rear brake... slide right

[jazzn]

Hi,

When I hit the rear brake hard I find the rear tire starts sliding right - a bit. Does that happen to everyone or is there something I should have better aligned?

thanks,

jason

 

[07Bolt]

Bald tire? If the wheel/tire is moving by itself u have axle issues. Loose pinch bolt maybe. Try bleeding rear brakes too for air pockets, that might be causing interferences.

 

[jazzn]

Thanks. No - the wheel is stable. Just the skid takes the bike rightward. Tire is getting old that is true, just about time to change it.

 

[Mark XB12r]

with crowned roads, you will tend to slide down hill... i think this may be what your experiencing

 

[Iamarchangel]

Wow, most people complain that they get nothing out of their rear brake.

Sounds like a good set-up to me.

Also sounds like bad riding technique since, if you use the front brake properly, that shouldn't happen.

 

[GAXB9R]

Your applying the brake on the right side and sounds like your doing it with force. The force on the right side will cause it to sway that way when the skid occurs. Thats just the way I see it in my head.[smirk]

 

[TreyE]

I have to almost put all my might into locking up my rear tire, youre either a beast or your rear brake > everyone elses.

 

[2004xb12s]

Why are you locking up at all? Chances are if I am locking up my rear wheel I am more worried about smashing the car/deer/pedestrian in my way rather than if my bike skids straight or not.

 

[Mark XB12r]

I have to almost put all my might into locking up my rear tire, youre either a beast or your rear brake > everyone elses.

you definitely need to get that checked out, unless you like to keep it as an anti lock safety feature

 

[clarson_75]

I would say physics is your problem and these two explain it.
1.

with crowned roads, you will tend to slide down hill... i think this may be what your experiencing

2.

Your applying the brake on the right side and sounds like your doing it with force. The force on the right side will cause it to sway that way when the skid occurs.

 

[TreyE]

you definitely need to get that checked out, unless you like to keep it as an anti lock safety feature

I do like it because it doesnt lock up, I tend to get heavy foot on my rear when braking hard. I thought a crappy rear brake was common on these? Although I do remember my 03 XB9R having a better rear. Ill check it out and possibly change pads soon.

 

[OldGeezer]

Just got to say I would love to trade you my rear brake components for yours My rear brake is more like a suggestion than a brake never any chance of locking that sucker up… I have bled the system, changed fluid, new pads, though not EBT HH. I think the MC & caliper on these bikes is just too small and weak. Not sure why Buell spec'd them that way, maybe to keep barcalounge drivers from falling on their head when they jump on a real bike…

Anyway I got to go oout riding again yesterday after a few weeks away and I was once again amazed - in a bad way - at how the XB rear brake works…

I would definitely check your rear bearings, and brake components, but I would also double check the stem bearings and make sure that the preload, rebound and damping is identical on both forks. I once had a bad experience with a friend's Bonneville year ago when he played around with the rear preloads and set then differently on each side. The bike would go into a scary wobble as soon as the speed exceeded 45MPH, it would turn fine in one direction and try to low side when you turned in the other and it would skid in one direction when the rear brake was applied. What got my mind working to figure the problem out waas when the bike lay down on me as I was making a U-turn towards the soft side at 5 to 10MPH. I was going real slow and there was barely any lean in the turn, but as soon as I started turning it went down on me. I still have a scar from where the left header rested against my knee. I was wearing shorts as I had walked over to my friend's to see if he felt like going out for a beer and had no gear. That is where I learnt that Murphy always gets you when you are unprepared…

Anyway other than always wear your gear check your suspension settings as well as your brake components.

Good luck and be safe

 

[TreyE]

Just got to say I would love to trade you my rear brake components for yours My rear brake is more like a suggestion than a brake never any chance of locking that sucker up… I have bled the system, changed fluid, new pads, though not EBT HH. I think the MC & caliper on these bikes is just too small and weak. Not sure why Buell spec'd them that way, maybe to keep barcalounge drivers from falling on their head when they jump on a real bike…

Anyway I got to go oout riding again yesterday after a few weeks away and I was once again amazed - in a bad way - at how the XB rear brake works…

Yea thats what I thought, theres even a thread on changing the caliper to a brembo if I remember correctly, that must be a more viable option. Ill have to look into that.

 

[jammer84_03]

I can lock mine up, and do so when im riding aggessively by either downshifting or braking. I get the rear to swing with my weight, but have never had an issue with it swaying on its own accord. Maybe look at your riding style and see if you are placing to much weight on the right side of the bike when your riding. Easy way to check is to get up to speed and let go of the handle bars. If your lop-sided on the bike, it will start to drift in that direction.

 

[williegoat]

So that's what that pedal on the right does! I thought it was just a soft place to rest my toes.

 

[OldGeezer]

LOL williegoat, that would be mine as well.

Trey, the threads on changing the rear caliper to a Brembo all seem to agree that there is very little performance gain unless you also change to rear MC to a Brembo. There are a couple of different Brembo rear MC off Ducatis and Aprillias which will work really well on the Buell, but you have to modify the plunger &/or mounting (in order to get proper alignment on the push rod) and replace the existing Buell banjo bolt/brake switch with a metric one that fits the new MC. Here is a link to one of those threads:
Rear MC upgrade

 

[jazzn]

Thanks for the comments. I just like to hit the rear and skid to a stop once in a while. I find that amusing what can I say? Just wondering if anyone else found that it skids a bit to the side.

My rear brake is more like a suggestion than a brake never any chance of locking that sucker up…

wow that is not what I get.. I can lock the rear wheel without trying too hard.

Drive safe everyone..