Bleed your motorcycle brakes | How To | Motorcyclenews.com

In the first of his how to videos, Alan Seeley shows you how to bleed motorcycle brakes.
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[@Moreoff]

The final procedure with the cable-tie is quite unique, never came across it on here on the many videos I've viewed. Can't hurt.

[@ducksonetime]

I dare say this is probably the best MCN film I've watched. From production to content, top notch!

[@TheFriskyBiker]

one of the best MCN videos I've ever seen great quality

[@staninjapan07]

Was an apprentice car mechanic about 25 years ago. Used to do this on cars with a partner - one pushes the brake pedal and the other opens and closes the nipple while giving instructions. Wondered how I'd do this alone on my bikes and now I know. Thanks a lot.

[@thesighbored]

Very informative. Thanks for sharing!

[@Danfranschwan2]

excellent video! give the man a raise who did this.... proper job!

[@DJW997]

Just be warned if you've never done this procedure before, it's not always this easy.. I actually had to remove the calliper from the front fork of my bike and raise it above the master cylinder to bleed all of the air out. Also a good idea to keep soapy water or brake cleaner handy - if you spill any fluid on the bike, and I mean ANY, it WILL eat your paintwork!

[@TheMadHatter1330]

I agree & by the looks of things they would have had to gravity bleed to remove the air, as they have achieved zero pressure ! By the way the guy that's instructing in the vid (who failed to bleed the brake lol) wrote a book called Alan Seeley The Motorcycle book... This worries me =(, it's like the blind leading the blind lol

[@DJW997]

Wee Al's Wheels Wow, blind leading the blind indeed! I don't get why he removed all of the old fluid from the reservoir in the first place. If he'd have just left a drop of fluid to stop air getting in, topped the res up with fresh and bled it through then no air would have even been introduced into the system at all, just a few pumps until you see clear fluid out the other end. Why make more work for yourself?!

[@blondsuper1751]

DJW997 -perhaps reverse bleeding - pushing brake fluid from the caliper to the master cylinder would've done the trick?

[@ihcnarf]

Perflectly informative and clear ! Some more please

[@killgroup]

Never done this before, but it looks fun and very easy. Gonna try it in the near future, thanks for the instructional video

[@wu890016]

外國的技師真的注重每個細節，不像台灣的只要求速度卻不注重施工品質。

[@WRXXXual]

Absolutely wonderful video, thank you.

[@Cliniquehappy22]

very easy to follow for a newbie like me. thumbs up for you!

[@tmossy1]

Great job as usual Alan ! Always following your work with Practice Sportsbikes. Cheers

[@PancakeLibrarian]

Dude! Thanks for the helpful video! I successfully bled the brakes on my bike ("rock!") and as a thanks for saving me shop money and time, I picked up a subscription to MCN Sport -more instruction, please!

[@industrialkhaos]

Very good, we need more of that.

[@davidpost6902]

Great video Alan, Sound advise.....thank you

[@costacosta1969]

Great video, would like to see more from Al.

[@ChrisNeary]

Just what I was looking for - thanks!

[@flytoday]

Its a bit more complicated than that, your brake lines can have air pockets and that can cause your brakes to NOT work. Air travels up so anywhere a bubble can get trapped needs to be fixed.

[@Doorkicker505]

Nice video. I learned a thing or two.

[@therealmrcheese]

I was trying for a hr then watched this, 5 min later all done!! Lol cheers mate

[@sarimrizvi]

Quality video, hope to see more of these !

[@mattcorey2784]

The Bob Ross of motorcycle maintenance.

[@storegga]

My top Tip to Ducati riders or with calipers that sit 'under' at the bottom of the rear disc. Remover the caliper and turn it the right way up, to properly allow air bubbles to rise to the top, and get a good bite to the lever.

[@laktix]

loved watching this guy!

[@svitale75]

Best method ever, great video and lovely garage!!!

[@peterete6]

excellent...!!! ... thanks...very usefull

[@bertfromnz9724]

when the brake lever is pulled in it is not open to the brakes - the piston is pushing fluid to the brakes in a closed circuit - when lever released is when its open to reservoir- correct me if I am wrong but this is how most brake systems work

[@SpeedbeetleV2]

I didn't know Professor Snape rode motorcycles. lol great video

[@72bunk]

Nice one...more please...

