Disc Brakes; Front Brake - APRILIA RS 50 - 1999 Manual

 
WARNING
As mentioned above, the brakes are the
most important safety system on your
motorcycle. For your safety, they must
be in perfect repair, so they should be
checked every time you ride your mo-
torcycle.
Oil or other fluid on a disc will contami-
nate the brake pads. Dirty pads must be
discarded and replaced, a dirty or oily
disc must be cleaned with a high quality
degreaser.
Arrange with your Local
to flush the systems and change all of
the brake fluid once every two years.
NOTE
This motorcycle is provided with
front and rear disc brakes with separate
hydraulic systems.
When the pads wear out the brake fluid
level in the reservoir decreases to auto-
matically compensate for their wear.
The front brake fluid reservoir is located
on the right end of the handlebar near the
front brake lever.
The rear brake fluid reservoir is under the
upper part of the fairing on the right side of
the motorcycle.
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38 use and maintenance RS 50
Check the levels of the brake fluid in the
reservoirs, see below (FRONT BRAKE),
p. 39 (REAR BRAKE), and the wear of the
pads, see p. 72 (CHECKING THE BRAKE
 
PAD WEAR), every 300 mi (500 km).
WARNING
Never use your motorcycle if any por-
tion of either brake system is leaking.
CHECKING THE SYSTEM
NOTE
Carry out these checks only on a
firm, flat surface such as a concrete garage
Delear
floor.
Place the motorcycle on the stand.
Rotate the handlebars fully counterclock-
wise so that the top surface of the brake
fluid in the front brake reservoir is paral-
lel to the top edge of the reservoir (1).
Ensure that the fluid level is up to the top
of the glass gauge (2). If not, top off.
 
WARNING
Use only DOT 5 or 4 fluid taken from a
clean, sealed container. Never reuse
 
used brake fluid.
CAUTION
When the disc pads wear out, the level
of the fluid decreases progressively to
compensate for their wear.
Check the brake pad wear, p. 72
(CHECKING THE BRAKE PAD WEAR)
and the disc wear.
 
CAUTION
After servicing the brakes, always
check them for function. If the stroke of
the lever or pedal is excessive, or if you
detect that the effectiveness of the
brakes is reduced in any way, have your
motorcycle serviced by your Local
Delear.
It may be necessary to have your dealer
bleed the system, or there may be some
other problem with the brake system.
Never ride your motorcycle in traffic im-
mediately after servicing the brakes.
Always apply the brake pedal or lever
several times before riding your motor-
cycle. Then, try your motorcycle in a
parking lot or other safe area with little
traffic to ensure that the brakes are
working properly. Failure to observe
this warning can lead to a serious acci-
dent with subsequent serious injury or
death.