Okay, the other day I was washing my rims on my Gixxer. While using the hose, I think I may have wet the rear brakes (pads n pedal). About an hour later, I took it on the interstate. After about 15 minutes of riding I realized my rear brakes weren't working at all. I got to my destination and tried to pump them and nothing. About a half hour later I tried again and they worked. Did this happen because I wet them while washing my bike or is there something else wrong with them? If there is something wrong with them, then how did they all of a sudden start working?
Interesting answers! I'm guessing the people that said they don't work when wet don't actually own a motorcycle.Disc brakes work fine when wet.I have to go with Tim D on this answer. I have put in many miles in driving rain and never had a problem with wet brakes.There has to be something else that caused it.My guess would be soap.If it happens again i would take it apart and have the caliper checked.
there is nothing wrong with them... brakes don't work while wet.... it even warns you of this in driver's tests..... and the rear brakes on a bike are weak as all hell to begin with, get them wet and it's just 20 pounds of dead weight on your bike cuz they aren't going to do anything. this is a prime reason to learn to brake your bike using engine braking and relying on the brakes in emergencies or when you need that extra stopping power.... Interesting answers! I'm guessing the people that said they don't work when wet don't actually own a motorcycle actually i do... i own a 200cc dirt bike with front and back disc brakes.. the back brakes don't do anything to slow me down when wet... the front ones are severely impaired, but will slow me down.
If your bike is equipped with disc brakes then the most likely cause of the short-term brake failure was the soapy water on both the pads and disc. The brakes work on the principal of friction so the soapy water was actually working as a lubricant, preventing the brakes from doing their thing. Many older bikes lacked disc rotors with vents which would more quickly dissipate water from them. The result was a complete inability of the brakes to stop the bike for a fleeting moment until the pads and disc evaporated the water. Scary moments, imho.
Yes, it's because they were wet. Disc brakes can lose their effectiveness when wet. There is a difference between riding in the rain, and hosing the brakes. Pumping the pedal while still will not dry them, they need to be moving for the water to be wiped off. This happens very quickly while riding. I always check brake action after a wash. A quick check is all it takes to dry them.
After an hour and a quarter there will be no significant amount of water between the pad and disc and anyway the heat generated by applying the brakes would have dried out both in next to no time. Providing there was not a large amount of detergent put directly onto the discs, I suspect you have a different problem possibly the pistons are fouled and partially jammed. The only other culprit I can imagine is are pads worn to the metal in which case you will have heard it. 2 points to consider Brakes do work in the wet (the grip of the tyres is affected but the brakes will still work). Vents in brake discs are not to dissipate water they are there to dissipate heat. EDIT: >actually i do... i own a 200cc dirt bike with front and back disc brakes.. the back brakes don't do anything to slow me down when wet... the front ones are severely impaired, but will slow me down That is not the brakes that are impaired, that is the reduced grip of the tyres.
