need help with front brakes

[Ben]

My first bike was a 85 magna, which i learned to ride on and my dad now rides. Anyways, Ive owned a few bikes since and when i came home to visit the fam i took the mag out for a scoot....and the front brakes are driving me crazy. They just dont bite. Ive bled them a million times, ive had the calipers off, checked the pads, rebuilt the master cylinder, they still dont grab like i think they should. I can totally clamp the lever at 35 and the front wheel wont lock...i worked up to this fact gradually of course. My dad thinks im imagining it but he drives soooo slow. I just cant accept that the front brakes on this bike are supposed to be this weak. What am i missing? Am i missing something in the bleeding process? Im fresh out of ideas....

thanks!

[hootmon]

If it still has the original rubber brake hose, you may consider putting on a Stainless Steel hose.. The rubber hoses tend to make the brake more mushy.. and an older rubber hose may be very mushy..
Just a thought based on other threads that have come up.

[Sledge Hammer]

Are you saying the brakes don't grab hold like you think they should or that they don't work as well as you recall that they once did? Have you replaced the brake line itself? If it's expanding under pressure, that could be a culprit.

I can tell you that my '95 with just over 6300 miles on it and all stock brake components will not lock the front wheel, but then that's one reason I ride "soooo slow" around here. (The other reasons are lots of blind drives and intersections on curves at tops of hills and a bazillion morons in cages who think that everyone else is obligated to look out for them.) On the positive side, I don't have to worry about the front end washing out from under me on dry pavement or throwing myself over the bars like a street rodeo clown.

[Sledge Hammer]

If it still has the original rubber brake hose, you may consider putting on a Stainless Steel hose.. The rubber hoses tend to make the brake more mushy.. and an older rubber hose may be very mushy..
Just a thought based on other threads that have come up.

Aww, you beat me to my punchline, Hoot!

[Ben]

Its hard for me to remember, but i think that theyve always worked that way, i just didnt know any better at the time. I wish i could ride another magna to compare. Ill look into getting some new lines. I dont have to ride it anymore but it still bothers me, its fine to ride around if you can gear down and take everything easy, but if you ever had to stop quick unexpectedly, youd be in trouble. Thanks all

[Ben]

Well...any suggestions of where i can get a kit?

[Sledge Hammer]

Ben, if your dad doesn't have your proficiency, non-locking brakes might actually be to his benefit. Speaking for myself, I have more confidence in my ability to bring my Magna to an emergency stop than I would my friend's ZZR with its far more powerful brakes. Better to have gotten down to walking speed before impact than to slide up under a car after having the front end slip out from under the bike.  

[Sledge Hammer]

Well...any suggestions of where i can get a kit?

Several guys here have recommended Dave Dodge's stainless steel-wrapped  brake lines. That's what I am planning to do for my Magna. It's bound to be a less expensive option that putting sintered pads on it and running the risk of wearing an expensive, hard-to-find rotor for your '85.

[magnagregcan]

I put the DD stainless braided line on last year and it works great. Although I spend most of my time "going" and usually always gear down before I come to a stop (emergencies not included!).
Everyone complains about the lousy brakes on the 3rd gen Magnas, but I've never had a problem stopping. Of course, I stick to the country roads which we have in abundance here in Nova Scotia (yea, a LONG ways from Texas) and the traffic (if any) is very sparce. I like this forum because the BS is also sparce! lol
Cheers!
Greg

[lragan]

I made both mods at the same time on my '96 Magna -- stainless steel brake line and sintered pads.  I was concerned at first that in an emergency, I would lock up the front wheel, but it only took a few rides to get used to the stronger brake -- and boy, does it make a difference!!  I am much more confident in my ability to stop quickly than before.

The Progressive springs in the front fork stopped the "dive" on braking, which is also a big improvement.  There is no doubt that my stopping distance is much shorter than before, and I am more in control of my destiny.

How old is your dad?  I am 69, and had no problem adjusting to the better braking performance.  It is a delight.

[MarylandMagnav45]

My first bike was a 85 magna, which i learned to ride on and my dad now rides. Anyways, Ive owned a few bikes since and when i came home to visit the fam i took the mag out for a scoot....and the front brakes are driving me crazy. They just dont bite. Ive bled them a million times, ive had the calipers off, checked the pads, rebuilt the master cylinder, they still dont grab like i think they should. I can totally clamp the lever at 35 and the front wheel wont lock...i worked up to this fact gradually of course. My dad thinks im imagining it but he drives soooo slow. I just cant accept that the front brakes on this bike are supposed to be this weak. What am i missing? Am i missing something in the bleeding process? Im fresh out of ideas....

thanks!

I have an 85 magna with around 35,000 miles.  My brakes are adequate.  Still good, but they don't have the stopping power of my friend's 1997 CBR 600.  I definitely have never locked up my front brake, and I've been under hard braking conditions. 

I'm sure if I was riding at around 110 mph, and I just squeezed the front brake, I would go flying forward like a rodeo clown.

[hootmon]

Ben  - You did not mention if you have a V45 or V65.. In any case, take a good look at the Fork Brace as well ESPECIALLY if it is a V65.. They were known for cracking.. This has nothing to do with braking, but everything about keeping your dad around.. Replacement braces can be purchased via e-bay and others on here can give you advice...

[Ben]

Hootmon - the bike is a V45, but i will check the fork brace, thanks for the heads up. And Greg, believe it or not, im in Nova Scotia too! Maybe we should go for a ride...

This is a great forum, appreciate all the comments from everyone!

[dgc67]

I have an 85 magna with around 35,000 miles.  My brakes are adequate.  Still good, but they don't have the stopping power of my friend's 1997 CBR 600.

The comparison is a good point.  What bikes, if any, have you been riding since you rode the v45 Magna last?
If you have been on sportbikes then I can see how you could feel disappointed with the stock V45 brakes.  I replaced my front pads and fluid and am confident with my bikes stopping power and I ride hard.

[Brad Badgett]

Replaced the front original brake line with a DD steel-braided line today, with the help of Trent.  The front brake is much more solid feeling, and requires less squeezing of the lever in normal stopping. 

Brad Badgett
OK Region
1996 VF750C