Bill Lumberg
Merica
Brakes work great from the factory. If they don't work great, and you can't find what to fix to restore them to factory greatness, then they DO need dealer attention.
I'm tired of my crappy FJR brakes. Will Galfer lines help?
- Thread starter fjrmoho
- Start date
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RossKean
Well-known member
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I think it would be a good idea if you can arrange to swap FJR's with another local rider to see if what you are experiencing is normal or not. Braking performance can be somewhat subjective and I think you would benefit from some sort of direct comparison. The EBC HH sintered pads are good - not likely the issue. If the rotors or pads are glazed, it would be a good idea to clean them up with some solvent followed with some sort of abrasive paper (i.e. 100 grit carbide). You had mentioned a fork oil leak at one point but I think that was before you changed pads. Any residual fork oil will, of course, substantially degrade braking performance. If the pads were soaked, it would be a good idea to replace them and thoroughly clean the rotors.
From your description, it sounds like your observed braking performance (or lack thereof) has been an issue since the bike was new. Get a comparison with a known "good" bike and then dive into it. If there are no local owners willing to help, can your dealer do anything? Personally, I doubt that the issue is with the ABS block - typically, failures result in the lack of ABS, not the lack of braking.
Edit: I wouldn't use the solvent on the pads; just the rotors but use the carbide on both to get a clean fresh surface.
You should be able to get a LOT more braking performance from the front than the rear brake!
Are the pads wearing fairly evenly on the front? (inside pads typically wear a bit faster so I swap left-to-right at mid life) The lower right front set wears less (for me) since this piston pair is only activated with rear brake - I use more front than rear. If one side is wearing much faster than the other, it could point to a problem with one of the calipers.
From your description, it sounds like your observed braking performance (or lack thereof) has been an issue since the bike was new. Get a comparison with a known "good" bike and then dive into it. If there are no local owners willing to help, can your dealer do anything? Personally, I doubt that the issue is with the ABS block - typically, failures result in the lack of ABS, not the lack of braking.
Edit: I wouldn't use the solvent on the pads; just the rotors but use the carbide on both to get a clean fresh surface.
You should be able to get a LOT more braking performance from the front than the rear brake!
Are the pads wearing fairly evenly on the front? (inside pads typically wear a bit faster so I swap left-to-right at mid life) The lower right front set wears less (for me) since this piston pair is only activated with rear brake - I use more front than rear. If one side is wearing much faster than the other, it could point to a problem with one of the calipers.
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Intech
Mr. Camping Meet
Nanahanman
Well-known member
Having ridden ST1100.ST1300,BMW1200RT and 1200LT I can sat that the brakes on my '06 FJR are well within the effectiveness I expect from bikes of that weight.
100 or so pounds makes a huge difference!
Once in a while, I test the ABS on a patch of gravel road but have never been in a situation on dry pavement where I activated the ABS.
To the OP...a pad change may be what you need to get the feel you are looking for.
Just keep in mind, more friction= more wear on the rotors=more $$
Let us know what you find that works for you.
100 or so pounds makes a huge difference!
Once in a while, I test the ABS on a patch of gravel road but have never been in a situation on dry pavement where I activated the ABS.
To the OP...a pad change may be what you need to get the feel you are looking for.
Just keep in mind, more friction= more wear on the rotors=more $$
Let us know what you find that works for you.
08FJR4ME
-WYNPRO-
Stability!
Dave
Dave
08FJR4ME
-WYNPRO-
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TomInPA
Well-known member
I gave you a pretty good brake check last year at SEO due to a deer that decided it would try to run across the road just as we cleared the crest of a hill. I believe we all engaged the ABS on that one.
08FJR4ME
-WYNPRO-
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CA G-Man
Well-known member
Just to add my $0.02 here, from your description, FJRmoho, it sounds like your brakes are operating at far below "FJR normal" standards (like maybe 20% performance). I always brake on the front with a light touch of my index and middle fingers and could quite easily do it with one finger (and I'm no He-Man). It sounds like you consider yourself a handy guy and are reluctant to take the bike into a dealer for service - which I understand - but do us all a favour as fellow users of the road and do whatever it takes to get your brakes working properly, whether it's in your garage or in a shop.
If you have to do much more than think about squeezing the brakes to stop the FJR (or engage ABS, as the case may be) there's something wrong.
If you have to do much more than think about squeezing the brakes to stop the FJR (or engage ABS, as the case may be) there's something wrong.
Intech
Mr. Camping Meet
Got that right. Probably would have been a three bike pile without ABS!
wheatonFJR
...
MCRIDER007
Well-known member
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HotRodZilla
GOD BLESS AMERICA
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Chiefblueman
Well-known member
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HotRodZilla
GOD BLESS AMERICA
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