no front brakes

I picked up my Pani in December so it has been a long wait for the first ride. It was a nice sunny day with temp around 10 degrees here in Ontario today so it was the perfect opportunity.
When I got the bike outside I notice the brake lever is not firm. I squeeze it a few times and it seems good so I don't think much about it with the excitement of my first ride. My driveway has a slope before the street and I am coasting with the clutch in because there is a truck coming up the street. I squeeze the front brake lever and .......nothing. Fortunately the rear brake works.
After a few pumps of the master the brake lever firms up again. So back into the shop and check it out. I bled the brakes and everything feels good. I back the bike out again......no front brakes. So again I bleed the brakes this time with the bike running, again starting with the master, then the left caliper, then the right.....Again everything is OK until I roll the bike back or forward.
I checked with the dealer and they tell me to bring it in so they can check it out. Damn......I hope this doesn't take too long.
There are no fluid leaks anywhere and the reservoir level does not change. I just finished putting all the fairings back on and didn't see any leaks at the ABS module. If I leave the bike in one spot the brake lever stays firm. The dealer told me the ABS does not require any different bleed procedure.
Anyone have any ideas? The only thing I can think of is problem in the master.
Thanks, Brad

??? Wow. Crazy stuff. No idea. Sorry

The front brake Master is the problem. It needs a new rebuild kit or repair kit. The brake fluid doesn't hold it's pressure inside the brake line (Push rod assembly to the caliper). After a few minutes or so it goes back to the reservoir losing the small amount of pressure.

Thanks for the help. Funny that it doesn't loose pressure just sitting. Anyways, I guess warranty will cover it so it doesn't really matter as long as I have brakes when I get it back.
I got her loaded up tonight and off to the dealer tomorrow. I hope this doesn't take too long. I'll let you know what the skinny is from the dealer when they let me know.
Cheers, Brad

Sounds like you have a bent Front rotor.
I've had the Exact same thing happen to me.

I was riding at the track, brakes were fine, then I swapped over to my second set of rims (with rain tires). Put the wheel on, pumped the brake, felt good, pulled out of the pits...NO BRAKES.. stopped, pumped the lever they worked, then as soon as I moved, lost brakes again.

What is happening is as the bent rotor comes around, it pushes the pads away from the rotor, so it takes a couple pumps of the lever to get them close to the rotor again.

Is there a possibility the rotor was hit during transport or storage?
can you get the wheel up an a front stand and spin it to check the rotor for runout?

It doesn't take much of a hit to bend those things..

Yap! When you push the piston in the calipers just slightly you lose pressure at the push rod assembly to the calipers.

Crazy stuff. Good thing you wasnt on the highway before tapping the brake.

The dealer called today with the diagnoses. One of the rotors is warped. Chrisplm nailed it and just like he said, this causes the pads to push back and loose pressure in the master cylinder.
I asked how this can happen and they said typically during transport with the incorrect chalk for the front wheel. The previous owner must have done something. I guess it goes to show you should always check out the bike thoroughly before you buy it........at least check the brakes first.

I guess you never got to ride it due to winter? As if the rotor was warped that bad it would've definately shuddered/pulsed.

You could go ahead and order a set of brembo full floaters (they're thicker than oem and less prone to warp). I just put a set on my sf, SWEET!

BREMBO HPK Disk Kit [Ducati 5 Bolt 15MM Offset] - 1199 Panigale - 330mm diameter $735 for a pair but well worth it!

No riding due to the winter here in Ontario. Hopefully it comes to an end soon and after a few good rains the roads will be cleaned up from the sand and salt.
There definitely would have been a shudder in the brakes if they would have worked. I may look at a better set of rotors when the time comes for replacing both. I don't use a chalk in my trailer and I park in a Baxley Sport Chalk so I shouldn't have an issue.
There is 670 km on my bike now so I am having the 1000 km service done while its there so I don't have to take it back in a month or so. My dealer is about 1 1/2 hours away. Just a quick stop into the dealer when the service light comes on to have it reset and I'll be good to go.
Cheers and happy riding

Can, glad to hear that you got this .... sorted.

"See. I'm always right... I thought I was wrong once. But I was mistaken".

Yeah you have to be careful. Those "harley" wheel chock's that are in some trailers and on some lifts will really F up a rotor. They work ok on cruisers cause they have small rotors.
I've seen a few stock rotors pop up on ebay already.
I've also heard of guys straightening rotors. But not sure how they do it? (crescent wrench and hammer? L

I actually sent warped rotors to a shop that specializes in straightening mc brake rotors. They were great for brief period after I got them back, but soon warped again.

The oem rotors are too thin, so they tend to warp.

chrisplm said:

"See. I'm always right... I thought I was wrong once. But I was mistaken".

Yeah you have to be careful. Those "harley" wheel chock's that are in some trailers and on some lifts will really F up a rotor. They work ok on cruisers cause they have small rotors.
I've seen a few stock rotors pop up on ebay already.
I've also heard of guys straightening rotors. But not sure how they do it? (crescent wrench and hammer? L

Click to expand...

I ended up ordering new rotors. I don't want to risk trying to straighten mine.
The price of a new one from Ducati and the two week lead time to get the left rotor shipped from Italy helped make the decision as well.
Thanks for the help guys.
Cheers, Brad

Brakes are over-rated anyway...what about Ducati 'EBS'?

Got the bike back from getting the first service. A few hundred km early but at least its done. They uploaded the latest software while it was there.
Got it home and installed the new rotors, now just torque re-torque everything and it will be ready to go.
Oh, and yes I have brakes now.

The service engine light is going to come on at 1000km and stay on until your dealer resets it. New rotors look nice.