Front brake on a UK 2003 XT600E
 

The front brake on my 2003 XT600E is not very good, very soft, it feels like its not going to stop me and would have no confidence in it in an emergency.
Does anyone have any info on how to sort this out??
Is there another brake system you can use on the bike or will braided hoses help cure it?

Or is it just the way the brakes are on this type of bike?

Thanks in advance
Wayne

My XT's brakes were very good, I could have probably done a stoppie (or at least get the front wheel locked up, and crash, since I haven't done a stoppie, ever).

Maybe at first try bleeding the front brakes? Or replacing all the old brake fluid. If you haven't done that already, of course...

I wish mine were like that! Mine slow me down and thats it :( I will have a look at changing the fluid and see if that makes any difference

Thx

I would change hoses http://www.ebay.com/itm/HEL-Braided-...item3393648ec1

Review, check and clean throughly the whole system.
Check the rubbers, seals, pads and what not.
New oil, proper bleed and if necessary new pads....those could be contaminated/greasy.
If none of this works go for braided hoses.
Go with xtrock's sugestion HEL Performance

Cheers,
RN

Also, I personally would check the existing hose. Press the lever and see if the hose expands in any place (grab the hose by hand and feel every 5cm of it for expansion). If the hose expands a lot (in some particular spot) this would mean the cord inside the rubber walls is broken and this might be the cause of crappy brakes. Replace the hose if it's faulty.

I hope my explanation makes sense... bier

Guys

Thanks for all the explanations and yeah they all make sense, will try them once back from my trip

Wayne

Mine is a '91 and still as far as I know on the original hoses. When I got the bike they were poor with no bite and little power.

I did the usual but found the thing that turned them in to "stoppers" from "slowers" were a new disks and decent pads.

I used sintered pads in the rear and they were grabby and slightly unpredictable. Replacing those with normal pads cured that problem.

Both ends are now predictable and have enough power to give me confidence. Although the front will never be like an R1 of course.

Check if the 2 pistons of the caliber works...In my XT600E,when i buy it,one piston doesnt work....I clean it and work fine, also i have braided hoses so everything is ok...

But dont expect an 15 year old brake technology to be like 2014...

Thanks for the added info guys, every little helps

Wayne