Brakes feel 'spongy' at highway...

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mimico_polak

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Hey guys,
I was out this weekend on a ride and have noticed more and more that my brakes feel a bit spongy when I first grab them at highway speeds. They feel spongy and then grab...not sure if this is normal or if it's something to look further into. City riding is no issue with the brakes. It might just be me over reacting but I wanted to ask.
The bike's a 2011 CBR250R with 8k on the odo.
Thanks!
 
Monza2112 said:
depending on how old the fluid is...i would change the fluid completely or at least bleed them out.
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The fluid hasn't been changed since the start of riding season...approximately 8k. Maintenance schedule states it should be changed at 18k, and inspected in b/w.
 
a bleeding show prob work fine....i'd question why its spongy in just a few months....check your cap to make sure it seals well
 
Monza2112 said:
depending on how old the fluid is...i would change the fluid completely or at least bleed them out.
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The fluid should not be a problem if it's only a year old. I think they recommend changing it every 3-4 years and I think lots of people are lucky if they do it every 6 or 8.

I've had bikes that were 20 plus years old and I swear the fluid came from the factory. That said the brakes worked fine for normal riding, but no doubt under severe braking it would boil pretty quick.

I'd start with bleeding.
 
Do you have a vibration at highway speed (not on the brakes)?

Tires changed recently? Dropped the bike recently?

I have a tough time believing that it's the brake fluid or air in the system on a 2011 bike. After asking the above questions I would bleed the system though more as a diagnosis tool than an attempt to repair.
 
zeniceguy said:
just sound like cold brakes, what pads?
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OEM pads I'm sure. Never heard any complaints (about the brakes at least) from my friends that bought the 250R, but I never road one myself.

-Jamie M.
 
if you where in the rain or even a cold day, long drive on highway with out using your brakes..... it can feel spungy, untill they warm back up.
 
WHOA!!!...you guys are making this too complicated. He said they were spongy..NOT....nothing there...then grabbing...a very diff solution.

Start with bleeding and see how it feels. The pads could be glazed...what's the bike ? how many miles? How do you ride?
 
Hey guys, thanks for taking time to comment and give some pointers! I really appreciate your time.

Just to clarify:
- never in an accident
- original tires
- original pads
- I ride normal not a very aggressive rider
- 2011 CBR250R with approx 8k and been riding it since new
- no vibration during riding/braking

This is what happens, and I've noticed it more since its cooled off a bit. Driving on the highway 110-125kph when I hit the brakes I can feel them start grabbing but not very hard and then a few meters later they catch and the feel is way better and they grab very well. Almost like some short time delay (maybe 1s). I haven't considered that the pads may be cold and then once they heat up they are much better.

It could also be that everything is perfectly fine and I'm just getting more in tune with the bike where I'm noticing more little things as I get more seat time...but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
 
Monza2112 said:
WHOA!!!...you guys are making this too complicated. He said they were spongy..NOT....nothing there...then grabbing...a very diff solution.

Start with bleeding and see how it feels. The pads could be glazed...what's the bike ? how many miles? How do you ride?
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and run out on a rotor or a front end vibe can cause the piston further back in the caliper bore causing a weak or spongy feel on first apply and then firmer on the next. This just as likely as needing to bleed air from the system.
 
mimico_polak said:
Hey guys, thanks for taking time to comment and give some pointers! I really appreciate your time.

Just to clarify:
- never in an accident
- original tires
- original pads
- I ride normal not a very aggressive rider
- 2011 CBR250R with approx 8k and been riding it since new
- no vibration during riding/braking

This is what happens, and I've noticed it more since its cooled off a bit. Driving on the highway 110-125kph when I hit the brakes I can feel them start grabbing but not very hard and then a few meters later they catch and the feel is way better and they grab very well. Almost like some short time delay (maybe 1s). I haven't considered that the pads may be cold and then once they heat up they are much better.

It could also be that everything is perfectly fine and I'm just getting more in tune with the bike where I'm noticing more little things as I get more seat time...but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you're just experiencing cold brakes.
 
What you describe in your last post does not sound like what I would normally call "spongy". To me spongy is grabbing the lever and having it go much closer to the bar than normal.

With the bike stopped if you pull the lever does it feel hard and firm or does it feel soft and go much further than normal. The latter is what you feel when you're compressing air in the system.

If the lever goes just a small distance before getting hard and can't be pulled any further (w/o great force) then I don't think bleeding is going to help.
 
its just cold brakes, its normal after a highway hall and nicely free brakes.
once it gets cold out it happens, worse with a bit of rain. every once in a whil on the highway just grab a bit and warm them up.
 
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