Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

That's something I've never thought of or cared for, but you may have a point. May be others would like to confirm it.

On the other hand, years back my FZ's first front pad was replaced at 10-11K so I'm still okay with what has happened given how much fun I'm having with R15. On the other hand, I rely on engine braking a lot, so I guess the delay could've been a little longer, but I guess I'll have to see for next replacement when it happens.

Regards.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Pad wear seems too much for 1700km run. I also faced the same issue around the same pad thickness like yours. Topped up brake fluid and bleed the line its all fine. I seems brake reservoir is small as the pad reached end of life air gets sucked in due to less fluid. Also when we lean heavy on the right corner with low brake fluid air can easily pass in.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Haha.. That'll be a good lesson for him!

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

All thanks to you buddy. Always helpful.

Regards.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Happy to help, brother. Cheers

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Update on this (sorry a little late) :

Bin-f@cking-Go! That was it @Ankey.

Went to the SVC, explained him the situation, I had little time in hand but stayed there for some time to check the pad situation. We opened up the front pad set and they seemed to have worn out good. Take a look -



The mechanic decided that the front pad set need to be replaced and if that still won't help they'll go for line bleeding and fluid top up. However as soon as the front pads were replaced, everything seemed to revert to original. The bloody brake fluid in the front reservoir seemed to have come back up and now it sits higher at somewhere between middle to high. That was some learning. The brake lever is solid with original play now.

I'd like to thank @Anunay @Kartik Shetty @TheArcher84 and @The Monk for their same and valuable input.

However the front pad set is 555/-, the labor charge for that is 220/- as that doesn't count in free service, so that's an update for all who're reading. Here -



The mechanic and I agreed on not doing an engine oil change this service as since 4th service, my total run was only 1700 KMs and while we checked the oil level, the loss was minimal, it was still pretty much full with hardly any lack in viscosity. Courtesy to my upcoming hometown visit for 2-3 weeks this month end, my next run is expected to be no more than approx 1500 KMs till 6th service, so I guess will change the oil then itself. Rest, the bike is running fantastic as always, a small niggle or 2 like visor vibration I fixed with a 2sided tape plonked between the visor and the fairing.

PS (1): There was a FZ25 test vehicle, which the mech gave me happily to ride. I rode that for 4-5 KMs in heavy traffic and boy, my R15S felt like a tiny bike from rider's position after that. And the low end torque is awesome for city, very hard gears but the grunt was linear and such a relief with the seating position after 10 months.(Miss my FZ16 now).
Did that make me rethink my stance on the R15, no. But, brilliant work with FZ25, Yamaha.

PS (2): While I was returning from the service center, a squid on a modded up Splendor was trying to race by pulling up parallel and revving continuously. I got fed up and gave a false revv bomb, he thought I was pulling up for race. He zoomed past, couldn't brake properly at next red light, crashed into 3 bikes, got beaten up bad and the bike's f**ked. Guess he'll learn a lesson. Or don't, I don't care.


Thanks and happy Sunday.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

The bike is new, so the brake line and brake fluid is not the problem. The brake fluid has to be replaced after 3 years, that too if you are in a very humid environment. Usually topping it up is all that is needed. So the only culprit here should be brake pad. It should have a little life left(This totally depends on your braking habits, mine lasted 20K kms cause I ride it like a splendor ). It will wear out much faster if you ride it like a sports bike. Ask the mech at the service center to check it, if it is worn out, get it replaced and the problem will go away. For your peace of mind, ask him to take it out in front of you. Then you can see how much life it has, the lever play does increase a bit as you use through the pad, and it goes away when you put new pads in. Same happens with the rear ones, but it is not so much noticeable and it is so gradual that we get habitual of using it. The difference is felt when you put in new pads and suddenly the extra play in the paddle is gone. This cycle starts all over again.

My diagnostics is a worn out brake pad with about 20% life left. You can use it for another 3000 kms (till next service) without any problems. or if it bother you too much, get is replaced tomorrow. Cost will be 830 rs.

Ask the mech to show you the pad by removing it, and then decide accordingly.
Let us know how it went.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Oh well you're here and are with some golden info as usual. Much appreciated bro. :-)

The bike at the time of writing is 10 months old with around 8000 KMs on ODO, so that's too soon for wear and tear as we know. I inspected the brake line closely, couldn't find any sign of crack but it is twisted and turned which I'm not sure if this is just with my bike or with others as well.

