front brakes..

[albertaduke]

To address specifics of your post:

I can force my lever all the way to the bar while the bikes sitting still, that's normal. Trying to do so while riding will result in ABS going berserk. The slightly spongy lever is because of the ABS system, it's unfortunately a side effect of having them. No matter how flawless the maintenance they'll never have that sharp, bitey feel of a non-abs equipped sportbike. If your lever comes all the way to bar without activating ABS while moving, that's a serious issue and is definitely hydraulic system related.

If you've bled them twice, they're bled, the problem lies elsewhere.

If you can't activate ABS while cranking on the lever, but it's not yet to the bar, your pads are the culprit. HH will fix you right up, no issues getting max possible braking pressure using HH pads.

If your condition is, you can reach the bar with the lever while moving without activating the ABS, try the fix I linked. If that doesn't fix it, my next step would be HH pads, as you're doing, then if still problematic, I'd do a caliper rebuild. The kit isn't expensive.

seems I never stop fiddling with one thing or another getting tired of fixing this or that . i even dare not compute the dollar figure vs the miles i ride must be atrocious!!
any way I shall follow your advises and report btw where is your (THE FIX I LINK)cannot find it

 

[Ishrub]

Link works for me to TriumphRAT.net thread.

955i Brake Fix - Triumph Forum: Triumph Rat Motorcycle Forums

 

[Claviger]

seems I never stop fiddling with one thing or another getting tired of fixing this or that . i even dare not compute the dollar figure vs the miles i ride must be atrocious!!
any way I shall follow your advises and report btw where is your (THE FIX I LINK)cannot find it

I hope it works out to be an easy fix for your specific case. Properly working R3 brakes are the 9th wonder of the world, it's pure lunacy how quickly a big heavy bike like the R3 can slow down when you're full on panic braking.

 

[barbagris]

full on panic braking.

Of course some might argue that simply means poor road reading skills

That 955 M/C plunger thing I have seen on Brembo gear too - When some idiot has wrongly installed the plunger.
And early guzzis had a small adjuster screw in the lever to make sure the freeplay was correct. Seen them misused as lever adjusters so often it's not funny.
My R3 always had the correct freeplay and when I put shorty levers on they did too.

I know I get a bit geeky over technical stuff - but am a firm believer that if you don't FULLY understand how something works - then ask before playing.
& OBSERVE, OBSERVE, OBSERVE.

For this reason I will NOT be grinding my own cams. I understand just enough to be dangerous - and life is too short to learn the rest.

I agree with Rob on the brakes - they are very good - But you will really only appreciate HOW GOOD once you put decent suspension on.