I’m still new to riding, so I was trying to do a sharper u-turn and got worried i was going to run into the curb, so i lost balance of my bike and it fell on the right side. My boyfriend helped me pick it up and it was riding fine. About 15 minutes later, I was riding it and then the rear brake felt super loose and wasn’t working at all, no matter how lightly or much i pressed it. I went to go park the bike and the back wheel got locked up as i was parking and it fell again but on the left side :,(
now that the bike has sat for a little bit, the rear brake feels normal when i check it with my hand. I am too scared right now to get on and check if it’s working, but is there any way this is possible?- that it would get really loose but then tighten back to normal??

also my boyfriend did tell me last week that i need to install new brake pads so idk if that is part of the issue. however i feel like me dropping it was what caused the brake to get messed up

 

Greetings & Salutations!

Remember bike goes where you look. Don't look at kerb when making U-turn, look down street.




Most likely bent brake-pedal so it bumps into frame. This may prevent it from activating properly and when it does, it may be jammed into ON position.

Take photo of brake-pedal and let's see what's wrong.

 

Thank you for the response! So, the pedal isn’t bent at all and im not too sure what the issue would have been.My boyfriend got the chance to look at it and he told me either it is due to my brakes needing to be replaced, or because the brake fluid is low, or both. However i’m still just shocked that the brake would loosen up. It had no resistance at all and wasn’t working but now it is back to normal.




The brake fluid is for the back brake is quite low..

 

Welcome.
This is pure conjecture but looking at your reservoir, it's possible that it's low enough on fluid that when you laid the bike over, you got some air in your brake line. If that's the case, a simple purge of the lines will take care of the air. However, I would wonder why your fluid level is low. Has it always been like that or is that a recent thing?

 

Well i just recently got the bike last month. The fluid level is only low because we havent needed to fill it yet, but i’m thinking i need to now. I agree that it was likely air getting in. Do you think it got out quickly and that’s why the brake pedal is back to normal? Or is it much more difficult to get the air out than just letting the bike rest.

My boyfriend says it works fine and it’s safe to ride now, but at the same time we are a bit confused about it.

 

most likely you got air in the line, it will work its way out easily.

Your fluid is most likely low because your pads are worn - check those before you top it up.

Bikes, like cars, are mostly pretty simple at the basic level. If it works now, it most likely will keep working.

 

Definitely add DOT-4 fluid to rear reservoir so it's 1/2-way.

Then inspect rear pads and replace if necessary.

Do lots of parking-lot practice on maximum braking (shortest distance). You'll find it's
something like 80/20% F/R. Will save your life someday in emergency braking situation.

 

Your fluid is most likely low because your pads are worn - check those before you top it up.