I know the rear brake issues on the Multistrada are covered in several threads but my 15 month old machine is back with my Ducati dealer for the 4th time now with back brake failure. Just did an Alps trip on the machine and had the dealer check the bike before I set off, the rear brake was there and just about working. I rode 900 miles in 2 days and hardly touched the brake (mostly motorways) yet on arrival no brake just loads of travel on the brake pedal. The bike had its so called brake upgrade on it's second visit back, can anyone explain to me how air keeps getting into the system, how it can happen when the brake is not even used? Am not sure the dealer will do any more than just bleed it again, for me it spoils what is a truly great bike. A proper fix is needed
I'm in the same boat. It's been bled, then it was replaced and now yet again I have rear brake at all. I do truly mean none. It won't even stop the bike rolling if I'm sitting on it and push it forwards or backwards. Love the bike, but this is starting to really aggravate me.
I can only assume that the dealer isn't doing it right then. Snells fitted the new kit to mine back in March/April time, it's still good and the performance is now useable, if not exactly spectacular.
Just a thought, do the guys who have gone down the de-cat route still suffer the same brake issues as there is a lot of heat produced and shed by the cat which is very close to the rear brake res and lines?
Dealer is well regarded Midlands Ducati main dealer who also prep race bikes...... Let's see what they do and how long I am without the bike.
Well, I have had these "brake issues" also the whole time I've owned the bike. But actually, it doesn't bother me at all. I remember when I test drove the machine one small thought gone through my mind "OK, shitty rear brakes..." and that is it. Once you know it, learn to live with it. At least in my riding style (not too much offroad) the rear brake is there only to balance the rear on very tight braking, not to have any real effect on stopping it self. And anyway, my wife owns KTM 990 SMT, and after riding that machine the Ducati brakes feel very soft in any case (front & rear). KTM's brakes are AWESOME! So, this said... something strange happened during the Alpine tour. I checked the brake pads before we left and everything was normal. Then on return voyage from Italy to Austria I suddenly heard scraping sound from the rear at one Alpine pass. Stopped to check the issue and found that the rear pads had worn out COMPLETELY! (metal to metal) I still have no idea how that happened??? In my mind I did not use the rear brake that often etc. Well, drove the bike through the Dolomites without the rear brakes to Austria and found Ducati dealer in Salzburg. They were very helpful and replaced my rear brake pads on scene, updated the software on the bike and checked the bike all together. The cost of all this... 30€!!!! Amazing stuff. In finland I can't even buy a single Ducati sticker for 30€, let along to have something done to the bike.
I can live with a weak rear brake but no rear brake? Anyone seriously think that is acceptable and for it to keep happening? Bet if they take the rear brake pads out my bike they will still look like new
No rear brake is a massive problem. Hill starts become a juggling act and for things like tolls with any kind of gradient, it becomes a nightmare. A weak brake is one thing, none is a serious issue and will be an mot fail in the future too. So I'm not paying to fix what appears to be a fundamental design flaw. My dealer is Ducati Glasgow and they invariably do an excellent job, so I'm more inclined to blame the kit than them.
If it is a design flaw... then fix illness and do not concentrate on the symptoms. I guess in my bike, since it is the most basic model... should not be a problem. Just waiting for the symptoms to be so serious they bother me... :biggrin:
Even the best in the world screw it up sometimes, especially if they're following the factory technical manual on this one. Ideally they need to remove the caliper from the mount and lift/turn it to carry out the bleed process, it's really the best way for underslung calipers. The manual tells you to do it with the caliper in place.
As an ex Aprilia Tuono owner I'm well used to having no rear brake. The most important thing is fully bleeding the system and as Doodle said removing and rotating the calliper used to be the way to do it with the Tuono. We also tried hanging a weight off the pedal at night, this would help but not eliminate the problem.
Chaps I find it hard to understand how in 2012 a bike or any vehicle manufacturer can not equip a bike with a reliable rear hydraulic brake !! I would suggest any members of the forum with experience of little brake effort, excessive pedal travel or complete failure contact VOSA (DFT) vehicle safety branch in Bristol 0117 9543200 and provide details of our concerns. The more reports that are made its likely VOSA will investigate the concerns with Ducati UK.
Been there done that! The answer is to have the master cylinder upgrade done AND to have the new Brake pipes / hoses to the ABS unit fitted at the same time. I think they are larger bore pipe / hoses (?). I had many months of rear brake issues and since the above work was done some 9 months ago it has been absolutely fine, no fade and it works - it is not the worlds best but it does work for hill starts and in traffic.
Yes but the issue is I have already had this upgrade done. After the upgrade the brake was a little better but after a 900 mile ride over 2 days the brake had gone, a tiny amount of braking was there if you pressed the peddle a couple of times. I lived with it while away as I did not have tools to get the caliper off. Dealer thinks its connected to the heat from the exhaust /cat, not sure what is happening as they still have the bike.
I have had my rear brake upgraded with all the new kit that was fitted by my dealer,Its better but not fantastic as i use the back brake a lot i could do with a decent brake pedal. I went through it with Aprilia with their back brake requiring bleeding frequently then back to normal 2 days later and that was never sorted properly. I test rode a 990 ktm smt and the back brake on that was excellent compared to what a have been used to in the past so if they can get it right why cant the rest ? No wonder Rossi,s goin back to yamaha :wink:. 1200 base
Having gone though these issues with the Aprilia I still think it's all down to the bleeding. Once it's done right it will last for a good 6 months or more (mine went off over Winter break), if it's not done fully it will last about a day or two.
twin I totally agree with you(tuono previously also)but it is so frustrating. Even when my dealer bleeds the brake whenever it goes in for anything. such a great bike, so many good fixes for other issues you would think a fix should be simple.
I wonder if it might be possible to add a bleed nipple at the highest point of the hydraulic pipes, i.e. on or near the ABS unit under the seat? That should make it easier to bleed the air out properly. Any thoughts?
