Would you ride your bike without the front brakes?

[anthony_r6]

Trying to bleed my brakes did not go to plan. After giving the Calipers a clean and replacing the seals/pistons I can't seem to get the brakes to firm up. I've admitted defeat on this and I'm just going to take it to a mechanic. At the moment they don't work at all, but the back brake is fine (just replaced the damaged pedal.)

Anyway, the garage said they could pick it up when I spoke to them earlier this week, but neglected to tell me they couldn't do so at the weekend. I'm struggling to get someone here for when they can pick it up during work hours, and they close quite soon after I'm home from work.

So, I'm contemplating just riding up on it, but concerned that the back brake might not be enough in terms of stopping power. Have any of you guys ever ridding your bike without it's front brakes, or is it just asking for trouble?

Cheers.

Anthony
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[J.M.]

How far is the garage?

Back brake should be sufficient if you keep it slow, right?
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[R4GE]

Personally, I wouldn't risk it. You never know when you might need it. it'll be just your luck and then you'll be in hospital or worse.

[Shaane]

You should be okay as said mate unless your garage is 50 miles away
I'd ride it anyway but just be careful.
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EMRA Roadstock #92 - Paperwork Permitted.
Previous: 1992 DT125R
Current: ~ 2005 ZX6R C1H

[T0MMY]

Very dodgy as your stopping distances would be huge but I would do it if it wasn't that far. You can just be bloody careful and rely on the fact that you probably won't need to do an emergency stop for any reason...but you could be unlucky...

Doesn't sound like it would be that hard to get the brake working though...I take it the fluid isn't just leaking out? How are you filling it? pouring it in from the top or pumping it from the bottom?
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[CaNsA]

Take it off the paddock stand and bleed them while the bike is on the sidestand.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not sure I would risk it. Depending on the bike the stopping distance might be hideous (some cruisers it will have far less effect on).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[anthony_r6]

The fluid is coming through the pipes just fine, it's pushing out the bleed nipple as I think it should. The bubbles aren't huge (although once in a while there might be a larger one.) But I was at it for ages last week and I'm not getting anywhere.

The only thing I can think I'm doing wrong is releasing the bleed nipple. As I turn it, it loosens a little (I'm assuming this happens because the bolt is attached as one unit to the thread/nipple,) could this be letting air in through the bleed nipples threaded part?

If that makes sense???

Also, it's not too far, mostly main roads and traffic lights.

EDIT : Bleeding from the cylinder. Tried reverse, but the syringe I was using just shot it out the hose when I tried to push it through.
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[bombom]

mite sound silly but what way are you trying to bleed it, maybe someone could suggest an alternative way.

i once had trouble bleeding a brake , tried ages and nothing was happening until i decided to try it with engine running and it worked straight away,
other than that theres the other ways like

5 pumps , release pressure, 5 pumps, release pressure (repeat)

or

with nipple open keep pumping and then tighten nipple when your happy and try that (altho this has worked on car for me, has never seemed to work on a bike for me)

or

lastic band around lever with cap off? for a couple of hours ( heard this on but never actualy tried it)
then try bleeding

good luck
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Current: 97 zx6r f3
Previous: suzuki gsf400 bandit

[Derivative]

What is the deal wrt being pulled without a front brake?

Seems like if there's no issue with legality, you could just ride there at 10mph. Unless the garage is 50 miles as someone has said, you'll get there.

I pushed my bike back 5 miles from an off once, knackering but doable (very flat around here though).

[bombom]

you sure your not releaseing the lever before tightening up the nipple?
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Current: 97 zx6r f3
Previous: suzuki gsf400 bandit

[anthony_r6]

[T0MMY]

I take it you're tightening the bleed nipple before releasing the brake lever? You might also find air trapped in the banjo fittings so you can bleed them by loosening them whilst pulling the lever.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[anthony_r6]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Would just be treated as driving with faulty brakes (CU10 offence code).

With regard to bleeding the brakes, it requires VERY little air in the system to make them spongy. Also air tends to rise so tends to sit around the top banjo bolt.

Put the bike on the side stand, and then adjust the m/c position and the angle of the bars so that the banjo bolt points slightly upwards. Idea is that any air will head into the master cylinder itself. Then with the cap off the reservoir pull the lever a tiny amount and release, and repeat. Not enough to operate the brake, just enough to move the piston in the master cylinder a couple of mms tops.

