A question for Buell owners

**Waylander** · 20th January 2008, 23:21

Is it just the ones I've been riding or do all Buells have a really tight rear brake that has little to no effect on your speed?

Took an XB12S out for a spin a few weeks ago and the rear brake had no give in it. Was like I just put my toes down on the peg instead of the brake.
Saturday I took the 9S out and had the same thing.

Normally wouldn't bother me but with the front brake on the Buell being so good I was being careful and trying to use the rear more too keep from getting the feeling I was about to go over the front end, but it had the same effect as just engine braking.

Is it something they all do or just a few and if it's all of them is it possible to loosen it up a bit to get some more give in the pedal and actually get some braking out of it?

**dangerous** · 21st January 2008, 05:01

get used to it, use the gear box... nothing wrong with em

**skidMark** · 21st January 2008, 05:45

learn to ride ya bloodey canadian

EH!

**Rashika** · 21st January 2008, 06:52

as in only a small amount of travel you mean?

I find my rear brake is pretty damned effective at stopping the bike, with or without the front brake. Doesn't have a lot of travel but you dont need it, in fact i prefer it so I only need a couple of toes to press down to make a difference, not my whole foot.
I found with the virago you did need your whole foot, it had way too much travel, I think maybe cruisers are designed more that way?

**imdying** · 21st January 2008, 09:27

Brakes are often neglected, it's not unusual to find calipers partially or completely siezed. Given the commonality of this, any second hand bike you obtain should be hit up with some gentle loving from hot soapy water and a toothbrush... I doubt it's a Buell XB12S thing, more a people who don't know how to maintain their bikes very well thing.

**Waylander** · 21st January 2008, 15:36

Considering your record with bikes Skidmark you're hardly one to be giving me advice like that.

Rashika, yea short travel and no feel through them. Felt like it was either off or on except bugger all difference between being on and off...
On the Virago there is a wing-nut you can tighten to give the pedal less travel in it and makes the brakes tighter, silly drum brakes though so not much use anyway.
Could have been what Imdying says.
Either way I guess it's just something I'll have to fiddle with or get used to whenever I finally get one.

**Rashika** · 21st January 2008, 16:38

Could be like ID is saying, and if they were shop bikes they can be notorious for being badly adjusted. But i think you'd find that you would adapt very quickly. I find the back brake pretty good, the front brake is almost too good!

**Waylander** · 21st January 2008, 16:43

Originally Posted by Rashika

Could be like ID is saying, and if they were shop bikes they can be notorious for being badly adjusted. But i think you'd find that you would adapt very quickly. I find the back brake pretty good, the front brake is almost too good!

lol yea, was dreading the moment if I had to emergency brake for any reason.
Wheelies I can manage fairly well, stopies are another matter entirely...
Here's hoping I have time to get used to the bike before I have to worry about it.

**xwhatsit** · 21st January 2008, 19:52

Do sound awfully like seized calipers. My father (who gave up on the TRX850 idea) is now test-riding millions of Ducati 600cc-750ccs. He says many of them don't have any rear brakes at all, the calipers are seized -- which puts him off as he (like me) trail brakes with the rear and uses it to settle the bike in certain situations. When asking the owners about it they say they have never touched the rear brake since they bought it, it just doesn't get used at all. Not even any hills in Brisbane for rear-braking for hill starts

Buells are a tall, short sportsbike, with phenomenal front brakes (something Big Dave impressed on me with a stoppie from practically walking pace). Wouldn't be surprised if on these bikes the rear brake is never used, so the caliper seizes.

**dangerous** · 21st January 2008, 20:19

Waylander... the brakes wont be seized up, its how they are... they are vage but work bloody well, remember its a big fuk off thumper so ues the box the rear is for control... but stomp on em and they lock easy as, just feel different as do the front with the outside roter.

**ajturbo** · 21st January 2008, 20:27

you use the rear brakes?????

**Rashika** · 21st January 2008, 20:35

Originally Posted by ajturbo

you use the rear brakes?????

I must admit, I had to force myself to use them periodically when after a week of riding I realised I hadn't used them once!
But I use them a fair bit when going over to Akaroa, down some of the tight downhill corners, good practice for me... and yep they do work, believe me!

**carver** · 21st January 2008, 20:41

i should really take one of these for a ride...
what they like waylander?

**Waylander** · 21st January 2008, 21:39

Originally Posted by dangerous

Waylander... the brakes wont be seized up, its how they are... they are vage but work bloody well, remember its a big fuk off thumper so ues the box the rear is for control... but stomp on em and they lock easy as, just feel different as do the front with the outside roter.

Yea engine braking is a definate go for me. Works well and love the sound lol.
Will sort it out in a few months when I've got the money up to buy one.

Originally Posted by ajturbo

you use the rear brakes?????

Yes. I've mostly ridden cruisers up to this point and use whatever I can to slow down when I need to. I do use more front than rear though.

Originally Posted by carver

i should really take one of these for a ride...
what they like waylander?

FUCKING FUN!!!
Think about a line and the bike does it. Good twist of the throttle and the font comes up, release the clutch quickly at any point and the front comes up.
The thing is a toy. Pure and simple. It's build to be played with. It NEEDS to be played with.
And gods do I want to play with it.