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Posted by cmiles3 on June 11, 2007, 11:13 am
Check for leaks? You may not be getting all the pressure to the
calipers where it will give you hard brakes.
Possibly air in the brake lines? A previous owner may have bled the
brakes incorrectly. Start front left, then right rear, then the bleed
valve near the ignition switch, last the front right. Some times it's
tough to get all the air out.
1st Generation Ventures have a linked braking system; the brake pedal
operates the right rear & front left disk calipers. The hand brake
lever operates the right front caliper. A few hardy souls decided to
mod the brakes and delink the rear/front system, putting both front
calipers on the hand brake lever. This would make the brake pedal
anemic, at least.
Haven't heard of the anti dive causing any problems, but some have
also bypassed the anti dive after installing Progressive springs in
the forks.
Another concern would be the brake fluid. If it's old, it may be
gelled or have crud in the lines, plugging one of your calipers (the
front left, I'd guess). Try bleeding the system until you get fresh,
clear brake fluid coming out of the calipers. Some of the Venturers
(www.venturers.org) & Venture Riders (www.venturerider.org) are known
to flush their brakes & clutches every year.
A third possibility, if the bike's been parked in the rain for years,
is the pistons may be seized in the calipers. This is less likely
than the other 2, and would require removing the calipers to check,
clean and possibly rebuild.
One of my calipers was seizing occasionally; turns out to be crud in
the brakes lines. A couple of thorough bleeding sessions cured it. I
bought it from a trucker who didn't ride much and parked it outside in
the rain when he was driving his rig. My brake pedal gives me more
braking than the hand lever.
> Got a 91 VR and ever since I bought it new the foot brake just is to weak. I
> know about the anti dive feature etc. but I think I could drag my feet and
> stop the bike faster then the foot brake petal. Am thinking about replacing
> the master cyclindar, any advice?
>
> JD
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