HI have only been riding since the late spring. This is my first bike. It does NOT have ABS (I've heard air can get trapped in the ABS system...this is not my issue).
Several months ago, I changed the brake fluid. I initially had air sucked into the front brake line, but it eventually came back out the other side. The rear brake caliper initially seemed to be "sticking" a bit after the fluid change, but now no longer sticks at all and I can freely rotate the wheel when cleaning the chain.
I had a recall on something NOT brake related. While there, the mechanic told me my brakes needed work because they felt "spongy". They then quoted me a whopping $650 for an 8k mile service. I told them I'd think about it. They said they could knock off some items if I am doing things myself but still. I'd like to see if I can figure it out myself.
I tried to re-bleed them for a while yesterday, but no air came out of the lines. The brakes feel the same. I tried tapping on the brake lines a bit as well. Still no bubbles come out.
I do not have a pneumatic bleeder. Instead I do this method. 1. Pump brake a few times then hold down, 2. Open bleeder valve for a few seconds, 3. Close bleeder valve, 4. Release brake.
The brake pads have plenty of meat left on them, also confirmed by the mechanic.
However, a new thing that just developed after attempting to re-bleed is that the rear wheel now squeals when rolled backwards. Not sure if that has any relation.
Since this is the only bike I've owned, I also don't really know how they are "supposed" to feel. This is how they've always felt ever since owning the bike before I even changed the fluid.
Bike is from 2017. The fluid looked dirty when I initially got the bike in spring of 2026, so I don't know how old the fluid in the bike was.
Any ideas? Would you mind explaining for someone not super well-versed in mechanical things? All of this bike maintenance stuff is new to me!
Thanks all!
Lol!!! To be fair, they quoted me for an entire 8K mi service (bike had 5.1k miles). It included a bunch of stuff, but most of it is stuff that I have been doing myself....oil change, coolant change, brake fluid change, chain clean and adjustment, etc. I was just like "holy shit" at the price for that stuff hahaha.
He did confirm that the brake pads looked good so it probably just needed a bleed. It wasn't a quote to replace the brakes.
I did actually buy and use that little bottle! It is quite handy, but I still tried to not let go of the brakes with the bleeder valve cracked open just in case. I used it more as a failsafe. I actually DID get a bubble out of the front brake line several months ago. But that was after I initially accidentally got air into the line myself when I let the fluid get too low in the reservoir while flushing it.
Both brakes have a some degree of "dead zone" travel before the brakes engage. But at least for the front brake it seems to engage rather quickly once it is engaged. The rear brake feels less so, but it is really hard for me to tell. For the rear brake, I do have difficulty engaging it with my more protective moto boots, but I thought it was because I can't move my ankle. I had to adjust my shifter up to use my more protective boots and was thinking about moving the rear brake lever up as well. When I am not wearing my more protective boots, it is much easier to engage. However, I still am able to do hill stops with the rear brake even with my more protective boots.
Both brakes seem "less responsive" than I remember my MSF class bike. But I also didn't have my fine motor control as developed back then and I can't compare them side by side.
How can I determine if my brake lines are having issues? I don't have a garage, so it it bakes outdoors in the Florida sun, heat, and rain. I suspect that may have been the case for its prior owners as well.
If the rear brake can stop you, then it's fine. Rear brakes (on cars and bikes) are more for control than stopping - front does nearly all the braking.
From your description your brakes sound fine - every bike is a little different. I'd expect a little play before engagement.
Every bike I've had needed a little adjustment to suite me - I tend to need a little more play in the rear brake, guess my right foot likes to hang down.