I’ve got an 821 I bought brand new, done just under 400 miles. I’ve replaced the levers with evo tech levers. brake lever free movement set same as original lever. I’m front the front brake just too aggressive too soon. Is this normal due to the twin front brake discs?
Use fewer fingers on the levers if I’m using more than 2 on my 12R then I’m in a world of possible hurt...
Just find them very sharp, have to be really careful if steering it slightly turned pulling breaks to a stop at a corner or something.
Have you altered the ABS settings? I had an 821 for a few weeks as a courtesy bike. Had no real issues with it, my usual ride is a M1200. I suggest a trip back to the dealer if it’s a new bike. To be honest if I had tried them both before buying I would have gone for the 821. Absolutely fantastic ride, that being said I love my M1200.
Riding in urban mode has the full ABS on, maybe its just me being heavy handed. I will mention it to the dealer when it goes in for its first service.
The Evotech levers are not a like for like replacement for the standard levers. The change in feel is 100% down to the Evotech levers. Andy
I only use urban mode when it’s really wet, generally ride in sport, touring if it’s a bit damp. Even in sport the bike I’d manageable in traffic.
I can only compare with a Yamaha YS125 and a Yamaha XJ6. The front brake on the XJ6 was nowhere near as sharp, but imo rear brake felt better than the Monster 821. Took 100miles or so before the rear brake on the 821 actually felt like it was working.
Ok, cool, it will come with time. When you were being taught, they should have tried to guide you in the use of the front brake, in that it is the most powerful and that it can be too much in certain situations. Approaching something at speed, you would happily use the front (in combination with the rear), applying progressively and gently loading the front tyre, no snatching on and off. This progressive application allows the suspension to compress gently too and keep everything smooth. You should have also been told that when doing tight manoeuvres such as the figure of eight, to stay off the front and only use the rear to control the braking, as this will prevent the heavy dive from the forks, which then upsets balance. By the sounds of it, you initially have had no confidence in the rear brake of the new bike and have started to rely heavily on the front only in all situations. As you do not have a great deal of hours in the saddle, you have yet to develop the finesse to ride this way, though this will come with time. Try to ride as you were taught, and now that there is a predictable rear brake response, use that more in start stop and walking pace situations. There is also the possibility that the new levers aren't helping, as already pointed out, but I think your riding technique may be the main cause of the problem, especially now that you have bought a new machine that will automatically feel sharper due to better quality equipment and lack of wear and tear due to age.
I think you're proberbly right. I'm more confident using the foot/rear brake on it now at slow monourvers, it took a while to bed it in. I actually took it out one day over Xmas to some quite places and done some heave braking with the rear, thats when it really started working. Just that front brake still needs some getting used too.
It's a good idea to go somewhere quiet to practice, as you say. Also, the riding school that you used, may also offer "post test" sessions to assist new riders with their first large cc machines. The school I used to teach for had several different style classes for less experienced riders, to help them expand their comfort zones.
