stiff brakes

[scarborough_lad]

Hi, I have a 2010 Honda cbf 125. The problem is that the front brake lever is very stiff, no more than half an inch of play which makes it rather scary and dangerous to brake without locking on wet roads. I jet washed the bike yesterday, tried not to get too close to the bike and since then its been like I described. I haven't a clue what it could be, water in the brake fluid?
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'96 Suzuki GS500

[Matt-]

You won't have water in the brake fluid as its a sealed system.
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RIP jack (wheelie king), you will never be forgotten.
Current Bike's - Road Legal TZR 125 Pitbike, Aprilia SR50R 2010

[scarborough_lad]

So what could it be?
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'96 Suzuki GS500

[abc123321]

Have you tried bleeding them ?

Might do with a new brake seal kit
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You get what you give in life.

[Scotsman37]

It may have had some air bubble in it to begin with except it's now reached the top where the reservior is located, and therefore it works as it should now without feeling spungy/slightly soft. A new learning adjustment if that is the case?

[scarborough_lad]

I've had it almost a year, would it take that long. a couple of instructors have ridden it and didn't comment and it always stopped fine. I thought I should bleed them but wondered about any other possibles.
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'96 Suzuki GS500

[Matt-]

[scarborough_lad]

It is still in warranty, but the nearest dealer is 50 miles away, not great with these possibly malfunctioning brakes. I might just take it to a garage and spend some money on a pro.
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'96 Suzuki GS500

[Matt-]

Keep your distance, ride safe and ride with awareness you will be fine riding it for 50 mile's.

Yeah a professional Mechanic would be good, just take it their and see what they say...

Good Luck

Matt
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RIP jack (wheelie king), you will never be forgotten.
Current Bike's - Road Legal TZR 125 Pitbike, Aprilia SR50R 2010

[scarborough_lad]

I've also noticed a pulsing as I brake, its strong enough that I bob back and forth. That is leading me to think about pads...
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'96 Suzuki GS500

[ruck bodgers2]

put your bike on the stand and try to get your reservoir horizontal so you wont spill any fluid and make a mess .

now take the cap off after finding a bit that fits the screws correctly as they are easy to round off

now slowly pump the lever 20 or 30 times . hold the lever in a minute and give it another pump .

put your reservoir cap back on and test it out

might help might not . nothing to loose give it a go
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throw it up the wall

[scarborough_lad]

Cheers I'll give that a go.
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'96 Suzuki GS500

[Vincent]

[ruck bodgers2]

[cb1rocket]

you probably warped the brake disc when jet washing while it was hot, hence the pulsing. By all means get the brakes sorted at your dealer, parts won't be cheap if you need them

[flumpy7]

[scarborough_lad]

The disc can't have been hot when I washed it. I rode 100 yards and used them twice to get to the garage.
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'96 Suzuki GS500

[andym]

personally I'd just get used to it... maybe try the odd stoppie

If the problem only started since you jet washed it, is it possible you washed some crap down between the pads and disk?

Can't hurt to get the caliper off and have a quick look (or both front calipers off).

You haven't just replaced the brake pads have you lol

[ruck bodgers2]

new pads would be sharper for sure . but pulsing ?> bent spindle ? .maybe one of your bearings are knackered on the front . the only other type of pulse related breaking i can think of at the moment would be loose steering . wich would make your bars vibrate and sort of feel like pulsing as you slow down but not to the extreme it would make you rock back n forth like your a mexican in a low rider with the hydraulics on ,so iys probably safe to rule that out
id first suspect a warped disc also like the guy said before .

did u make sure everything on the brake was tight. it may be that simple
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throw it up the wall

[Nick 50]

If you are feeling pulsing through the lever, then they likely cause is a warped brake disc. Are they OEM ones? Or has someone stuck cheap chinese tat on (wavey discs)??
The Chinese ones are made from inferior quality metal and will warp due to the heat/cooling cycles.

If it's warped, get a new OEM one. The front brake system is probably the most critical part of the bike keeping you safe, don't skimp on it.

OEM Disc (Number 11):
https://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_motorcycle_parts_selection_pfk.php?block_01=17KWF901&block_02=F__1000&block_03=143

As for the rock hard lever. Take caliper off, strip it (i.e get the piston out) and give it a good clean, don't forget to check the state of the piston seals.
Once cleaned, stick new brake fluid in and bleed the brakes properly. Leaving air in the system will have a squidgy brakes as air compresses 40 times more than oil does.

After that brakes should be sorted.
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[Matt-]

Scrap the brake calliper seals its not them.


A brake calliper piston seal is not going to tear just because its had high pressure water thrown at it, even though its hot water it's still going to be fine, what happens when you brake?
Pads get hot, which will then cause the calliper pistons to be hot, if that doesn't damage the seal I highly doubt a jet wash will either.

I take a gamble on you getting shit down into the calliper when you washed it, basically a stone or something has lodged itself between the pad and the disk causing a stuff brake has piston wont be able to move out the calliper fully.

Hope this helps.
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RIP jack (wheelie king), you will never be forgotten.
Current Bike's - Road Legal TZR 125 Pitbike, Aprilia SR50R 2010

[Ichy]

[J.M.]

With the pulsing lever, a warped disk is the first thing that came to my mind too. Try what Marki has said!

Here's what mine looked like under examination before I replaced it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7WlJYhdo6o

Also with stiff brakes, a cause of this for me was actually the brake lever itself (front). I took it off and cleaned it up, a bit of WD40 in there and assembled it again and it hasn't given me a problem since. Maybe some lube on the pivot if you have any.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[janner_10]

As Jordan said, I would first check the operation of the lever first, quickest and simplest check to start with and worth eliminating
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[Ichy]

As Janner said do what Jordan said which is what Marki said in the post above his.



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