If bleeding normally, pull the lever hard and crack off the bleed nipple a bit so fluid comes out (slowly), and re tighten before releasing the lever (or better, before the lever reaches the end of its travel). This way the pressure is there the whole time to stop air getting pulled in.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[T0MMY]

[.Chris.]

I'd probably risk it, just ride accordingly.

If you pump the lever several times in quick succession (with the nipple closed), does it firm up (and stay firm)?

If so, there is a method you can try - pump it until as firm as possible, pull the lever back with as much force as you can manage, then tie the lever as tightly as you can to the handlebar with some strong rope. Leave it overnight like this. In the morning, untie the rope and gently release the lever, making sure you keep an eye on the fluid level. Overnight the pressure in the system should have forced the air bubbles to the top. I successfully used this method with my old CD250U, as the bleed nipple was stuck fast and I didn't want to risk shearing it off.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Rob W]

I rode the Gixxer with no front brake for 2 days, although my commute to work was only 2.7 miles.


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TS50 > Senda 125 > ZXR400 > CB-1 > GSX-R1000 > Bandit 600 > ZXR750 H1 > GSX-R750 SRAD > '98 RR-W Fireblade > T595 Daytona > Hornet 900 > '04 Fireblade > GSX-S1000F (x2) > '23 XSR900

[T0MMY]

I really think you should be able to sort this for yourself, if the fluids not leaking out then it will be possible to get the brake working at least a bit and avoid a risky ride and a garage bill.

Whereabouts are you? If you're near me I would give you a hand. Failing that just search on here for brake bleeding threads...every trick will have been mentioned at some point no doubt.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[anthony_r6]

The advice from you guys inspired me to give it another go. I got both sides to the point that no bubbles were seen in the fluid and tightened 'em up.

The left one seemed to leak fluid from the nipple thread when I undid it. This was at the exact point that fluid came through the hose, so I wasn't loosening it much. Either way, got 'em to that point then gave up.

Jumped on the bike to start her up - it's been over 4weeks since it's been ridden, just to check there was no problems there. Ran the bike a little, rocked it back and fourth, pulling on the brake. Slowly but surely the brake started to bite and now it's stopping the wheel from moving.

I think I may have cracked it? I will give it a test ride tomorrow and see how it gets on. Anything I have to be aware off after bleeding brakes? Like can they just go back to spongey/inoperative at any time?

One more thing. The bike was smoking from the exhaust (smoking gun style) and a little from the radiator, is this normal after it's been sitting for a month?

Really appreciate the help guys, wasn't looking forward to riding without the front brakes, and a broken foot operating the back Karma all-round
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Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[MarJay]

I'll keep this short and sweet, but hopefully what I say will carry some weight because it is the only course of action I would consider...:

Don't ride the bike. Keep bleeding the brakes.

Brakes take AAAGES to bleed. Bear in mind that there are various places where air pockets can hide, such as in double banjo bolts just next to the master cylinder, in the master cylinder itself and in the tops of brake calipers.

Keep bleeding.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[yambabe]

[Kwaks]

Deliberately set out with no brakes? Not a chance.

Drop off keys at garage who can drive to my house and pick up bike meaning no risk to life and limb and no points (cops always gonna pull a bike ridden at 10mph and a stopping distance of an articulated lorry).Hell yeah


Added benefit to option 2 is anyone stealing bike is gonna get a big shock
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Fallen Angel "Nae sniffing my seat now!!!!! "
www.cliqueycuntsmcc.co.uk
I AM NOT A FAST RIDER!!!!!!!!!

[1cyl]

Glad i only have the one disc up front. 2 sounds like a right faff.

I'd have ridden it to the garage providing not much over 20miles with just engine braking and rear brake, no rain, otherwise i'd van it.

If you think you've fixed/improved it now you can ride it to the garage for confirmation/rectification .

If it was me = i'd probably consider just goin easy for 100miles and if all seemed okay = adopt usual old bad habits .
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Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[Fizzer Thou]

I fitted a front brake lever that was a pattern part and the only way to test its effectiveness was to road test the bike.I got only a short distance away from home before the front brake started to lock on,so I pulled in to the side of the road and removed the dodgy offending item.Stupidly I had not thought that there would be a problem and so had not taken along the original lever,so I ended up having to ride the bike back without one in place.It was the most unerving thing that I have ever done on a bike.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'