Front brake fade!

[shang]

I'm having a problem with my front brake fading out after really long steep descents down techy single track. My KX450 didn't have the best brakes but this never happenned on it, although that could be because I had so much more engine braking.

I've flushed and bled the brakes with new fluid. I think I used a valvoline synthetic. Is there a better option for fluid? Or is the problem something I'm doing wrong in my riding style? I modulate both front and back on descents, though I do tend to be a heavy front braker.

When they aren't fading out they seem to work fine.

 

[swazi_matt]

if you have bled them the next option is to replace the brake-switch banjo bolt with a standard banjo (just check the thread, ktm is different, i ended up with a RM banjo bolt)

I used to get simillar things happening before i did this

 

[shang]

Really. That's interesting. Well that's next on the list then.

Thanks!

 

[MNKeith]

Try Motul 5.1. Higher boiling point. It's all I use in my bikes, no problems with it.

 

[bkwdc]

Needs to get that synthetic out of there as well?

 

[shang]

Is syn bad? I'll pick up the Motul and try that as well. Thanks!

 

[phoenix]

I think Richard Wilson at House of Horsepower has it figured out. I can't remember the magic combo but it involved genuine Yamaha brake pads, swapping the rotor (not sure of the brand) and I think back bleeding with the cap on. I rode his bike and his brakes are 1000% better than my '13 300. I'm taking a bike up there this week for some tinkering so I'll try to remember to ask him.

 

[shang]

That would be awesome. Looking forward to hearing what you find out.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Rod Overstreet]

We just finished a test day with GNCC womens expert racer Ashley Copeland on a 2014 EC300R. One of the "little things" we did, was replace the brake switches with banjo bolts from a RMZ. The difference in feel is amazing. A worth while investment!!!

 

[Fred1956]

We just finished a test day with GNCC womens expert racer Ashley Copeland on a 2014 EC300R. One of the "little things" we did, was replace the brake switches with banjo bolts from a RMZ. The difference in feel is amazing. A worth while investment!!!

Honda ones work as well

 

[gasgasman]

Synthetic brake fluid can have moisture pockets in the lines.
This moisture will boil and cause brake fade.

I have had great success using Motorcraft HD DOT 3 brake fluid.
It has a minimum dry boiling point of 500?F (260?C)

 

[Hooligan]

In my experience, brake pad material by far makes the biggest difference.

I had an Aprilia Supermoto and the OEM pads were terrible for fade. In a ten lap race they'd fade away to nearly nothing. A change to race compound pads totally solved the problem with no other alterations to the brakes.

On my WR250X supermoto, pad choice by far made the biggest difference in brake performance ... even more than switching to a steel braided line.

Since getting in to dirty bikes I have learned there are numerous different pad materials. I'd bet that you have an inappropriate pad material that is causing the fade. Switch to a sintered type and that will go away. However they may not work nearly as well when wet or muddy. Its a give and take kind of thing.