

It's been about a year, but there was a similar thread about this and think it roughly came out that about 2/3 of the people thought the brakes were great for 600 pound sport-touring machine; 1/3 thought aftermarket stuff like pads, rotors, lines, tires, inflation, and suspension, etc. could make things better; and two or three thought there was a conspiracy to kill riders and that Yamaha executives should be brought before the World Court for crimes against humanity.

Welcome to NEPRT Friday.

(edit) ...ahhh....even less than a year....thanks Checkswrecks.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Maybe they got air in the lines.

Maybe you gots air in yer head Keith

Much as I want to start a dog pile, I think the brake issue is subjective. Given that and your list of past bikes, I'd say the feejer isn't quit on par with those, but, compared to todays cruisers and bikes of yore, the brakes are sufficient.

:jester:

 

[twowheelnut]

Maybe they got air in the lines.

Maybe you gots air in yer head Keith

Much as I want to start a dog pile, I think the brake issue is subjective. Given that and your list of past bikes, I'd say the feejer isn't quit on par with those, but, compared to todays cruisers and bikes of yore, the brakes are sufficient.

:jester:

That mule has been frenchin' you brain through your ear, pal.

I'm with Keith... bleed the brakes if only for ***** and giggles.

 

[Randy]

You're in the pacific NW. Seems to be one of the highest concentrations of FJR riders. Find another one - trade rides - check the brakes on the other one. That will tell you if it's your bike or if that's just what you view as weak brakes.

 

[sonicspeed]

it's also a proven fact that brakes do not work as well in the pacific northwest like they do in the southeast and southwest

 

[wheatonFJR]

or lean more and brake less...

 

[Scythian]

The following list of stupid things is compiled from actual comments posted here:

"I was warming my bike up sitting on the centerstand this morning parked next to a tree. I noticed a high pitch squeal/screech for a fraction of a second when starting the bike.

I shifted 55 times in a minute; then the throttle got too sensitive; the seat was too hard, my grips were too hard the throttle spring was too hard and it started ticking and roasted my left leg so I put the sidestand down to take it off the centerstand. I pulled the front brake lever in until it touched the grip. The front end clunked and I stripped the oil pan while I was gently squeezing my anti-lock brakes like an orange to keep them from locking up when I realized the brakes aren't as powerful as I thought.

When I was lowering it off the centerstand, the sidestand collapsed and it landed on my metal slider which broke my frame causing my Metzeler tire to fail and both sidebags to unlock and fall off. The car swerving into my lane couldn't hear my wimpy horn and there was no grease on my spline. It was wobbling at 48.5 mph and the buzzing was making my hands numb. I couldn't hear anything 'cuz of the static in my intercom.

The glovebox wouldn't open and the suspension was too mushy. My cover wore the paint off the tops of my mirrors. Then I got yelled at by another rider on a group ride

Picking it up, I tore my bicep, wrenched my back, both knees and got monkey butt....

 

[GunMD]

My brakes felt a little soft until I switched to amsoil. By the time I got my first pyramid-scheme paycheck in the mail my braking experience had improved dramatically.

 

[odot]

She pulls back onto Main Street in her new Mercedes Benz

The road goes on forever and the party never ends

 

[donaldb]

Contact Radman and see how much one of his air break conversion kits will cost ya.

 

[Knifemaker]

My god man, how much do you weigh?

When I am riding solo the bike stops like it's on a chain, but riding two up it's a little more stretched out.

Try this...

Get on the bike, find a straight road with no traffic and speed up to 70 mph. Then, pull in the clutch and then as hard as you can , stomp on the rear brake and squeeze the front brake like you are trying to crush it..

If you don't fly off your fully stopped FJR like you got shot from a cannon...you may need to have your brakes checked.............

KM

 

[cadman]

Jump on a '80 XS1100 and grab a fist full of brakes, then see if the FJR brakes are not powerful...i find them to be very good brakes.

Even more so since i replaced the brake lines with Galfer lines...SWEET upgrade!!!

alan

 

[Bustanut joker]

That mule has been frenchin' you brain through your ear, pal.

Hey what happens tween a man and his Mule ain't none of yer concern gerbil boy :****:

Now odot an his sheep? Well I suppose we could go there.

:jester:

 

[user 213]

Folks -
New FJR rider here (08 model). I am a bit surprised the brakes are not as strong as I thought they might be. I remember an article in Motorcycle Consumer News that compared the FJR, ST1300 and C14 and the FJR brakes came out on top. But they seem a bit weak to me. What is the subjective opinions out there regarding the brakes? Is it just a new bike phenom and I need to 'scrub' them in or is this just the way the FJR is.

Kind Thanks

Hope I'm not starting a Friday dogpile or heading to the NEPRT! :drinks:

Too late on that last bit. An attempt at constructive info that has been posted before.

1. If ABS is new to you, the lever will feel softer than you are used to, but the bike will stop just fine. It has to do the the significant increase in brake line length. More rubber lines, more flex in those lines. The ABS valve block adds some to this and a few folks that changed all the lines to braided SS were less than completely satisfied, though there is an improvement in feel.

2. There have been some bikes that had a less than complete bleed from the dealer. It's cheap and easy to bleed your brakes and bonus, you get to choose your fluid.

3. Nearly all new brake systems can benefit from a bedding process. Basic method - get up to about 60, brake firmly to 10, let off and accelerate back to 60, repeat until the brakes get nice and hot, keep riding to allow things to cool w/o warping. DO NOT stop and keep the brake pads clamped on a hot rotor while doing this or it will warp. ( I bedded my brakes on the same ride I did the motoman break in procedure, the first ride.)

4. Hey, it is a 600+ lb bike. It's possible your expectations are squewed a tad from the marketing or magazine stuff. They get paid to write that stuff, so try to make it exciting and add a 'wow' factor. This doesn't mean you're dumb, just that you may have been misled by what you read.

5. If you are aware of all this and have done 2 & 3, and are still not happy, there are some upgrades you can do. However, there will be a trade off in pad dust, pad life and cost. You'll have to decide if those are worth the incremental, (imho), gains. Some also swear by lever changes in making for a better feel, which as others have pointed out, is subjective.

HTH

P.S. PacNorWet is a large area. G'head and just put the state in. That way we know how you're taxed.

 

[Fred W]

Executive Summary:

The brakes are fine. It's your thinking that is not so powerful... :blink:

No need to thank me.