Hey all,
today I took my bike out for a spin, as it hasn't been ridden for a while. While I was backing out of the garage, I could feel that the brakes were dragging. Enough that I had to make a bit of effort to push the bike.
I then rode off, and every time I wasn't the gas, the front compressed and the bike slowed itself down. This confirmed my suspicions.
So I left the bike to cool and took a look at the front pads. The pad on the left makes visible contact with the rotor at the top, and I can't tell if the right one does the same.

I'm not sure if its maybe wheel alignment, bad fluid, bad pads or maybe I just need to reseat the pads and calliper.
If someone could give me an idea of where I should start, that would be excellent. Below is an illustration of the rotor and left most pad, from a frontal view. If I'm missing any more info, just let me know.
Thanks.

Besides the obvious (compress pistons, check slide pins, etc) try looking at where the top of the pads meets the steel shim/spring/anti-rattle tingee on the underside of the caliper.  The shim kind of just clips into the caliper and the tabs on the top of the pads press against it.  If it shim gets bent or knocked out of place the tabs on the pad can slip past it and it'll make the pads sit crooked.  

It's probably not your problem but it did happin to me once on installation of new pads.  

I just tried that. I took apart the entire front calliper assembly, cleaned the parts with brake cleaner, and reseated everything. Neither of my pads have shims, are all older models like this?
I didn't get a chance to ride it yet, but I just rolled it around a bit, and you can hear the front brakes veeeeeeeery lightly dragging. The bike is easy to move now though, unlike before.
Is this small amount of dragging normal?

Thanks.

Quote from: spaceboy on July 08, 2009, 05:04:13 PM
Is this small amount of dragging normal?

Yes, it is normal. The pads will normally drag slightly.

As I recall, NASCARs used to have drum brakes well after disk brakes were standard equipment due to them not dragging while the wheel is turning and causing friction.

Quote from: spaceboy on July 08, 2009, 05:04:13 PM
I just tried that. I took apart the entire front calliper assembly, cleaned the parts with brake cleaner, and reseated everything. Neither of my pads have shims, are all older models like this?

Thanks.

Sounds like you fixed it.  NICE.  Anyway if it matters a 96 to present caliper has 2 shims.  One is on the back of the pad on the piston side.  The other is the big thing shaped like a fat x that goes above the pads and clips into the caliper.  

If it's pre 96 there still is one shim above the pads, but that's it.

On a different note I'm on my 3rd sets of pads, burned up 1 and a half rotors (it's not dead yet, just blue and orange and yellow), seized one caliper and messed up one master cylinder...and that's just since april... so consider yourself lucky.    These brakes don't like track days!!!

Are you sure they're dragging? Try this...find a long stretch of open road where you can ride for a minute or two without touching the brakes. Ride and at the end slow down but ONLY with your engine and rear brake. If your front rotor is hot you've got a problem. Otherwise, it sounds like you're describing normal operation of disk brake when pushing the bike around and also the engine braking slowing you down (compressing the front is a result of slowing down, not necessarily visa versa)

Forgot to mention - brakes will drag more if your bike sits for a while, they release after riding for just a little bit. Also, if you can move the bike around they're probably not dragging too much

Alright, the brakes are fixed, but it seems that wasn't the initial problem.
I went out for a ride this morning, to test the brakes and warm up the chain before I lubed it.
The same problem arose as before. If I'm not on the throttle, the bike's nose will dive down and I can feel the bike braking. Hard.
Now, its not the brakes, but something else. I got to the top of a small hill, got rolling, and pulled the clutch in. I could coast all day, the brakes we're not dragging one bit.
Whenever I'm in gear, and not accelerating, the braking is hard. It must be engine braking, but its really strong, and I can't find a throttle position that will let me coast. Could it be that the engine is not warm enough? Maybe the sprocket arrangement? I'm really not sure what the problem could be anymore. I can't really ride it in the city, because its kind of uncomfortable. Or maybe this is just how strong the engine braking is on this bike. I wouldn't know, its my first.
Thanks guys.

Specs:
94 GS500E, 48 000 KM
Synthetic oil
-1 on drive sprocket, stock rear
New plugs, cleaned carbs
I start it without the choke and set off after a minute or so

Back in the day when I first started riding I used to have a similar problem.

When you say "I can't find a throttle position that will let me coast" and say it's your first bike it makes me bet you're riding along in 1st or 2nd with the RPMs too high.  If you are doing that, you're going to find alot more engine braking than you'd expect.

If you're up there in the revs and chop the throttle the bike is going to slow with authority.  Hell, if you are cruising along near redline and chop the throttle in 1st gear you can cause the back tire to chatter and skid pretty easily on any bike.  If you're using the correct gear and rpm for the conditions you'll find alot less engine braking.  

If you're doing that, save the high RPM stuff for when you need the power.

If you're not constantly cruising around with the revs too high in too low of a gear, then forget everything I've said...

Haha, you`re right.
I was shifting too high. I shifted below 4k and now its a lot more manageable.
Well, at least the dragging brakes were fixed.

Thanks