Front end vibes...

[Mr OCD]

Bit of an odd one this ... my Fireblade has M4 calipers with standard brembo pads, Brembo ORO discs and a Brembo RCS19 MC with braided lines ... they feel superb as expected.

When braking hard from speed. I.e. motorway to town I get vibration through the front end and I can't work out what it could be... the lever stays constant, as do the brakes and in fact I simply thought it was the road surface through the tyre ... at low speeds it is fine.

A few months ago the forks were rebuilt, wheel bearings replaced as were the discs and pads and it didn't have this vibration.

Stripped and cleaned the brakes last night and it is still there.

Not sure where to go from here? Any ideas?

I'm wondering if the head bearings need looking at ...

[Mr OCD]

trickywoo said:

EBC pads will fix it

How is the wear on the front tyre?

Front tyre is like new ...

[Mr OCD]

Tommo13 said:

Could be wrong as you keep that blade so clean, but I've had something similar and it turned out to be a couple of the bobbins where stuck in place on the disc. Get a bolt and nut in it and give it a turn, freed it off and the problem went away. Could be worth a check as it's an easy fix ?

Bobbins are fine ... as you rightly say its kept mint (most of time) and the brake discs have only done 2000 miles since replacement.

[Mr OCD]

Fleegle said:

This. It's a result of all the 3rd gear wheelies you've been smacking down

I wish...

£125 fitted for replacements or do myself ... if going to the hassle of checking them I might as well replace TBH.

[Mr OCD]

Cheers All.

I'm going down the route of replacing the head bearings ... everything else is done so for the sake of £30 and a couple hours work I might as well rule them out.

OEM or HD taper bearings?

[Mr OCD]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I would check the headstock isn't oval or the frame bent.

ps off!!!

[Mr OCD]

Prof Prolapse said:

Have you actually confirmed they're knackered?

There's no sense in replacing working bearings...They can last for bloody ages.

Christ are you desperate for something to do?

It is difficult to confirm as it only happens when the front end is under pressure at speed. The majority of CBR1000RR owners are replacing their head bearings around 20k miles with inspection every 12k according to the Honda manual and my blade is about to tick past 29,000 miles and is now 7 yrs old ...they have never been inspected or changed. So given I need to strip the front end down to check them... at that mileage I might as well just change them given everything else is new.

Was going to do it myself ... but local suspension specialist have quoted me £95 to fit ... for that they can do it not to mention I have no time to do it myself.

[Mr OCD]

Shadow R1 said:

Any update on this ?

It's having the head bearings replaced next week.

[Mr OCD]

Bike is currently having its head bearings done ... KAIS just sent me this:



Obviously way over due for checking / greasing at a minimum. So new bearings going in as we speak.

Hopefully that will resolve the vibration.

[Mr OCD]

New head bearings has fixed it. Happy days

[Mr OCD]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Was that caused by jet washing?

Very unlikely as it would take an idiot to force water past the seals.

20 k is the norm for head bearings on these bikes apparently ... so I did well to get nearly 30 k miles although it's been vibrating for the past 5k!

[Mr OCD]

Birky_41 said:

Glad to hear you sorted it

Jumping on this thread my front has started pulsating on the lever and grabbing on the front

I've bought some red scotchbrite and brake cleaner, hoping maybe I cooked the pads on it a bit but it's still doing it

I've cleaned again last night after being out but am I just in denial? I reckon they are slightly warped but bikes only done 5000 miles (9 months old)

Pulsing is generally caused by DTV ... I.e. Warped discs, seized bobbins or poor pad transfer.

If you've cleaned up the discs and the bobbins are free then it can only be the discs ... discs on modern bikes are so thin now so easily done.

[Mr OCD]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Why do you think I asked.



<don't get your knickers in a twist, I'm only pulling your plonker>

TBF I've seen people with bikes using a pressure washer far to close ... it is a common mistake. Hence I can see how the issues arise, but if your sensible it is no worse than riding your bike in the rain.

[Mr OCD]

Birky_41 said:

Discs definitely smooth so possibly bobbins but more like pads. I uprated them from the oem to Brembo SA (fast road so they say) but have had them fade heavily when I did the 'ring and tbh I may have cooked them. Im getting brake fluid 'sweat' from the reservoir too so maybe the pads are an area I should look at

Need to change the tyre for a road bike track day next week so I'll get my local mechanic to check and change the pads if need be too

I'd be using SC's for road and track based riding ... for the ring certainly.

Pad and fluid change wont hurt. Swap the fluid for Motul RBF600.

[Mr OCD]

Birky_41 said:

Cheers mate - ordering now

You won't be disappointed ... I love the SC pads ... not cheap though for the M4 calipers and I get through a set every 8-10k on the blade.

I'm trying Bendix MRR this time round as half the price.

[Mr OCD]

It's back... seems worse than ever now so clearly the head bearings didn't resolve it.

Stripping it down tomorrow to find out what the hell is going on!

[Mr OCD]

So after all that ... new brake discs needed.

- OE?
- Brembo Oro series?
- Brembo T-drives?
- AN. other?

[Mr OCD]

Fleegle said:

2 that I have used and can speak highly of : -

Brembo Oro
Galfer

I've just taken Brembo ORO off the bike due to the vibration issues... not sure what is going on there but have dropped MODE performance an email to see if they can be rebuilt.

[Mr OCD]

Birky_41 said:

Its funny Im in exactly the same boat. Motul fluid and pads are excellent but discs are rubbish so unless I can get replaced under warranty I need to get the Brembo Oro (or whatever its called) rotas

Also changing the master cylinder...but thats a separate issue

I'm not a quick rider so most likely overkill for me but you can't beat the confidence of a decent brake setup. The blade has M4 calipers, RCS19 MC, Bendix MRR pads, Motul RBF, HEL hoses and until recently the Brembo ORO discs... utter overkill for the road and even my ability of track - but hell it braked and lifted the rear wheel for fun with two fingers...

A lot of people say the standard setup is superb. bks says I ...

[Mr OCD]

Birky_41 said:

Jumping on this thread again as I had similar issues as the op with brakes

Took my bike into my 'local' dealer for its 6k service and discs

Called me up within a few days and said definitely an issue. Covered under warranty. Was the discs all along.

Was the discs on mine as well.