Front brake spongy feeling

[GatlingOr.]

Hi all,

I've been riding my 2016 XR with 20K kilometers for a couple of months now. There's one thing that bothers me, and it's the front brake. Not the stopping power or the bite, which are very good, but the lever return. It returns in a spongy kind of way, if that makes sense. It's not necessarily slow, but it's slower than it should be imo. It definitely doesn't snap back superquick when you let it go. The return is linear and smooth though.

I've ridden a lot of bikes, and haven't experienced this before. For all I know it could be the XR's brake by default, but I wouldn't know. For what it's worth (if anyone has the same reference), I ride 1250RT's for my work daily and they do have that snappy return which I consider is how it should be.

I have rebuild the front master cylinder, bled the system twice (including the ABS pump with MotoScan), replaced front brake pads with Brembo's and I cleaned + greased up the lever. All that's left would be rebuilding both front brake calipers, but I don't wanna go there if I'm just nitpicking. The MC should be the only part responsible for the return, so I'm not sure to go the (costy) length to rebuild the calipers.

Any thoughts or experiences are appreciated. Thanks!

[Antares]

Pretty common complaint for the Gen 1 and unfortunately your only solution is to get a new MCS and potentially callipers. I was well on my way to upgrading to RCS19+M4s until my XR got written off. It's just something with the setup of MC, ABS and callipers. Not sure which part as from what I recall most of the Gen 2s have the same callipers and MCs and from the couple I rode they're pretty firm. That said lot of people complaining about this resolved the issue with new MCs, new Callipers or both.

That's if you can call this an "issue". My biggest complaint was that with the higher mileage it started to get less consistent, sometimes 1 inch from the bars it's hard, other times 0.5 inches.

[GatlingOr.]

Originally Posted by Antares

Pretty common complaint for the Gen 1 and unfortunately your only solution is to get a new MCS and potentially callipers. I was well on my way to upgrading to RCS19+M4s until my XR got written off. It's just something with the setup of MC, ABS and callipers. Not sure which part as from what I recall most of the Gen 2s have the same callipers and MCs and from the couple I rode they're pretty firm. That said lot of people complaining about this resolved the issue with new MCs, new Callipers or both.

That's if you can call this an "issue". My biggest complaint was that with the higher mileage it started to get less consistent, sometimes 1 inch from the bars it's hard, other times 0.5 inches.

That's very interesting to read, cheers. I didn't know this was a thing.

Braking is consistent, but just not how I like it. I'm considering MC before new calipers (both might be a bit too much, money wise). Guess I'll do some digging on how to get the RCS19 fitted properly.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by GatlingOr.

That's very interesting to read, cheers. I didn't know this was a thing.

Braking is consistent, but just not how I like it. I'm considering MC before new calipers (both might be a bit too much, money wise). Guess I'll do some digging on how to get the RCS19 fitted properly.

Ooh, might not wanna go with an RCS19 with the stock callipers. Necessarily.

RCS17: longer travel, more feel
RCS19: Firmer lever, more wooden

From what i know the stock Nissins are 18mm.

M4 pistons (matched with RCS 19): 34MM
M50 Pistons  (Matched with RCS17): 30MM
XR uses M4.32 with 32MM pistons.

Pick and choose your poison.

[GatlingOr.]

Originally Posted by Antares

Ooh, might not wanna go with an RCS19 with the stock callipers. Necessarily.

RCS17: longer travel, more feel
RCS19: Firmer lever, more wooden

From what i know the stock Nissins are 18mm.

M4 pistons (matched with RCS 19): 34MM
M50 Pistons  (Matched with RCS17): 30MM
XR uses M4.32 with 32MM pistons.

Pick and choose your poison.

Thanks, saved me loads of time to look that up.

[RyanGTXR]

If you change the M/C you'll need either a radial banjo convertor (comes off M/C at 90 degrees and then O.E brake line bolts to it, looks sh#t but works) or replace M/C to ABS unit brake line.
I put Brembo MCS 19-21 M/C and M50 calipers on mine. Like night and day compared to stock set up. Much more initial bite, power and feel.

[mjojom]

Hi Guys, so I will be replacing my front MC too for a radial one, and therefore I need a new line from ABS unit to the front MC. looking at ABS seems all banjos are of a slightly different angle.

I do not want to be taking the tank off just yet, could someone please tell me which line on the ABS unit is to the front MC as I need to get a custom hose. I read here that the new hose length is approximately 1100mm, is that correct? 
Thanks a lot
Joe

[GatlingOr.]

Originally Posted by mjojom

Hi Guys, so I will be replacing my front MC too for a radial one, and therefore I need a new line from ABS unit to the front MC. looking at ABS seems all banjos are of a slightly different angle.

I do not want to be taking the tank off just yet, could someone please tell me which line on the ABS unit is to the front MC as I need to get a custom hose. I read here that the new hose length is approximately 1100mm, is that correct? 
Thanks a lot
Joe

I just put on the tank so can't check unfortunately. I did see another topic on this forum where someone marked his ABS-pump with MC and 'front brakes', just so you can tell which line goes where. Shouldn't be too hard to find. The pic is in a topic about changing the front brake assembly. The length is also named.

Good luck and let us know the results after changing!

[RyanGTXR]

M/C line is No. 3 in your picture. 1150 is for ABS to t-piece if changing caliper lines. for M/C line this is what I ordered from Venhill -
Line Builder

SKU: linebuilder-3/60081/BLACK-3/60082/BLACK-3H1425B-BK-C101-1

Fitting A
1 x M10 STRAIGHT BANJO, BLACK £7.60

Fitting B
1 x M10 20° BANJO, BLACK £4.64

Hose
1 x 1425mm BLACK HOSE BLACK SWIVEL NUTS £24.48

Washer 1
4 x 10MM COPPER WASHER £0.29

Hose Swivel Nut
Black

Different line manufacturers take the line length from different points so check with whichever brand you go for.

[mjojom]

Originally Posted by RyanGTXR

M/C line is No. 3 in your picture. 1150 is for ABS to t-piece if changing caliper lines. for M/C line this is what I ordered from Venhill -
Line Builder

That is excellent info, I am just slightly confused. I am not changing calipers just yet, only MC. There is a straight line that foes from MC to the ABS unit, correct? And it is #3 in my picture. I have bar risers too so I want to be slightly generous with my custom, hose. But, the length of that hose to the MC is what?  (the T piece confuses me here, I understand that #3 going directly to the MC not to the T piece) 

thank you very much