I've recently invested in some paddock stands and when i got the wheels of my SV off the floor for the first time i noticed the brakes are rubbing slightly on the discs, both front and rear.

The only experience i have of this sort of thing is my mountain bike which obviously doesn't want the brake pads touching the rims and i was wondering if it is the same with a motorbike.

So the question is:
Should the brake pads be touching the discs at all when neither brakes are depressed or is a certain amount of contact normal?

Any help would be much appreciated

Cheers

Spin a wheel it should spin at least one revolution or more, if something is sticking more than it should you'll probably not get the wheel to move much more than you have moved it. To be sure apply the brake give it a spin then do that again, it should give you some indication if the brakes are sticking. You will sometimes hear a very light amount of contact but it should at worst only be skimming the disc.

If they are sticking it's time for a clean up, it's been covered here before and it will tell you how in the Haynes too but if your worried just ask

Thanks Mot

I'll check this weekend.

If i find it's time to clean the brakes, is it quite a difficult job? I'm quite new to this as you can tell but i'm more than happy to get my hands dirty. I'm fairly technical minded but i'm wary of messing with something as important as the brakes if i don't know what i'm doing!!

As always cheers for the help.

Disc pads run in permanent contact with the disc, but as has been said you should be able to spin a wheel through at least one complete revolution when on a stand. It's normal and keeps the disc at proper operating temperature.

No the job is not too difficult, just on step at a time, you'll need some brake cleaner, an old tooth brush and some rags/kitchen roll, a bucket, water and a washing up brush...socket set, torque wrench, Zip ties and coppper grease is always handy. Then it's calipers off, pads out,wash caliper with bucket and brush, dry, pump pistons out one at a time clean with brake cleaner and tooth brush, clean/dry with rags/kitchen roll. Pads back in, calipers on...

That is a brief ruff summery, there are a few points to be weary of but nothing too technical. Always good to work through what you are going to do before you do it, that way you'll be more familiar/confident/prepared etc