Brake problem

[Shifty]

GPX600R, lever is REALLY soft. I've bled the brakes and it doesn't help. Got lazy and took it to a mechanic to get the master rekitted and it's no better. Lever has always been average but it's been getting worse and now it goes all the way to the bar and the bike is hardly interested in slowing.

I had settled on the fact that the brake lines are aged (20yo bike) and bulging under hydraulic pressure, but I can't see any evidence of a bulge (unless the entire line is bulging a tiny amount?). I would be super-pissed if I spent up on braided lines and it didn't fix the problem, as this is a cheap hack and I'm trying to put my pennies away for a new bike, but at the same time if that is going to fix it then I'm happy to spend the money.

The bike has the ECCS (or some similar acronym!) on the forks, I'm not sure if this is somehow connected to the braking system and maybe the cause of the problem?>

Any help appreciated......

[Neka79]

pads are ok??

no leaks in the system??

how old is the fluid?? might be stuffed?? a $20 bottle of fluid and an arvo fluid change may be good value??

[Gosling1]

....... (unless the entire line is bulging a tiny amount?). ......

Bang on the head - the whole line flexes, and thats most of the problem. You may have problems with the actual calipers as well (piston seizing slightly in the caliper will give the symptoms you have described - only way to fix this is replace the brake pistons, which is costly.)

Braided lines will help, so will new fluid and new pads. If the m/cyl is stuffed (piston may have scored the bore, seals could be worn etc), then you should get a kit put through it......or ditch it and replace with a m/cyl of a ZX6 or similiar. This will definitely fix your brakes.

[Shifty]

Damn skim readers

I've already flushed the system with new fluid... no dice.
I've already had it to the mechanic and had the master rekitted... no dice.

I guess braided lines it is... now where to get braided lines on the cheap, for an obscure bike?