Folks:
For what it may be worth, all of my sponginess, lever travel and pressure loss are now gone. Whether or not any of that returns remains to be seen. The solution? I had a new OEM 5/8 MC installed under warranty!
I experienced many of the issues that '05+ riders have been experiencing, but was usually able to manage the brakes by consistently squeezing and holding the lever to build up pressure. I had to do that more and more, even with a bleed and a caliper/piston cleaning. However, it got to the point where the lever was consistenly coming all the way back to the grip. But, the brakes did work.
Well, I had enough of that. I got on the horn with Triumph. Their initial claim was that all 06 STs were assembled with the 5/8 MC (this despite the fact that mine, assembled in 10/05, was clearly stamped as 14mm. By the way, I was looking at an '06 on a dealer's floor, assemled in 11/05, which had a 5/8 MC. Go figure?) Anyway, a tech agreed with me that under no circumstances should I ever be able to pull the lever all the way back to the grip.
Leaving out a couple of conversations, and a total pressure loss event, Triumph agreed to replace my MC. They then decided to only replace the innards of my existing MC, and proceeded to send the wrong parts, which interestingly enough, are labeled as the correct parts in Triumph's databas. Another mystery! On the second round, Triumph simply sent the whole 5/8 assembly.
All sponginess, excessive travel, low pressure, etc. symptoms are gone. The brakes are now strong and progressive. The only difference is that the 5/8 MC setup requires more hand pressure on the lever than the 14mm. Once I got accustomed to the different feel, no problem.
So, kudos to those who persevere with their mercurial brakes. For those who have not experienced these issues, you are fortunate. For those who have had enough, try a warranty claim, or go ahead and consider a MC change on your own. All I can say is that it has worked wonderfully on my '06.
Aaron
For what it may be worth, all of my sponginess, lever travel and pressure loss are now gone. Whether or not any of that returns remains to be seen. The solution? I had a new OEM 5/8 MC installed under warranty!
I experienced many of the issues that '05+ riders have been experiencing, but was usually able to manage the brakes by consistently squeezing and holding the lever to build up pressure. I had to do that more and more, even with a bleed and a caliper/piston cleaning. However, it got to the point where the lever was consistenly coming all the way back to the grip. But, the brakes did work.
Well, I had enough of that. I got on the horn with Triumph. Their initial claim was that all 06 STs were assembled with the 5/8 MC (this despite the fact that mine, assembled in 10/05, was clearly stamped as 14mm. By the way, I was looking at an '06 on a dealer's floor, assemled in 11/05, which had a 5/8 MC. Go figure?) Anyway, a tech agreed with me that under no circumstances should I ever be able to pull the lever all the way back to the grip.
Leaving out a couple of conversations, and a total pressure loss event, Triumph agreed to replace my MC. They then decided to only replace the innards of my existing MC, and proceeded to send the wrong parts, which interestingly enough, are labeled as the correct parts in Triumph's databas. Another mystery! On the second round, Triumph simply sent the whole 5/8 assembly.
All sponginess, excessive travel, low pressure, etc. symptoms are gone. The brakes are now strong and progressive. The only difference is that the 5/8 MC setup requires more hand pressure on the lever than the 14mm. Once I got accustomed to the different feel, no problem.
So, kudos to those who persevere with their mercurial brakes. For those who have not experienced these issues, you are fortunate. For those who have had enough, try a warranty claim, or go ahead and consider a MC change on your own. All I can say is that it has worked wonderfully on my '06.
Aaron