Multistrada 1200 MTS1200 Rear Brake System Bleeding

27May2011 – There have been long ongoing discussions on all the Multistrada 1200 related forums regards the performance of the rear brake. Clearly there has been some confusion that has arisen both with owners and Ducati Dealers. Ducati have as a result now issued revised instructions for the bleeding of the Multistrada 1200’s rear brake system.
See below for the full instructions for bleeding Multistrada 1200 rear brakes.

Update 09Aug2011 – Ducati have come up with what should be a permanent solution to poor performance of the Multistrada 1200 rear brake involving the replacement of a number of parts / brake system components. There is no official recall but owners ‘complaining’ of a poor rear brake should be offered the ‘upgrade’ by their Ducati Dealer. I presume at some point new bikes will have the revised parts/components installed at the factory.

Date	09/08/2011
Author	J LaForte
Category	SERVICE BULLETIN
Description	Date: Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 To: Ducati Dealership Service Department From: DNA Service MULTISTRADA 1200 REAR BRAKE SYSTEM UPDATE Models: MULTISTRADA 1200 (all versions) Service Bulletin SVC-11-014
Content	Dear Dealer, Ducati is pleased to inform you of an updated rear brake system for the Multistrada 1200 that has resulted from our continuing product development efforts. The new system addresses the issue of excessive travel of the rear brake pedal that has been reported from the field. We believe that this will lead to an enhanced level of owner satisfaction amongst our Multistrada customers. Description of the technical problem: Excessive travel of rear brake pedal. Description of the technical problem solution: Replacement of rear brake system components: Rear brake system kit Part no. 69926271A for bikes WITHOUT ABS The above kit consists of: 1. Rear brake master cylinder with oversized compensation hole and oil tank fitting inclined by 50°; 2. 310 mm long EPDM hose connecting the 50° inclined fitting on master cylinder to the oil tank; 3. Hose connecting the brake master cylinder to the brake caliper (version WITHOUT ABS). Rear brake system Kit Part no. 69926281A for bikes WITH ABS The above kit consists of: 1. Rear brake master cylinder with oversized compensation hole and oil tank fitting inclined by 50°; 2. 310 mm long EPDM hose connecting the 50° inclined fitting on master cylinder to the oil tank; 3. Hose connecting the ABS control unit to the brake master cylinder; 4. Hose connecting the ABS control unit to the brake caliper Bike1MT * * Authorized countries: CANADA , UNITED STATES , MEXICO

NB: The above are the details of the Bulletin issued by DNA (Ducati North America) – a similar bulletin will have been issued to Ducati Dealers worldwide.

Tools & kit you’ll need

Multistrada 1200 Rear Brake Bleeding procedure

Two things of note, the first of which we had worked out for ourselves, the caliper needs to be dismounted from it’s carrier, rotated so that the caliper bleed nipple is at the highest position on the caliper and the caliper raised as high as possible so that it is the highest point in the hydraulic braking circuit.

Ducati recommends the use of the following brake fluid: Castrol Response Super DOT 4

From the Multistrada 1200 Workshop Manual (current edition) – INCORRECT!

From the latest instructions/directive to Ducati Dealers (26May2011)

I am surprised they don’t recommend taking the wheel off which makes it possible/easier to raise the caliper as high as possible and of course removes the potential risk of scratching the wheel paint finish or inadvertently getting brake fluid on the wheel 😉

Secondly and possibly of most note (for owners of ABS equipped MTS1200’s) their instructions state (remember these are instructions issued to Ducati Dealers and authorised Ducati service centres):

NOTE for ABS version
Try the bike on the road at about 50 km/h and act only on the rear brake until the ABS has been activated at least 10 times.
Check that the stroke of the rear brake lever has not increased, otherwise repeat the bleeding procedure.

*****REMEMBER – Ducati recommends that this procedure is carried out by a Ducati Dealer or authorised Ducati service centre – any procedure carried out on your motorcycle’s brakes incorrectly may have dire consequences!!*****

Revised rear brake bleeding procedure as advised by Ducati 26May2011

Subject: Multistrada 1200 REAR BRAKING CIRCUIT BLEEDING PROCEDURE

Models: Multistrada 1200 (all versions)

REAR BRAKING CIRCUIT BLEEDING PROCEDURE

Loosen the screws (1) to remove the rear brake caliper.

Holding the rear brake caliper, slacken the screw (2) and remove the speed sensor (3) recovering the air gap spacers.

Loosen screw (4) and remove the cable clip (5) (right side of the vehicle).

Slacken screws (6) and disassemble the rider RH footrest (7) to better access the rear brake oil reservoir (8).

Loosen the cap (9) of the rear brake oil reservoir (8).

Take the rear brake caliper towards the master cylinder side (right side of the vehicle) through the rear wheel rim spokes and hold it as high as possible (with the bleeding screw facing upwards as shown) during the whole bleeding procedure.

Insert a shim equivalent to the disc thickness between the rear brake caliper pads.

Connect the bleeding valve (10) to a transparent tube inserting its end into a container.

**NOTE: Use only a NEW 250cc container of CASTROL Response SUPER DOT4 brake fluid

1. Act on the pedal to pressurize the circuit.

2. Keep the pedal pushed downwards.

3. Loosen by 1/4 turn the bleeding valve (10) to bleed the oil and push down completely the pedal.

4. Tighten the bleeding valve.

5. Release the break lever and top up the reservoir setting the oil level between min and max. During this operation check that the fluid level is above the min. level to avoid air from the tank to go into the system.

Repeat operations from 1 to 5 until the 250cc. oil container is empty.

Now tighten the bleeding valve (10) to a torque of 12 Nm ± 10% (12 ÷ 16 Nm).

Clean the bleeding screw hole with blotting paper to eliminate any residual of fluid inside of it and then replace the rubber cap.

Once the bleeding is over, make sure that the rear brake lever pin (11) and the master cylinder (12) are aligned; otherwise loosen the screws (13) and align them as shown in the figure. Then adjust the brake lever stroke as shown in the figure (corresponding to about 1 mm clearance between cap and pumping element).

Push on the pads to make the pistons go backwards, then set the reservoir fluid level on MAX. Remove the rear brake caliper shim.

Apply SHELL Retinax HDX2 grease on the screws (1).

Insert the rear brake caliper on the break disc (left side of the vehicle) and align it to the caliper holder plate; tighten the screws (1) to 25 Nm ± 5%.

Place the speed sensor (3) on the caliper holder plate with the air gap spacers and tighten the screws (2) to 10 Nm ± 10%.

**NOTE for ABS version
The air gap between the sensor and the break disc tightening screws must be 0.6 ÷ 2.2 mm.

Act on the brake lever several times until the pads approach the disc and check that the fluid level in the reservoir is between MIN and MAX, otherwise top up.

After removing the membrane from the cap, clean it and dry it with blotting paper before placing it again on the reservoir.

Screw the cap (9) of the rear brake fluid reservoir (8).

Reassemble the cable clip (5) (right side of the vehicle) tightening the screw (4) to 5 Nm ± 10%

Apply medium strength threadlocker (Loctite 243) to the screws (6).

Place the rider footrest (7) on the frame and tighten the screws (6) to 24 Nm ± 10%.

Try the bike on the road and act several times on the rear brake only, check that the stroke of the rear brake lever has not increased, otherwise repeat the bleeding procedure.

**NOTE for ABS version
Try the bike on the road at about 50 km/h and act only on the rear brake until the ABS has been activated at least 10 times.

Check that the stroke of the rear brake lever has not increased, otherwise repeat the bleeding procedure.