Soft Front Brake Lever

[36terence]

Recently updated to 2012 model with ABS for first time. All good apart from the amount of free travel in front lever. The lever moves approx. 20mm before getting any feel from the brake and is a little disconcerting, especially on wet, muddy country roads where I spend most of my time. Dealer says they are all like that, but I don't recall having same issue on the test ride.
Any thoughts, suggestions...?

 

[Wapping]

Simple thing first... Have you adjusted the span?

 

[36terence]

Simple thing first... Have you adjusted the span?

First thing I did. Mostly because on it's shortest, most comfortable for me, setting I was squashing my 3&4 fingers against the bar as I only use 2 fingers on the brake.

 

[Wapping]

Second simplest thing.

Brand new bike ( or newish) on 12 plate. Pads are new and need to have the shine taken off 'em. Take it out for a decent run bedding them in..... Don't blame me if it doesn't stop

 

[cookie]

go back to the dealer.

 

[36terence]

Just to clarify, bike is brand new few weeks ago and is in dealer today for 1st service with approx 1000 miles on clock.
Don't think it's shiny pads as the brake light comes on at same time as brakes start to bite.
When I spoke to him on phone, he said that they have found nothing wrong, and that all the ones in the shop are the same (easy to check later I guess).
Not much confidence inspired so far!!

In dealer, not you guys!!!

 

[Wapping]

Third simplest, but maybe should have been the first:

go back to the dealer.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

A slight warped or out of line disc could result in long travel on the lever pushing the pistons back a bit more than normal it might be worth checking

 

[Bugbear]

Pull the brake on firmly and cable-tie it overnight. This can sometimes cure the fault you have.

 

[OldCroc]

Pull the brake on firmly and cable-tie it overnight. This can sometimes cure the fault you have.

Interesting. Did you discover this on a ferry trip

 

[Ogmios]

Interesting. Did you discover this on a ferry trip

the pressure bring the bubbles to the top.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Don't think it's shiny pads as the brake light comes on at same time as brakes start to bite.

 

[Pukmeister]

Are the pads equidistant from the disk face ???

Have an assistant slowly operate the brake lever whilst you check the disk for sideways deflection.

My old yamaha front lever was a sod for excess travel if the disk wasn't centred between the pads, as one side would touch first and deflect the disk sideways before the other side eventually touched the disk and generated pressure on it, by which time the travel was almost used up.

The remedy was to use a flat bladed screwdriver between closest pad and disk to keep it still whilst using the brake lever to set the other (furthest) pad into the same position. Once 'centred' equally, the pads then bit immediately any travel was made on the lever.

I hope that makes sense, no easy was to explain it.

The other option could be air in the hydraulics, requiring bleeding.

 

[david a hall]

Wouldnt hurt to bleed it.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Pull the brake on firmly and cable-tie it overnight. This can sometimes cure the fault you have.

+1

That's exactly what the dealer told me to do in 2003 on my non servo 1150GSA as the lever was pulling too far back torward the handlebar after the third or fourth pull on the lever in anycase it wasn't good for confidence!!

I ended up with a new master cylinder and the lever firmed up again!

 

[Bendy toy]

+1

That's exactly what the dealer told me to do in 2003 on my non servo 1150GSA as the lever was pulling too far back torward the handlebar after the third or fourth pull on the lever in anycase it wasn't good for confidence!!

I ended up with a new master cylinder and the lever firmed up again!

Check this out.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93315

 

[david a hall]

Check this out.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93315

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93315&page=2

post 31

 

[36terence]

Pull the brake on firmly and cable-tie it overnight. This can sometimes cure the fault you have.

Tried this - no change
Dealer contacted BMW tech help and they said its normal for the master cylinder on this model. I didn't like that answer very much so they going to speak with customer service to see about changing master cylinder.
Anyone else have '12 model that doesn't have this issue?

 

[Angryjock]

I have a 2012 TB adv and mine is exactly the same. I like a really firm brake and run a brembo rcs set up on my gsxr-two fingers to put it on it's nose.
Tried most things but just getting used to it. I have ridden two other adventures recently, a 2011 and another 2012. Both felt just like mine. :-(

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Anyone else have '12 model that doesn't have this issue?

Yes, I have a 12 model and I don't have this issue, travel at the lever seems reasonable and causes no concern, brake bite and stopping power very good, brakes feel great with no cause for concern.