I'm new to the multistrada and have a bit issue with brake vibration, I've spent a couple of hours searching and reading posts but didn't find anything with symptoms quite like mine. The brakes on mine feel real good, responsive with great bite and zero vibration right up to the last 30 or so feet of a stop, it is at this point all hell brakes loose, they proper scream and the vibrate badly, goes right through the bike, up through the seat and into me (should I like this?) I should get time on the weekend to have a look. I plan having a good clean and de-glazing the pads, re seating the calipers and checking the bobbins for a start. Was just wondering if anyone has had similar symptoms or has any other others suggestions as to what I should be looking at ? Cheers in advance
Nothing as bad as you describe - but based on riding all year/weathers I think you’re on the right track with a good clean and some time spent on the bobbins.
I changed my pad and discs because of vibration, the discs were probably ok, but the pads were gummed up and worn out. Ive probably ridden 700 miles since and was planning on pulling the pads and cleaning the grooves and any other accumulated crap now the roads have dried. The rear pads are probably ready for change as well.
I would agree with the comments above, a good clean of the calipers, bobbins and pads usually. Also a smear of copperslip on the back of the pads and contact points on the shims can help.
The pads have very thin linings on them even when new, and they wear out surprisingly quickly. Well mine do anyway. Fit new pads often.
Thanks for the quick answers guys, gives me a couple of extra things to think about. I'll let you know how I get on.
I will keep this in mind if I have to replace, just had a quick look today and it looks like it has new pads front and rear but i don't know what brand as the bike's new to me
To be honest I couldn't rightly say, I didn't really test it too hard, the back brake is pretty hopeless so that wasn't trying to lock up like my old speedy used to and trigger the ABS, also the light is off.
It's going to Pro twins early next month for a up map, if I haven't sorted it by then I'll ask them what they think.
Brake discs are what causes vibration, there will be run out of true because of disc warpage or bobbins out of true. Brake pads do not make braking vibrate.
Right got a little update after the weekend, had the calipers off and gave em a good clean and de-glazed the pads (Looked new but did it anyway), checked the bobbins which were all free and then re-seated the calipers properly. I didn't bother to check the disc runout as there was zero vibration above 20 mph plus I couldn't find my DTI. Went for a good ride just over 120 miles and there was a bit of an improvement but not by much at all, but here's the odd thing on the way home got caught in a deluge on the m23 at the end of the motorway all the vibes had gone 100% perfect and stayed perfect until I stopped 20 minutes later. Sadly I went out today and it was back to how it was last week, my guess is garage I bought it from put some cheap chineasium pads in, well that's the hope.
Normally I'd 100% agree but this is a bit different, more like a squeal that the bike then resonates too.
Pads are the easiest/cheapest thing to replace first, you said there was a marginal improvement after you de-glazed them so sounds promising. I've used EBC HH sintered pads for years and always happy with their performance but any reputable brand would be worth a go.
Does the front vibrate for the last 30 ft or so when coming to a rest if you only use the rear brake ? Also, I'd be tempted to pop the front wheel out and when refitting it, use the proper technique in the manual for the calliper and spindle pinch bolt tightening sequence.
Thanks, that's definitely my plan of action now, Just came back from a two day tour of the south coast, not real high miles but a fair few and while the problem persisted I did feel it was getting slightly better. Got caught in the rain again yesterday and again the symptom went away immediately. My thinking is the water is changing the friction of the pads and as you say they are cheap. Probably going to go OEM I did try stopping with just the rear, it was frighting how poor the rear brake is joking aside no vibes at all with just the rear so that's all good, earlier when I said I seated the calipers, I did take the wheel out too as I had a carbon mudguard to install and refitted it properly, with the ignition on. I'm aware that it's a bit more complex than it looks.thanks for the heads up though
