GriffXX

New pads ordered. CycleBrakes.com still offering the 15% discount when you mention CBR1100XX.org. $30.57 per set.

I’ve had the uneven pad wear similar to other threads that have been posted around here. My pads look like the pics Warchild has posted on the thread below: http://www.cbr1100xx.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=893 So I did a Left / Right swap (frugality / cheap comments aside) as a temporary fix until the new pads arrived. I then asked Sergio Galfer (who manages a Brake related thread on another board) about recommended pads for the Bird. He kind of jumped on the Left / Right pad swap I mentioned. His comment was: “First off, uneven pad wear is very common. And in 99% of the cases it has nothing to do with the performance of a bikes brake system. So on the note, don't worry much. Never swap out your pads to the opposite side. Your pads basically get broken in a certain way, and this is how they "learn" to perform. Swapping the pads out can actually glaze them no matter how many miles are on the pads…” I post this as just an FYI. Obviously he wants to sell more pads and sooner, but what you think? Lastly, what is the consensus favorite product for cleaning the rotors prior to new pad installation? (WD40 does not count!)

Not sure what post you are referring to. There are about 100 Oil / Moly posts on this forum. I know HP4 contains Moly. I just changed my oil with HP4 w/o Moly (at least I think I remember it not having Moly..I hope it doesn't have Moly), so I guess Honda makes them both. Personally, I much prefer synthetic. It holds its viscosity better.

Ditto above. I have used them several times. A few weeks ago I had a brain-fart when ordering online. I called them up and they modified the order without a problem. It normally takes them a few days to get whatever you are ordering over to UPS, but overall their prices and service are ecxellent.

Well Vern, I’m really a quiet, shy, unassuming type. All you young guys scare and intimidate me! And the XX is quite a step up from the scooter I had been riding. And no, I really haven’t been lurking on the Forum for two years, I have just had the ‘Bird and discovered Warbird and Carlos’ sites two years ago. Along with being a maintenance newbie, I am also a forum newbie. Putting the sarcasm aside (for a moment), it’s this forum that has given me the confidence to start trying my own maintenance. I am sure I will have lots more stupid / newbie questions in the future. Didn’t mean to offend anybody with the ‘cheap’ comment. And there is nothing wrong with being cheap (when safety isn’t affected). After all, I am trying to perform my own maintenance after paying dealers to do all the work for the past 20 years (Yep, I’m an old guy). I thought the consensus on another thread was rotating pads was being cheap. Honestly, I’m looking forward to improving the performance of the brakes which are, imho, one of the weaker areas of the ‘Bird. Improved pads should be an easy upgrade. As I am going to keep the ‘bird long term (2 years is a record for me), Galfer lines are forthcoming, but I ‘m not ready for that yet. Again, appreciate all of the help.

I think I'm all set. I pulled the fronts to check wear (since the dealer last year said I was "close" to needing new pads). My left outer pad looked like the pics Warchild had put on another brake pad post (pic with the uneven wear). I swapped Left and Right pads so a fuller pad will be on the left caliper. No, I'm not being cheap...just an interim solution until I purchase some new EBC or Galfer's (some more homework to do) and install them. I forgot about the fact that I had pushed in all of the caliper pistons to allow putting back in the pads. The first few pulls of the brake lever were a bit interesting. The maintenance newbie in me thought he had really screwed something up. I guess we all need to learn sometime.

Warchild: Thanks for the quick reply. I have also been to your site many, many times. Both your site and Carlos' have been invaluable to me. rockmeupto125: No good reason to think there is a problem with the system. My braking action has been strong and there is pently of life onthe pads. My simple, niave concern came from the fact that the owners manual and Service Manual both refer to the upward caliper travel. For the uninitiated, only 1/8 to 1/4 inch seems like an awfully small amount of travel for it to be referred to in the "book". Looks like I am in good shape. Thanks both for the help. Griff

:?: Long time lurker needs some help. Quick history: 99 ‘Bird, 11K miles, 100% dealer maintained (until now). Bought the XX two years ago largely due to Carlos’ site. This forum has me believing I can perform much of the maintenance myself. Plus, since moving to Richmond, I don’t care for the local dealers. The Specifics: When raising the LF Caliper to test the LBS, I am not getting much travel at all, less than ¼ inch. The system was completely bled 1.5 years ago and 5K miles, and the fluid is still completely clear. I think I sould be seeing more travel with the caliper. Admittedly I am a 100% maintenance newbie, but it just feels like the caliper is not sliding properly. I’d appreciate your thoughts and recommendations. I am about to pull the pads to see if I can see anything, but I think this is going much deeper than that. Besides the caliper question, I appreciate all of the good advice around here. Next weekend will be my first attempt at new oil/filter/& plugs. I wouldn't have even thought about doing it myself without this site and forum. I know I will appreciate my XX much more once I start doing the maintenance myself.