front brakes feel stiff

OK. I am riding this guy and am thrilled with the GO but I'm now working on the woe. It seems that the brake job I did two years ago is not doing the job.
the feed back from the lever is stiff. I can stop the machine and stop it quickly I just don't have the FEEL I would like. Any thing I should look for. Bob

 

Surely there are some brake gurus out there.

 

First guess I'd say it sounds like a clog (or maybe even air?) in the brake lines or possibly in the master cylinder. Just my initial $0.02! I'm sure somebody will pipe up soon with more possibilities. =)

 

There is no way to adjust the 'feel' of the brake lever to my knowledge. If the brakes are working properly as in not hanging up after several stops, then it is what it is.

 

You sure the caliper isn't binding up? Does the front wheel spin 100% freely as soon as the brake is released? I've alway found stock Yamaha brakes to be a bit on the "spongy" side so feeling "stiff" worries me...like your caliper is not releasing, either sticky/bindy piston, or caliper not free to move sideways to make up for pad wear and respond to braking and releasing force. My '81 550 Seca had the "sliding pin" so rusted in place that it became a "beating with hammer pin" until I got it out and polished it back to clean. Piston has to move smoothly in caliper, and caliper has to be free to slide sideways in its holding block. If either isn't right, the symptoms you describe could result.

 

No I'm not sure about anything. I'll get specific to the best of my ability
last year I road the bike. It was not a pleasant experience the brakes calipers had been taken apart cleaned and a kit put in. I did not work on the master cylinder( didn't want to take the light bucket out and all the wiring. The bike ran like crap (Carbs) and I lost interest for a while also got busy on other things. Anyway I now (with the help of Rick) have the bike running like a raped ape( his words not mine). So it goes but some how over the Indiana winter the front lever went from spongy to stiff (what a problem to have). I have no problem with caliper dragging the bike with the clutch in and the motor dead rolls quite nice and quiet. So are there any inspired ideas out there.
I also had a thought should ,when rebuilding a master cylinder or a caliper, I use a dremel tool and some rouge to the cylinders and make an attempted to put back a mirror finish?
And the rubber diaphragm in the lid of the master cylinder would it being stretched and out of shape not allow enough fluid in the reservoir. Could that cause the sponginess?