[pathy]

Hi, have just lately got myself a 10 month 2002 r1150rt. Being out of bikes for a number of years, it is good to be back on them. Love the bike, but am having trouble comming to gripes with the gearchanges and the bloody rear brake. The gears I am slowly comming to terms with, but the rear brake. I have very little rear brake in the first movement of the pedal, then when it brings in the front brakes, I have all both front and rear. Is there a way to get more rear brake before it brings in the front brakes? Have tried searching.
thanks
Marc

 

[gerhard]

I have a 2012 R1200RT and it has linked brakes so pulling the front lever also activates some rear braking and I have noticed that just using the rear brake does not result in the amount of braking that I was use to but I wrote it off to the linked set up. I have since adjusted to it and no longer get that sensation of it not working right.

Gerhard

 

[ka5ysy]

Mark - be sure to check your brakes to see if there is air in the hydraulic lines. A brake line bleeder can solve soft brakes easily. You might also check the brake pads themselves for wear.

 

[vulcan]

I guess it depends on what kind of bike you rode before.
In my experience of two different BMWs.....why even use the rear brake. On the K75 it was a drum brake...kind of useless. On the RRT you really didn't need it.
Rear brakes are necessary on cruisers, they won't stop just using the front.
Try it, you'll like it.

 

[pathy]

The brake pads and disc are new, they wern't even bedded in when I bought the bike. I was used to using the rear brake to steady the bike at low speed eg: carparks etc. During u turns. There is no real braking, untill it brings in the front brakes and thats not what I want. Any ideas or do I just put up with it. Thanks for the replies.
Marc

 

[cessna]

When my RT was new the brakes were really grabby. After going through an advanced riders class and running through a number of emergency stop drills the brakes worked much better.

You mentioned that the brakes were new. Maybe practicing some hard stops from 20 - 30 mph in and empty parking lot might seat your braked in.

Just my $.02!

 

[pathy]

Have bedded the brake pads in. Can't feel the rear brake doing any braking, until the front brakes are brought in. Can I get more feel in the rear?
Marc

 

[ka5ysy]

Have bedded the brake pads in. Can't feel the rear brake doing any braking, until the front brakes are brought in. Can I get more feel in the rear?
Marc

Bleed the rear brake lines. I would bet money you have air in the hydraulics.

 

[pathy]

Thanks I will try that. Is there anything I should watch out for, just doing the rear brake. Is it just like doing non evo brakes?
Marc

 

[DocCarroll]

I'd recommend test riding another RT. That way you can discern if it is all RT's or just yours...

 

[pathy]

I am the only one in this area that has one. My nearest dealer is over 2 hours away, will ask them when I see them in a few weeks. It was serviced just before I bought and the brake fluid was done. It was at a different dealer than I will be going to. I want to do all the services myself, if I can. Is the brakes the only thing that is harder than the norm? Back on the bike again after a week of being sick. There is very little rear braking using the pedal only starts to work when the front is being brought in to play.
Thanks
Marc

 

[JPSpen]

Does your 02 R1150 have SERVO brakes ?

Do you hear a whine when you apply the brakes ? Servo motor running....

When you turn the key on do you hear a Weeeeeeeeeeeee, Whew.. Then the light changes from fast blink to slow ????

My 01 doesn't have servo and the brakes are NOT linked...My 03 CLC does...

If yours are linked SERVO brakes then a full bleed might be necessary...

I didn't think the servo started till 03 but I certainly could be wrong on that...

If not servo, Then just bleed the rear circuit really well.. Sometimes the hose from the master cylinder to the ABS controller gets soft and will swell and you loose a lot of rear brake...

Good Luck, Keep us posted on the troubleshooting...

John

 

[pathy]

Does your 02 R1150 have SERVO brakes ? Yes

Do you hear a whine when you apply the brakes ? Servo motor running....Yes

When you turn the key on do you hear a Weeeeeeeeeeeee, Whew.. Then the light changes from fast blink to slow ???? Yes

My 01 doesn't have servo and the brakes are NOT linked...My 03 CLC does...

If yours are linked SERVO brakes then a full bleed might be necessary... Mine are fully linked and have servo.

Am trying to find some information on bleeding the brakes, other than the BMW way.
Marc

 

[diverjp]

Check out Jim VonBadens maintenance DVD (www.jimvonbaden.com) its well worth the $25 if you plan on doing your own maintenance. I have a 2006 RT so it may be a little different. Beemer boneyard Beemer Boneyard sells the tool you will need to bleed the servo brakes.

All the best
JP

 

[ken6217]

Rear brake? I forgot my bike even comes with a rear brake.
Ken

 

[Kornholio]

Linking rear to front instead of just front to rear seems like a really bad idea to me. Dragging the rear brake to steady the bike in slow maneuvers is something that's taught in many motorcycle courses. I do it from time to time on my bike. It's not exactly an obscure practice.

 

[PadG]

Linking rear to front instead of just front to rear seems like a really bad idea to me. Dragging the rear brake to steady the bike in slow maneuvers is something that's taught in many motorcycle courses. I do it from time to time on my bike. It's not exactly an obscure practice.

The front brake lever will activate both front and rear brakes (60% front + 40% rear, from what I recalled), while the rear brake pedal will activate only the rear brake........so, what's the issue?

 

[Kornholio]

The front brake lever will activate both front and rear brakes (60% front + 40% rear, from what I recalled), while the rear brake pedal will activate only the rear brake........so, what's the issue?

On my bike yes, that's how it is...not sure of the percentages though. The OP is stating his rear brake actuates the front as well, though. I've heard of Goldwings doing this too. That's not safe IMO.

 

[pathy]

The front brake lever will activate both front and rear brakes (60% front + 40% rear, from what I recalled), while the rear brake pedal will activate only the rear brake........so, what's the issue?

On the later bikes yes. On the R1150RT it has fully intergrated brakes. The rear pedal activates the rear brake and front brake. The front brake lever activates the front brake and rear brake.
Marc

 

[PadG]

Got it! Thanks. It does see, silly to have both the front lever as well as the foot pedal operate in identical manner, doesn't it!