Grabby brakes R1200R

[Rapid Dog]

2008 R1200R with <12K miles

I notice the first time I rode this bike how 'grabby' the front brake is on this bike on initial application.
Especially during slow speeds and around the parking lot type maneuvers.

I'd expect a little more progressive feel.
I'm wondering if it's maybe the OEM pads.
I've flushed the brake fluid with no noticeable difference.

I'm going to try cleaning the rotors with a Scotchpad but I think I might look for some new, maybe softer pads this weekend.

Any suggestions on pads or insights on this?

I've had pretty good luck with SBS and EBC pads but I don't recall which ones...

Otherwise, oh baby, best brakes on a boxer to date...

[bradzdotcom]

won't cleaning the rotors let it grab even better?

if it's getting too much bite at the beginning, could it be the front brake lever position giving you too much influence? can you back it off a position or two so it's closer to your fingers?

or are you just getting too effing old to adapt? seems like with all your off-road riding, you'd have a pretty good feel for things on a street bike.
are you noticing this when you transition off of another bike?

[Rapid Dog]

Brad
...no, it's not in my old feeble mind.
I just came off a 4 month foray with an '05 R1200RT with the whizzy brakes. The general feel on that bike was better at the lever.

This bike (new to me non-whizzy) has very good, dare I say supah-better in feel and stopping power in a linear fashion.
But, at the lever the first 1/4 of the pull is kind of null, doesn't do alot, then the real brakage comes in on the rest of the pull.

No matter, doesn't bother me there.
What does kinda annoy is the slow speed bite.

Kinda like on a dirt bike when your backing down a hill and when you grab the brake it bites and skids...but I've never done that....no.

[bradzdotcom]

yea, me neither. never.
i've topped every hill i've ever met.

i wonder if the pads are really hitting the surface of the rotor flatly when you go for initial bite, or if they're coming at the rotor slightly cocked, thus getting a gnarly first bite.

next time you have the wheel off, pop out the pads, put a very little dab of vaseline on the back of each pad where it contacts the piston and see if that does it. the vaseline might help flatten the pad on initial bite. it does, however, tend to collect a little grime if you leave it on there.

[Rapid Dog]

...I haven't used Vaseline since the late 70's...

[kpolito99]

I have a set of R1200S rotors and pads with around 10K miles that would surely fix up that grabby feel that has you bugging.

Money back guarantee. If my rotors and pads do not solve your issue you can return them for a full refund if you pay shipping of course and package everything up nice like you will receive it from me.