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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: poormanracing on July 30, 2005, 04:20:40 PM

Title: front brake lever play
Post by: poormanracing on July 30, 2005, 04:20:40 PM
wondering when yours "bite"?

.im kinda concerned about mine...like it bites after (approx) 3/4th pull..but it doesnt touch the throttle on full pull..and it works fine...i flushed and replaced the brake fluid 1k ago with no problem (ie no bubbles i think) and the level are topped off

i dunno if its just paranoia  :roll: ..

i ve search and read about bubbles in the system, low fluids, black bits in the master cyclinder...none i think applies to me

maybe ss lines are applicable but i dont know
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: mjm on July 30, 2005, 06:59:23 PM
The stock brake lever is adjustable for when the brakes "bite" .  Set it at a distance comfortable for your size hand.  If that leaves it getting too close to the grip (thus pinching the two or three fingers you have on the throttle) set it further out and/or go to braided lines which flex less.
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: Libido on July 23, 2006, 04:58:18 PM
Apparently '04 front brake lever is NOT adjustable.  Did Suzuki eliminate that option when adding the fairing?
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: Alphamazing on July 23, 2006, 10:36:29 PM
Quote from: Libido on July 23, 2006, 04:58:18 PM
Apparently '04 front brake lever is NOT adjustable.  Did Suzuki eliminate that option when adding the fairing?

They were never adjustable from the factory. Those are aftermarket levers. Fairly nice quality too.
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: Kerry on July 24, 2006, 02:35:51 AM
Ya gotta be careful about words like "always" and "never".  :icon_rolleyes:

Here is the stock brake lever from my '99 ...

(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/100_0601_FrontBrakeLeverAdjuster.jpg)


... and here is the parts fiche diagram that goes with it:

http://images.powersportsnetwork.com/fiche/images/Suzuki/1997/Motorcycles/2104_39.gif
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: deathlucky on July 24, 2006, 03:47:48 AM
yer man there gone i have a 2006 model and i can work out how to adjust it
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: lachie on July 24, 2006, 03:50:46 AM
i had that problem.... turned out the front brake line had a tight bend in the hose - check to see if it's relatively straight and sharp bends or kinks an it won't work properly... :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: deathlucky on July 24, 2006, 03:52:48 AM
i was wondering y is was so much harder to get up on the front wheel so how do u get them out

no wait there is 1 of them ajusters its under the rubber crap lol

no wait thats for the cluch
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on July 24, 2006, 05:08:04 AM
It's hard to get the GS up on one wheel because it's a weak single disc front brake. Wann do stoppies? Get a different front end.
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: Libido on July 24, 2006, 06:20:10 AM
Where can I get an aftermarket adjustable front brake lever for '04?  Thanks for the help.
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: Alphamazing on July 24, 2006, 09:28:37 AM
Quote from: Kerry on July 24, 2006, 02:35:51 AM
Ya gotta be careful about words like "always" and "never".  :icon_rolleyes:

Here is the stock brake lever from my '99 ...

Ah man! Beat again!  :laugh: :laugh:

I figured that since my '92 didn't come with one and nor did my '04, then it's probable that they never came with out.

Shot down!  :laugh:
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: CirclesCenter on July 24, 2006, 11:38:16 AM
Sorry Alph, but mine is sporting an adjustable brake lever too!
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: scratch on July 24, 2006, 12:40:03 PM
Quote from: poormanracing on July 30, 2005, 04:20:40 PM
wondering when yours "bite"?
Mine is getting kinda mushy after two years; time to change the brake fluid.

I just changed the fluid on Ktiger's '05, and his lever only moves a little bit before the brakes bite; nice.
Quote from: poormanracing on July 30, 2005, 04:20:40 PM
I'm kinda concerned about mine...like it bites after (approx) 3/4th pull, but it doesn't touch the throttle on full pull, and it works fine...I flushed and replaced the brake fluid 1k ago with no problem (ie no bubbles i think) and the level is topped off.
Did you 'pump-up' the brake after the bleed?  After 1k it should have definitely 'pumped-up', so I suspect an air bubble.
Quote from: poormanracing on July 30, 2005, 04:20:40 PM
I've searched and read about bubbles in the system, low fluids, black bits in the master cyclinder...none I think applies to me.
Did you break the seal on the master cylinder banjo bolt and bleed the potentially trapped air in there, as Srinath would suggest?
Quote from: poormanracing on July 30, 2005, 04:20:40 PM
Maybe ss lines are applicable but I don't know.
Not if your brakes were working fine earlier.
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: GeeP on July 24, 2006, 01:08:01 PM
Another adjustable lever here, looks just like Kerry's. :icon_mrgreen:

Poor, it certainly sounds like you have an air bubble somewhere.  You might try removing the brake caliper and orienting the banjo fitting straight up before bleeding.  Warning:  Place a shim made from something uncrushable and roughly the thickness of the brake disc between the brake pads BEFORE squeezing the lever!  Otherwise you'll be rebuilding your master cylinder when you pop the pistons out.   :icon_mrgreen:

Bleed both banjo fittings and see what happens.  The top cylinder on the brake caliper can collect air which cannot be bled out with the caliper as positioned on the bike.
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: ducati_nolan on July 24, 2006, 01:25:28 PM
After you're done bleeding your brakes and eliminating that as a possibility, you could probally swap on an adjustable lever, since some had adjustables (my '99 dose) and some didn't I bet they would interchange. I got a braided brake line for $12 because it was from an opened package for a ninja and one line was missing, if you look arround you can find some deals, just take measurements and ask at your shop if there are any ods and ends laying arround.
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: NiceGuysFinishLast on July 24, 2006, 05:12:10 PM
The brake lever on my '02 is adjustable, like Kerry's, but with seven settings instead of four. I guess I'm about 1.75 times as cool as Kerry is! (But about .000000175% as smart) :laugh:
Title: Re: front brake lever play
Post by: RVertigo on July 24, 2006, 06:40:46 PM
Quote from: NiceGuysFinishLast on July 24, 2006, 05:12:10 PM
The brake lever on my '02 is adjustable, like Kerry's, but with seven settings instead of four. I guess I'm about 1.75 times as cool as Kerry is! (But about .000000175% as smart) :laugh:
Crazy...  My '01 has 6 settings...

I guess they killed the feature 'cause they couldn't make up their minds on how many settings it should have. :cookoo: