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1200 RT brakes


prof

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I am riding an '07 RT and it seems to me that compared to other bikes I've ridden these brakes are very difficult to modulate at low speeds. When riding slowly (5 MPH or so)in bumper to bumper traffic, they seem to grab abruptly when I have to stop. This occurs using the hand lever because my feet are coming off the pegs as I stop. No matter how softly I pull the lever, the brakes still grab abruptly. And if the front wheel is not pointing straight ahead, the tendency is to go over.

 

The bike is only at 15,000 miles, so the pads and rotors are original. Has anyone else had this problem? Would different pads likely make a difference? Incidentally, the brakes work fine stopping from higher speeds.

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I found the same problem with my '06 RT but it has the power brake servos. I'm used to it now and have no problem with it. You just have to be very light on the front lever.

 

I thought BMW got rid of the servos on the '07 models?

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Afternoon prof

 

Difficult to say what you have going there without more info on the bike’s history, type of brake system you have, & when the problem started or was noticed (are you the original owner?).

 

Supposedly the 07 RT’s (any build after 8/06) doesn’t have the powered servo brakes but there are also rumors of some late 06 bikes being sold as the 07 models (no confirmation on this).

 

In any case assuming you have the post servo Gen-2 I-ABS brake system then it could be anything from normal (those Gen-2 brakes have a lot of gain) to something that happened (if/when) the brake line recall done.

That Gen-2 system is difficult to bleed properly once completely air bound (like after the brake line recall) so there is a possibility there is some air remaining in the brake system.

 

If you suspect an air-in-the-system problem (especially if the brake line recall was done) then go compare your front brake lever travel vs applied pressure to a few other like bikes.

 

Maybe the most prudent thing to do is have your dealer or another owner of a similar bike take yours for a ride just to give you some feedback on how your braking measures up to what is normal.

 

 

 

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because my feet are coming off the pegs as I stop.

Only your left foot should be coming off the pegs. The right one stays on the right peg & rear brake pedal. After you've stopped & put your left foot down you can stand it up a bit straighter & put the right foot down too, but keeping your right foot on the peg makes getaways faster & lets you take your hand off the throttle if you need to rest it a bit. I know lots of people don't use the rear brake pedal anymore with the partially linked brakes, but it's a good habit to keep especially if you end up riding another bike sometime.

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I noticed the same thing on my 07 GT and 09 RT. I tried Galfer Green and Black pads on both bikes and settled on the Greens. I am using the them because they don't bite like the OEM metal pads. Might want to try them out.

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because my feet are coming off the pegs as I stop.

Only your left foot should be coming off the pegs. The right one stays on the right peg & rear brake pedal. After you've stopped & put your left foot down you can stand it up a bit straighter & put the right foot down too, but keeping your right foot on the peg makes getaways faster & lets you take your hand off the throttle if you need to rest it a bit. I know lots of people don't use the rear brake pedal anymore with the partially linked brakes, but it's a good habit to keep especially if you end up riding another bike sometime.

 

+1 DiggerJ!

 

You should be using the rear brake only in all slow speed maneuvers, parking lots, and when coming to a stop at the end. Any time you are moving slowly donw any sort of incline or coming to a stop on an incline

you are oing to dump your bike using the front btake.

+1

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Paul Mihalka

"Any time you are moving slowly donw any sort of incline or coming to a stop on an incline

you are oing to dump your bike using the front btake"

 

Not if you keep it straight.

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That is not always possible, particularly if the inclined road slopes to the left. Whay not err on the side of conservatism. You don't need the front brake when moving slowly and coming to a stop, period!!!

 

If the road is inclined and slopes to the right, you have no choice but to use the front brake since you most likely must put your right foot down, but you really need to be prepared for that!

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My driveway is sloped and I do a U turn backing into the garage.

Mostly straight alignment but at times not so but I'm prepared

with both feet down as I slide backwards on an angle using gravity.

No problems.

But I'm not your average height rider.

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The rear brake is power applied when using the front brake lever and rolling (yes, even on post 07 models). This can feel a little sharper than the pressure you think your applying.

 

I'm afraid it's just practise and getting used to it. I generally use the rear for the final stop but on the occasion I need to put the right foot down I make 100% sure I am leaning the bike towards my Right leg by turning the bars a fraction to the left so the bike goes the way I intend. If it feels like it's not going that way a few more inches rolling forward and it should do.

YMMV.

hth

\v/

 

 

 

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