Poor Front Brake Performance

[Buccaneer-Phill]

Hi Guys....

This last week been riding daily in sub-zero temperature's, in snow, ice and in wet salted roads... I have noticed that my front brake performance has been significantly effected, Brake lever is harder to pull than normal and even so the barking effect is very poor.

Only two things I can think of at the mo' is the cold effect on the viscosity of the brake fluid and the fact that I am using the rear brake less, in the slippery/wet conditions?

The carb seems to be icing up badly on decceleration too, spitting and will not idle after a lengthy slow-down.... any tips on either of the above???
:cloudmad :Shower

[DaddyJay]

Wait till spring. But lets just keep that between you and me :shhhh

[Buccaneer-Phill]

Wait till spring. But lets just keep that between you and me :shhhh


SSShhhhhh... Secrets safe with me..... cheers DaddyJay... Is that what you do in Boston... your weather must be similar?

:bump

[DaddyJay]

We just got 6 inches of snow last night. Thats 15.24 centimeters to you. I won't be riding till April. Too much damn sand on roads out here.

[willprevale]

Brake fluid viscosity won't be affected by the cold. You may be getting ice on the rotor or pads.

[Buccaneer-Phill]

We just got 6 inches of snow last night. Thats 15.24 centimeters to you. I won't be riding till April. Too much damn sand on roads out here.

Just three inches here... Leave the centimeters to the french...

:tour :smoke

[Buccaneer-Phill]

Brake fluid viscosity won't be affected by the cold. You may be getting ice on the rotor or pads.

Thats probably it... cheers... any idea about how to improve the carb icing?

Do any fuel additives work?

[willprevale]

Dry gas always helps

[DaddyJay]

Just three inches here... Leave the centimeters to the french...

:tour :smoke

Right on brother :laugh

[hero]

Phil- had the same thing here in London last week with the cold. Decided I HAD to try something, so I replaced the brake fluid. I was surprised how dark (black even) the fluid was, & that after just a year! Braking is MUCH better now- like I remember it. Important here to bleed it through & not just change the fluid in the reservior obviously. As for the spitting, I use the Moco 'winter idle booster' at around £4 for enough to last abot 10 treatments. (once every fill-up). Works well, or you can try Boots' isopropate alcohol, which does the same thing for cheaper, but harder to get hold of, as they will probably have to order for you... Also use the best fuel you can find (highest octane) Shell Optimax (NO, I don't work for them..!!) or BP High octane helps a lot too.

[Buccaneer-Phill]

Phil- had the same thing here in London last week with the cold. Decided I HAD to try something, so I replaced the brake fluid. I was surprised how dark (black even) the fluid was, & that after just a year! Braking is MUCH better now- like I remember it. Important here to bleed it through & not just change the fluid in the reservior obviously. As for the spitting, I use the Moco 'winter idle booster' at around £4 for enough to last abot 10 treatments. (once every fill-up). Works well, or you can try Boots' isopropate alcohol, which does the same thing for cheaper, but harder to get hold of, as they will probably have to order for you... Also use the best fuel you can find (highest octane) Shell Optimax (NO, I don't work for them..!!) or BP High octane helps a lot too.


Sounds like a good idea to me, I'll be changing the fluid and servicing the calipers this weekend, and give the young girl an oil and plug change too, with all this cold weather, thinking of putting in a quality synthetic 5w 40 oil, and also using the octane booster treatment for the fuel, as I use the bike every day.... Thats the life... :tour

Any other suggestions welcome, or comments on above... :burnout