Riding minus one brake pad?

[Jonathan]

I just bought a bike here in Sydney - A GPX750R. Trouble is is that one of the front brake pads dropped out the first day. I can't get it fixed until next Monday. My question is - can I still ride it in the time being (about 20km a day, too and from work) or will this ruin the disk and/or caliper pistons? I am not using the front brake when I ride until I get it fixed.

[onearmedbandit]

I just bought a bike here in Sydney - A GPX750R. Trouble is is that one of the front brake pads dropped out the first day. I can't get it fixed until next Monday. My question is - can I still ride it in the time being (about 20km a day, too and from work) or will this ruin the disk and/or caliper pistons? I am not using the front brake when I ride until I get it fixed.

I wouldn't be touching the bike. In an emergency braking situation your brain will tell your right hand to grab the anchors. Don't risk it.

[onearmedbandit]

BTW, up to 85% of braking is generally done with the front brakes, because they are the only truly effective braking system on the bike. Want to rely on that last 15%?

[Jonathan]

Indeed, except my morning commute is in heavy traffic with little opportunity to filter or go over 70kmph. Also it has dual front disks so the stopping power is pretty much still there in an emergency. But, you are probably still right - safety should lose out to laziness.

[imdying]

Ask yourself, would you happy if all the other motorists you share the road with had braking systems with major problems?

[White trash]

This thread is a troll right?

[neels]

It'll be fine.

If the piston comes completely out of the caliper and empties the brake fluid all over your leg, you can just stick a new piston in when you replace the brake pad, and brake fluid is cheap.

Or not.....

[Juzz976]

Your piston/pistons will contact the disc rotor, they may heat up and boil you fluid, or they may just fall out and leave you with no brakes at all and more $$ to repair.

I sure as hell wouldn't be riding it.

[onearmedbandit]

Indeed, except my morning commute is in heavy traffic with little opportunity to filter or go over 70kmph.

What? We don't need brakes below 70km/h? Why did no one ever tell me this!!

Also it has dual front disks so the stopping power is pretty much still there in an emergency. But, you are probably still right - safety should lose out to laziness.

Not if my thinking is correct, as the fluid will follow the path of least resistance (the piston without the pad to push against) meaning all you'll end up achieving is pushing the piston against the face of the disc, and all that extra travel will take up most of your fluid, leaving a bike with a metal piston pushing against a metal disc and the rest of your brakes asking 'wtf happened there bro?'.

This thread is a troll right?

I thought this too. But I erred on the side of it being serious in case it wasn't.

[Str8 Jacket]

You from Darwin mate?

Dork.

[hayd3n]

if you needed to get somewhere on that bike
id sugget











































taking a bus

[bogan]

Not if my thinking is correct, as the fluid will follow the path of least resistance (the piston without the pad to push against) meaning all you'll end up achieving is pushing the piston against the face of the disc, and all that extra travel will take up most of your fluid, leaving a bike with a metal piston pushing against a metal disc and the rest of your brakes asking 'wtf happened there bro?'.

Even worse I reckon, the displaced fluid will only push the piston bout 10% of the way to the disc each pump. So if your first pump is an emergency situation (like if you had used the rear the rest of trip), no front brakes, kiss your ass goodbye.

I would think it's a troll, but he is in aussie so not sure...

[Owl]

That bike certainly won't stop in 2 metres from 60kph.

[bogan]

That bike certainly won't stop in 2 metres from 60kph.

sure it will, 70kmhr commute with no brakes, the only way it'll stop is rapidly

[schrodingers cat]

Get some doner pads and drill, hacksaw etc until they fit (pad not the calliper)
Problem solved