By Tim Hayes

Brakes are a motorcycle component that receive little attention, when the pads are worn out, change them.

There is one major difference between car brakes and cycle brakes; cost. A rebuilt caliper for a typical American car costs between $20 and $30. One can spend between $25 and $50 for a new rotor. The cheapest cycle caliper is $100 and can top $500 on high end sport bikes. There are two types of rotors, solid and floating. Solid rotors are not too bad but floating rotors start at about $300 and go on up. Preventative maintenance can go a long way toward keeping cost down. …

Most manufacturers recommend changing the brake fluid every 2 years. The reason is that brake fluid absorbs moisture. As the moisture content increases steel parts start to rust and aluminum parts corrode causing pitting, which lead to leaks and costly repairs. Personally, I don’t change every 2 years. Look at the brake fluid in the reservoir and if it is milky looking or dark [brake fluid is a translucent tan] it is time to change. The only tool needed is a vacuum pump like Miti-Vac.

Floating rotors can be identified as they have an inner ring connected to the braking surface by buttons. This design allows the brake ring to  flex in relation to the solid part bolted to the hub. The buttons can become dirty due to road grime causing the brake to pulse. Cleaning and lubing the buttons will prevent costly repairs. In the following procedure do not rotate the wheel so as not to get any solvent or lube in contact with the pads. Spray the buttons with aerosol brake cleaner and allow to dry, perhaps 30  minutes. I’ve tried many lubricants and the only one that works is Break Free CLP, which is a gun lube available at any sporting goods store, including Wally World. It

dries to a wax like consistency so does not sling on to the rotor. After applying the lube to the buttons allow 12 hours for it to set up. Then using the brake cleaner and a rag clean the rotor so that no lube reaches the pads.

Another common problem is brake pulsing that is similar to a warped rotor. Before spending $300+ on a new rotor clean the pads. The same grime that causes grief with the buttons can affect the pads. Remove the pads and scrub them with a wire brush and aerosol brake cleaner and re-install them.

If anyone wants to get deeper in to any subject, post on the maintenance forum.