The brake fluid is same 10 months old, somewhere between middle and low level, never topped it up as it wasn't required. The brake pad is as old as the bike, but the bite still is very good, despite this oddity.

I have made a note of the process however tomorrow is the 5th free service so I'll be suggesting the same and other recommendations to the SVC guy. Lets see what's the culprit.

Cheers.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Well, I guess I am late to the party. Brothers have provided all the info.
Anyhow, how old is the brake pad. If it is old replacing it with a new one will solve the issue.

Bubbles in the brake lines are a major culprit (R15 does not use steel braided lines, its a rubber line), If the brake pads are good and still have life in them, that means brake oil has gone bad. How old is the bake fluid? Instead of topping up, try replacing all the fluid (The brake fluid is hydrophilic, it means it absorbs water vapor over time and loses its properties). changing all of the brake fluid will solve the issue. It is pretty cheap and replacing is easy. Open the bleeding value at the bottom, and the reservoir on top, then when the old fluid starts draining slowly start filling the top reservoir (The amount of oil coming out of the bottom should be equal to the amount you pour at the top. this will ensure that all the old oil is drained. Make sure that the reservoir at the top does not go empty at any time of changing, or you will have bubbles in the line. keep bleeding the line, till you think all the old oil is out and close the bleed nipple. Then top up the reservoir and close. You can find a detailed thread with pics about it in Do it yourself section)

Apart from this, I don't think there is any problem with master cylinder or cracks in the brake line. They may wear or tear over long term ownership, but not so soon. I trust Yamaha quality.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Thanks for the response @The Monk ,appreciate that.

No tracks or very hard braking for me. 70% is highway rides and rest city commute, however I won't deny once in a while hard front braking is done, thanks to random people appearing out of nowhere in the middle.

I don't think we have steel braided lines in R15(S) but I'm not 100% sure because this info hasn't been mentioned anywhere. Probably senior and long term owners may know better.

**Today's update for some new light on this matter-
This morning when I got ready for work, I found the brake lever in original state (very less play, hard lever), so looked like overnight it reverted to normal. Strange!
However as soon as I rode some 6-7 KMs, the lever again got freed by the same amount of play I mentioned earlier, its almost 2 inches of play now. Does this indicate anything?
The brake bite once it gets applied is still pretty solid though. I highly suspect the brake fluid lack or god forbid bubbles in the line now.

Let me know if anything else needs to be checked or I'll simply go with the suggestions you and above gentlemen provided so far in tomorrow's free service.

Regards.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Sounds like air bubbles in the brake system. The brakes need to be bled properly. Another quick hack you can use is to tie the brake lever with a rag overnight. Tie it tight. The lever should be pulled in as far as possible. This helps with getting rid of the air in the brake system. Though this works only to an extent.

Does the R15 come with steel braided brake lines? Very hard braking (like what you would do on a track) will get the brakes to overheat and render them ineffective. Though this should not be the case on your bike, since you are using it to commute.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Thanks for the response [MENTION=64547]TheArcher84[/MENTION]

I brake gradually with a long slow hold, almost 99% of the times. Rest 1% on from very high speeds I usually tend to do 2 to 3 slow pumps in controlled manner till the bike comes to required state of slowness. (Not sure how I picked this up but this is the reminiscent from my FZ times)

I'm suspecting the lack of fluid here myself, but the I'll have the SVC guys check the hose as well. (I hope that's not the case)

Regards.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

I have not faced such situations before. But, My feeling is that the brake hose could be a culprit here. Might have some damages/blockages inside which cause the brake fluid not to flow properly, causing the free play. But, for this ODO I assume the brake hose should not be an issue.

How do you apply your brakes..one long slow hold or you do pumping action.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Much thanks for the quick assistance [MENTION=77010]Anunay[/MENTION] and [MENTION=79102]Kartik Shetty[/MENTION]

As I said the fluid shows between middle and lowest level so I guess that could be a culprit. The pads however don't show any sign of wear as the bite is still solid but I won't rule that out.
Regarding master cylinder, I hope that's not the case but I'll have all these 3 checked with the SVC on Friday.

Regards.

Re: Yamaha YZF- R15 S Owners Reviews and Experiences

Fluid top up. Open the reservoir and then check. Mostly it is happening because of that. I too had this. Master cylinder can hardly go wrong. But just check that too if my suggestion doesn't work.