Rear brake lever excessive travel

[CollingsBob]

I have what seems to be excessive travel of the rear brake lever on my '17 ES before the brakes start to apply. The bike is essentially new, I bought it with 3000km on it, it now has 11058km's....so I don't think it was improperly bled before I acquired it.

Should I start with bleeding the rear brake?

 

[wfooshee]

Bleeding is the first step, and the rear system includes the lower right front piston. We've heard many stories of people bleeding the rear brake forever and accomplishing nothing. You have to bleed the one front piston, too; same brake circuit.

Continuing... is this a new symptom. Does it happen stone cold or only after riding for a while. If the latter, it may be that the pedal is not fully releasing, which wil keep a small amount of pressure on the rear brake, eventually heating it up and boiling the fluid. The brake pedal and the shifter should be cleaned and de-gunked every year or so.

 

[philter]

My 07 has always been like this. It also had almost no braking power to the rear wheel. I fixed that

by putting EBC HH sintered brake pads on it. Let us know if the bleeding helps.

 

[RossKean]

Yup. Bleeding brakes is the first step. As wfooshee mentions, bleed the right front lower piston pair first (using the rear brake pedal) and then do the rear caliper. Make sure the rear reservoir is filled - you don't want to fill the system with air!! Your bike is new so I wouldn't worry about completely flushing the circuit. (Otherwise, i would suggest using a syringe to empty the reservoir and refill with fresh fluid before starting the process) You might have to push 100 mL of fluid through in order to get all the bubbles. If the pedal is still spongy, try hanging a weight on the pedal overnight to keep the system pressurized - sometimes allows bubbles to work their way out.

 

[rbentnail]

Cycling the ABS with the test connector prior to bleeding the brakes may help.

 

[FJRPittsburgh]

Rear brake pedal pivot was cleaned and lubed with lithium grease. Brake pedal down and up is smooth and free as can be. I've been experiencing a mushy brake pedal for some time due to some air in the brake line. Bled the front lower bleed port and then the rear. Hung a 25 lb dumbbell on the pedal overnight. Really nice firm rear brake pedal now. I don't use the rear brake all that much, but it bothered me that the travel was so long. The rear braking was poor to say the least. It's terrific now and I'm a happy camper.

 

[Heen]

I second rbentnail's comment on cycling the ABS. If you can not get the jumper from your local Yamaha dealer, PM me and I will send you picture on the jumper.

 

[CollingsBob]

I second rbentnail's comment on cycling the ABS. If you can not get the from your local Yamaha dealer, PM me and I will send you picture on the jumper.

Thanks!... i just picked up the Yamaha ABS jumper at Saltire Motorcycles in Edinburgh, Scotland..

https://www.saltiremotorcycles.com

 

[FJRPittsburgh]

Thanks!... i just picked up the Yamaha ABS jumper at Saltire Motorcycles in Edinburgh, Scotland..

https://www.saltiremotorcycles.com

Well that should be convenient for me since it's in another country and across an ocean.

 

[CollingsBob]

I could have picked up one for you when I was there...

 

[CollingsBob]

I could have picked up one for you when I was there...

They will gladly sell you one & mail it to you...