Weak rear brake.

[Mike Peers]

This is my first GS and I have to say the more I ride it the more I love it. However. In my opinion the rear brake is ridiculously weak. Is anybody else out there noticing something similar?.

I'm not talking about trying to bring the bike to a halt, just applying enough for a bit of slow speed control. I have found that even with the pedal pressed down hard the bike will still roll on an incline or with a gentle push.

I have only done 200 miles so far so it may be that the brakes aren't bedded in properly yet but I have only ever had new bikes and all of them had a rear brake sufficiently poweful to assist in low speed control.

PS the bike has servo and ABS.

Any ideas?.

 

[Wraithwrider]

The rear brake doesn't get any stronger with miles.

Although with the high wear rate from the rear pads it seems that the linked brakes give more welly to the back?

 

[Mike Peers]

So do you agree it's feeble or is it just me relying on it too much all this time?.

 

[Mr K]

Rear brake takes a heavy foot, even for "town duty"...............dunno why....

 

[JJ Crafford]

I also found my rear brake to be too soft and even mentioned it Matt at SLM when I took a 12GS for a test ride way back when they were released. But I have not thought about it for a long time - guess after 5000+miles I got used to them or have adapted to the linked breaks.
Is that an answer? Dunno, but its my experience.

 

[Alphason]

I have found that even with the pedal pressed down hard the bike will still roll on an incline or with a gentle push.

Same here. I'll ask Jefferies at the next service as I've noticed the rear brake is much weaker than my previous BWM (1150R)

Apart from this it's a great machine.

 

[minkyhead]

doesnt seen right to me they are not as keen on the initial bite as my old 1150 but with a fairly hard prod they will activate the abs no problem ...best get them checked i think

 

[GSmonkey]

Its piss poor relative to my previous japbike, however you get used to it and develop a heavy foot then think no more. So rest assured, the brake doesn't get better, but you adapt - bit like the shite switchgear

 

[Marco]

As you know, with a ABS equiped bike, when you use the front brake you are actually braking with the front AND the rear; therefore the rear brake must be only used to stabilize the bike not to brake hard; so at any speed the only way to brake is to use the front brake as hard as possible and if necessary use also the rear brake but keeping in mind that this brake is only there to keep the bike in line;

 

[Mikef]

Never use the rear brake anymore, just got out of the habit since getting the 1200 with its brilliant linked jobbies

 

[Mike Peers]

Took rubber ducky in to Sawbridgeworth for the 600 mile service and asked if they could adjust the rear brake. I dunno what they did but it worked, nice and smooth for slow speed control

 

[Davel]

Can be annoying when stopped on a hill, in traffic, at some lights.

I know that you can use the front brake lever but, for that split second as you release the brake and accelerate away, you just have to be that bit more careful...

 

[birdseye]

Puzzled - my rear brake is perfectly OK and certainly does hold the bike on a slope at the lights etc. In fact the rear brake is a great deal better than the one on my previous VFR or my Pan.

 

[(RIP) Sugar Ray]

The rear brake on my brand new Adventure (with ABS) also seems to be a lot weaker than the rear on my previous, non-ABS Adventure. Mind you, it's only done 200 miles, so the pads won't even be bedded in yet.

Regards,

Charles

 

[nadeem]

same here - I find mine weaker than 650 GS I had and also eats pads like crazy...does hold on hills kind of...it sometimes let go for split second's ...then grips again....

 

[John O'Kane]

I will have the 600 mile service soon and my main gripe is a rear brake which is weak and which pulses occasionally while I am holding the bike on a hill. The bike moves back a little when it pulses - just enough to frighten.

Has anyone else noticed this unexpected pulsing?
JohnO'K

 

[GSmonkey]

I will have the 600 mile service soon and my main gripe is a rear brake which is weak and which pulses occasionally while I am holding the bike on a hill. The bike moves back a little when it pulses - just enough to frighten.

Has anyone else noticed this unexpected pulsing?
JohnO'K

mine does that as well!!!

 

[Engineer]

mine does that as well!!!

I don't have the Servo or ABS on my 05 12GS and the brakes are just great - the rear is a little on the soft side, but this is no bad thing as it gives plenty of control at low speed around town but will lock the wheel if used hard.