[@Cliniquehappy22]

just 1 question sir. should i only open the cover of master cylinder when i tie the lever for overnight? or its ok if i dont open the cover?

[@Moreoff]

Good question, wondered the same. But since there is airspace in the reservoir, any air from the line should rise and either remain on top of the fluid or disperse into the inner environment making it unessesary to remove the cover. His shot of the air bubble was for illustrative purposes. Well that's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

[@dhanilks4898]

That is an awesome video.. once I have tried to do it really end me in brake failure.. lol...anyway 5 stars for the video ★★★★★ツ

[@Chebelar90]

Does this little last trick, with the open piston apply also to the clutch system?

[@JakeThePeg83]

Done it enough times before but a couple tips in there (clothes peg) will make it an easier/neater job!

[@jackk1583]

nicely explained

[@atibbo]

amazing video!!! thank you

[@navneetsingh5828]

I should do zip tie with reservoir cap open ? or the reservoir cap close ? when I done zip tie with my reservoir cap close my brakes become tight and feels good but after sometime they again feel spongy what to do please tell ? and what is the shelf life of brake fluid after opening it I have done brake bleeding 2 month ago and I have left some fluid so can I use it now also ?? please answer my all questions ??

[@A5h13yK]

does the same principle apply for the rear brakes

[@dbauernf]

Any special tips for ABS equipped bikes? Should have been mentioned.

[@bennytorres7665]

nice job

[@thoughtsfromeb]

Ok like the video but I would make a couple of points. Firstly, I would say if you've never done this before make sure you have someone with you who knows what they're doing. It looked easy in the vid but sometimes bleeding brakes can drive you crazy. Secondly, 'if it aint broke don't fix it' To change brake fluid every year is excessive, even manufacturers who are in danger of being sued for millions stipulate every two years. And thirdly, to leave the brake lever with a cable tie on it overnight is pointless. It will move the piston across but this also closes the port to the reservoir otherwise applying the brake would pump fluid into the reservoir. Leave the lever alone and air bubbles may well rise to the reservoir.

[@IgorDz]

Now, how do I do it on 2-line system?

[@brianglaze4654]

Classic !

[@NoShadowOfDoubt1]

epic. it fixed my brakes.

[@Blahde]

"Rock" Brakes Rock, oh yes they do. Nice vid :-)

[@Pining_for_the_fjords]

Great informative video. Is it necessary to use new brake fluid? I still have most of a bottle of fluid from a few years ago. Will it do any good to use that?

[@frankogiarbo1324]

that's true love!

[@legiunnaire]

severus snape!

[@Blahde]

You guys should tell us how to do ABS Brakes....Harsh but fair I reckon? :-) Any way. Not too be really Harsh (but still fair) Reverse bleed is the way! Guys, seriously, it's your choice!

[@DunePanda]

do you have to leave the bleeder valve open then ziptie the lever to get the air out over night?

[@tarche2]

Just like to point out "Correct size screw driver!" Was that not a posidrive screwdriver and a phillips headed screw? LOL

[@boristheblade209]

***** this lol

[@greggferns3278]

is Alan Seeley and Nigella Lawson the same person.I half expected him to go to the pantry and knock up some vol au vaunts

[@sarathmenon4828]

You guys also missed bleeding the master cylinder. If someone just blindly uses this guide without looking at their manual, they might end up with no brakes.

[@theboiwhohasnoname]

Why does he look like he's just come out of rehab?

[@MrJujitsu62]

You have a sealed unit . A compressed rubber gasket on the reservoir & rubber seals around the caliper piston . How exactly are you getting all this moisture again ? I can see changing it every 5 years of so but every year . Silly & wasteful . A lot of these guys will be bleeding air into the system for sure now. Don't agree with this at all , unless you are a professional racer & the fluid might break down due to heat .

[@JoeGP]

good tips, shame it was done by a British guy, they can never talk at the same volume for some reason

[@dhanilks4898]

That is an awesome video.. once I have tried to do it really end me in brake failure.. lol...anyway 5 stars for the video ★★★★★ツ

[@phantombigballs8165]

How!! So simple 🤣