Improving brake feel

I am not happy with the feedback that I am getting from my front brakes. When I pull the lever, braking requires more effort than it should, and the feedback is choppy rather than smooth. Trying best to describe the feeling, when I put more effort on the lever, it goes to the next fixed point, and there is little braking at points in between.

About two months back, I greased the lever's pivot point, but the improvement was temporary. The pads were getting low, so I replaced them, but it didn't change the braking force.

Should I just bleed the brakes and replace the fluid, or does it sound like something else?

So it's sort of like a 'light switch', it's either on/off with no real modulation, right? That sounds a lot like a caliper is binding. Bike calipers are prone to getting water in them, which will cause corrosion and sticking caliper pistons. If you look very carefully at the rubber boot on the piston and see some whitish dust around them that's an indication of corrosion.

I'm guessing it's a gunked up master cylinder.

Is this on your SV? In that case, you could always just buy a new master cylinder (Nissin makes a replacement part - hell, they probably make the OEM part) and call it a day. They're a little over $100 new. That and a braided stainless line will probably get you the feel you're looking for.

I'd agree with Curmudgen, and suspect the calipers first. They really do take a water beating and get well corroded. Worth a removal and cleaning in my opinion.

It is possible you've got a bind in the master cylinder or lever. But those are less likely than a caliper problem.

That's exactly the feeling I get with the Buell. I am going to flush the brake fluid though. It's an 08 model, built in August 2007. Man, now that I think about it, that brake fluid has been in there for almost four years! This should have been done once already!

It really feels to me (and I can hear it) that the problem is in the master cylinder. I'm going to take a look at the assembly when I do the fluid.

I had the brake cylinders, master and wheel, front and back, rebuilt on my Kawasaurus. I also had Stainless wrapped brake lines installed before I started riding. The brakes are magnificent. Light touch, good feel and can create stoppies if I get heavy handed.

I suggest refurbishing the system in a similar manner. The results are worth the time and money.

Unfortunately I developed a Lyme disease problem and no longer have the strength to ride this thing. I have put about $4,000 into it and would like to sell in that range. As I cannot ride it I would rather have someone else have the fun. As soon as I get some decent digital pictures I will put it on the classifieds.

The Kawasaurus is a 1980 Kawasaki KZ 1300 6 cylinder with about 48K on the clock. It is, IMHO, the ultimate UJM. It corners fairly well, stops very well and is simply scary fast.