BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Can someone direct me to a post that tells how to adjust the rear brake? It seems like I have to move it pretty far to get some braking in it. The front brake is fine, but it seems that I have to move the rear brake too much before I feel it working. Is this an adjustment I can do myself, or do I need to take it to the dealer?

Kristi,

Notice you have an '05 R. I'm assuming it's still under warranty? If so I'd take it in to the dealer.

It can be a simple adjustment of the piston rod (near the foot brake lever) or topping off the brake fluid level...or it can be something much more complicated - unless you're comfortable working on your own bike, you really should have the dealer look at it.

After all, we're talking about BRAKES here if you know what I mean!

Your pads may be just very thin. Check the pad thickness and fluid level.

I noticed after a few miles on mine that the rear brake was very weak...compared to the front double disks. But when I use the rear one alone and really push down hard, it grabs okay.

Make sure you aren't resting your toe on the rear brake pedal when you're riding along. That will wear those rear pads out fast.

Pad thickness should't effect the pedal movement as the brake fluid will simply fill the caliper pot more as the pads wear down.
As the pads wear you should notice a slight drop in the reservoir level but that is all. The adjustment is on the pedal actuating rod but if you are not confident out tackling it yourself, your dealer will be more than happy.

Unless you're resting your foot on the rear brake pedal, the rear brake pad should last a long time. I have 40k miles on my '04 R and the rear brake pad has > 50% remaining.

ProductUser

Pad thickness should't effect the pedal movement as the brake fluid will simply fill the caliper pot more as the pads wear down.

True enough. However, qualifying my statement, when pads wear thin they will be often glazed over requiring more "pressure" on the pedal to stop. She may be confusing more needed pressure with "pushing it farther"

Then again it may be after using those super front brakes, the back ones "feel" weak.

I had to replace my rear pads at 25k kms (15k miles). Fronts still have plenty left. I use both brakes while stopping.

Dealer explained that the rear brakes are 2-pistons calipers (front is 4), and this tends to wear one pad (piston side) quicker than the other. They didn't find it unusual (but..nothing is right!!).

I checked the fluid and it is fine. And I'm not resting my foot on the brake. I would have to dip my toe in order to do that. In fact, as soon as I'm out of heavy traffic, I usually have the ball of my foot on the peg. They taught me in the safety class to use both brakes evenly, but expect the front brake to provide 70% of the braking power, but it seems to me that the rear brake is weaker than it was before I took it in for the 600 mile service. The front brake is awesome, but I fear if I had to do a very hard brake, I would find myself compromising control by trying to get the rear brake all the way down.

Do all Rs have linked brakes? Mine has ABS and the brakes are linked. Soon after I got it, I lost the habit of using the rear brake. Besides, in a panic stop the rear brake won't contribute a thing unless it is slippery. When it is dry, the front brake can put enough braking force to lift up the rear, which is ten unable to develop traction. Instead, when it is slippery the front will not have enough traction to affect the weight distribution much, so the rear can contribute to the braking. With linked brakes, you can let the system decide by itself how much braking goes to which circuit. If you do that, it might not be a bad idea to keep a long reach to the rear brake. That way, you'll minimize the chances of inadvertently dragging the brake.

Arbreacames wrote:Do all Rs have linked brakes? Mine has ABS and the brakes are linked.

If the R has ABS, it has linked brakes. If it doesn't, then, no linked brakes.