XT660R rear brake peddle fade
 

Hi I am travelling 2 up in Mexico and Guatemala. I experienced lose of the rear brake in Mexico after much use the rear brake came back once cooled down. I replaced the brake fluid in Mexico old fluid was dirty. Worked well for quite a few thousand kilometres. Coming down a steep decent to Lake Atitland no engine just using brakes I lost the back brake peddle would move with no resistance once cooled the rear brake returned. I suspect the brake fluid boiled? Any ideas of fixes or solutions I have never had complet brake loss before.

Thats when you need the best EBC brake pads, cheap pads cant handle heat that well and same goes for the brake disc. These 1.cyl engines its a good help to let gears/engine do the braking for most part.

It is a dangerous habit. Also, not good for the engine/transmission because of lack of lubrication (check bike's manual). I would change the brake fluid and riding style. Do not provoke your guardian angel. Play on safe side and enjoy your trip.

Not talking about speed brake with gearbox/engine, gas handle in correct gear works fine and dont do harm to engine..

I have understood that Makia has been riding that descent with the engine off. But as non native English speaker... maybe I am wrong.

Same way I read it. You need the engine going, just let it idle with the clutch in, (or in neutral depending on the speed), if you want to coast down for a long time.

Use more front brake aswell, thats were the realstopping power is (besides engine braking)

Ok passed me that hes riding with engine off, yes not good for gearbox over distance. Thinking only rearbrake is because of the condition of the road or lost front brake, its not easy to know when you only get half story..

Thank you for the replys
 

The engine was turned off I was coasting in neutral not a habit I normaly do. It was an amazing twisty road coming out of the clouds down to Lake Atitland. I have just descovered I have a crack in the frame. Topos have taken there toll.

Ok so i quess no problem with front brake, and then i dont understand why you hang on the rear brake. Think about all the weight you have on bike trying to brake it from behind on a small disc vs large disc braking in front of bike. I havent measured it, but damn its a big difference in stop length front vs rear brake, offcourse it would get hot in a long hill.

That has happened to me a couple of times too on my Tenere 2011. First time was freaking scary as I came down a very steep and twisty road and had a pillion. But luckily front brake and engine brake was sufficient.

From what I understand brake fluid will condense a little and when its water in the brake fluid it will boil more easily and you will loose its function and the pedal will go straight down.

Best would be to change brake fluid as noted in the manual and maybe even more often, depending on how much you ride. And in long steep downhill sections try to use front brakes and engine brakes more than rear brake.

Hi Makia.

Happens to me a lot in the passed on my Honda CRF.

What Dot fluid are you using?

Try and get Dot 4 or 5 and some EBC pads will help.

You have experience now WTF I have no rear brakes?

Learn from this and as said by other members, try and use engine breaking with feathering the front brake and you should be ok.