Check brake light after recall

[BadNews]

I was wanting to check the function of my brake lights with my Skene P3 with the decelerometer, so I rigged this up:


Turns out I can come to a normal, complete stop using only the front brake but no brake light comes on. If I clamp down hard enough to make a hard stop, it will come on. Rear brake functions normally and lights up with just a touch, so it’s not the Skene unit. Took it to the dealer where I had the recall done, the service manager took it off and fiddled with it a bit, then agreed that it wasn’t coming on with just the slightest pressure as it should. He is contacting the District Manager about it and will get back to me.

Anyone else having this issue with their new front brake switch?

 

[Sierra1]

Hmmmm . . . . I'll have to check.

 

[WJBertrand]

Mine seems to work the moment the brake lever moves.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[BadNews]

Mine seems to work the moment the brake lever moves.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks, good to know. That is what I expected mine to do. I’m glad I checked it on an actual ride instead of just taking for granted that it was okay. I wonder how many have actually checked it.

 

[Sierra1]

That's if the dealership even changed it. I can't say that I regularly check my brake light. It passes the yearly state mandated safety check.

Badnews, does your cruise work correctly?

 

[BadNews]

That's if the dealership even changed it. I can't say that I regularly check my brake light. It passes the yearly state mandated safety check.

Badnews, does your cruise work correctly?

Haven’t had any problems with CC, before or after the recall.

 

[BadNews]

I was hoping to get more feedback, either positive or negative, from everyone on this; maybe they're all out checking their new brake switch under actual driving conditions today. I just measured the distance my stock brake lever has to travel before the brake lights light up: 9/16". This was at the end right before the end knob/finger stop/whatever it's called. I know when I get to that point, I'm making a HARD stop. Maybe some of you could measure how far yours travels before it activates?
TIA.

 

[WJBertrand]

Mine travels about 3/8”, similarly measured, before the brake light comes on. This is still in the free play of the lever before I’m actually applying any braking force.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[BadNews]

Talked to the service manager yesterday. According to the district manager, my brake switch is functioning normally. I repeated that I can come to a full stop using only the front brake without the brake light coming on, and that is considered normal? They won’t even swap in another switch to see if it makes any difference. I asked if Yamaha is willing to risk a rear ender over a $90 brake switch? The service managers response was “Well, there’s labor on that, too.” ????!!!!
I was then told that I should pursue the issue with Yamaha, as I would likely get farther with it than they would. I interpreted that as “We’re too busy to care about your supposed brake switch problem.”
I have come up with a fairly easy fix, which I will post up with pictures if I have to do it. But I am going to try calling Yamaha this morning to see if I can get anywhere with them.

Follow-up: Yamaha listened to the issue, put me on hold, called the dealer and talked to the service manager, gave him the tech-line number to call. The service manager called me and said he will need the bike to measure some stuff, "might take a while", so I am dropping it off this afternoon.

 

[Cycledude]

I’m sure if you actually get to talk to a qualified person at Yamaha they will make sure your brake light issue gets fixed properly and the service person you talked to yesterday will be getting educated

 

[BadNews]

I’m sure if you actually get to talk to a qualified person at Yamaha they will make sure your brake light issue gets fixed properly and the service person you talked to yesterday will be getting educated

Agreed. The service manager never mentioned anything about calling a Yamaha tech-line. The Yamaha rep I talked to said the tech-line is available to all dealerships, so it's likely the service manager already learned something new. I'm surprised the district manager didn't tell him to call the tech-line.
I've dealt with this dealership most of my riding career. It changed hands a couple of years ago. They still have "Help Wanted-Service Department" signs posted everywhere.

 

[BadNews]

So I picked up my bike last Saturday (November 13). The issue turned out to be the stainless braided brake lines I installed. Without the squishiness of the standard rubber brake lines, the pressure is applied much sooner than it is with stock lines. So I took my lever off and did a bit of filing thusly:


Now the light comes on when it is supposed to.

So if you have aftermarket brake lines and have had the brake switch recall done, you might want to check the operation of your brake light.