Bleeding motorcycle brakes

[Bren]

Having a pig of a job bleeding the front brakes on my GSXR750 after fitting braided hoses.

 

I have had the lever taped to the handlebars overnight, made no difference - lever comes all the way back to the bars - even with the nipples cracked open nothing comes out.

 

TBH I am annoyed as I have had the hoses for 18 months and I am only fitting them because I want to sell.

 

Any advice or is time to buy a pressure bleeding kit?

[Mike D]

When I bled the brakes on my dt I just took the lid off the reservoir, made sure the fluid was kept topped up, and just cracked the bleed nipple and kept squeezing the lever til all the air was out, the level wouldn't drop until I let the lever out though, so that might be why taping the lever in didn't work

[Skizzer]

Since an Eazibleed kit is less than £15 it's hardly going to break the bank.  I wouldn't be looking to cut corners with motorbike brakes myself, but it's your funeral.

 

If you insist on mingebaggery, http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Poor+Mans+way+to+Bleed+Your+Motorcycles+Brakes

 

 

 

If only we had a Stupid Question Amnesty thread for questions like this.

[John F]

 

If only we had a Stupid Question Amnesty thread for questions like this.

 

Hehe! Although probably not everyone reads it tbf.

 

Bleeding bike brakes is just like bleeding car brakes, if not easier. Make sure you have enough fluid in the reservoir, pump the respective lever 3 times and then hold it in, crack the bleed nipple so fluid & air bubbles come out, retighten bleed nipple, then repeat until there's no more air in the system.

 

What's hard about that?

 

If your bike is fitted with anti-dive callipers you'll probably have to bleed the anti-dive side as well.

 

Taping the lever to the bars is not likely to achieve much, whatever else happens.

[nigel bickle]

Buy 2 ft of clear plasdtic windscreen washer tubing. Attach one end to nipple -stick other end in master cyl (if you want to kep the fluid) or raise it higher than cylinder.

 

Open nipple & leave. Fluid will settle to lowest level.  Jobbed. Clear pipe enables you to see progress..

[Bren]

Had a look in tinterweb - job is not as straightforward as it would seem, not like a car, most of the youtube videos show special kit being used.

 

Have got lots of air out but no pressure at lever.

 

I will see what is on ebay.

[londonm]

I had a horrendous accident on the back of a GSXR750, don't skimp on things like brakes.

[michael1703]

Bleed at the banjos first

 

Reservoir full, pull brake lever in gradually whilst cracking open the banjo at the master cylinder,tighten banjo before you get full stroke of the master cylinder piston, hold or tape a wad of kitchen roll beneath it to catch fluid and then repeat on the caliper banjo bolts

 

Tap the calipers with a rubber mallet to "shock" the bubbles loose

 

Tape on the lever doesn't work, you will get a firm lever initially but they will still be there

 

Ignore any bleeding advice given to you by car experts as bikes are much worse than they realise, the angle of the master cylinder on the clip ons doesn't help,full left lock on side stand gets the master cylinder in a better position on some bikes

[Geep]

When I had to bleed motorcycle brakes, I used a large syringe and some clear tubing. Fitted tubing to nipple and syringe, opened nipple and drew out plunger on syringe. Close and repeat if necessary, removing pipe to expel fluid from syringe. It's a form of vacuum bleeding and worked for me.

[John F]

Bleed at the banjos first

 

 

Ignore any bleeding advice given to you by car experts as bikes are much worse than they realise

 

 

lol OK, feel free to ignore me. I've only had about 60 motorbikes...

[michael1703]

I've known people at their wits end chasing air out of bike brakes,putting braided pipes on a 90's onward bike isn't always straightforward.

 

Biggest arse ache I had was a 95 zx6r that I raced for years,I had countless things changed and the brakes were still shit

 

Rectangular cast master cylinder bodies caused more trouble,the round plastic reservoirs gave them more of a head of fluid which helped,not doubting any advice just pointing out it can take time and isn't a 5 minute job

[doug]

Another way with the syringe and tubing on the bleed nipple is to fill the syringe with fluid and pump the fluid up towards the master cylinder. The theory is that its easier to get the bubbles to go up to the master cylinder than down the way to the calipers.

[trocse]

Another way with the syringe and tubing on the bleed nipple is to fill the syringe with fluid and pump the fluid up towards the master cylinder. The theory is that its easier to get the bubbles to go up to the master cylinder than down the way to the calipers.

 

 I was going to suggest this, google Reverse bleeding, you can get kits from a motorbike shop, but its just a big syringe and hose! 

[Junkman]

Them bleeding motorcycle brakes. Last time I did them I had great difficulties to get the cables through the casings.

[garethj]

I got an easybleed kit, I think it was about £25 from Hein Gericke and it's great.  Because it's one with a hand vacuum pump you can use it on crappy old cars too and it's much quicker than pumping the pedal.

[Bren]

I have invested in a vacuum bleeder, my rationale being that my life is worth more than the £20 I paid for the item, however there are probably a few people who would disagree with that statement.

[Junkman]

Yes, the statement "my life is worth more than the £20 I paid for the item" is a bit odd in a thread about motorcycles.