stiff brake pedal

I recently purchased a 2000 vfr. I absolutely love the bike but something is bothering me. Compared to every other bike I've owned the rear brake pedal seems extremely stiff. It is working but I feel like I have to stand on it. I'm new to the linked brakes. Is this normal to be so stiff?

 

I have the same bike, I haven't heard of any major problems with the rear brake pedal myself, my rear brake pedal is just fine, you may want to pull rear calliper off and clean the pistons up , they do build up with crap over time , also give entire system new fluid and a bleed, if pedal is still stiff have a good look at the master cylinder, may have a stuck part somewhere. Good luck.

 

I asked the exact question a while back on this board or the other one, and was reassured by many that is the way the are. I very seldom use the foot, but when I do I still notice the brick like feel every time, especially if I have been riding another bike the last few days.

 

I can only tell you that my 2004 non ABS does not have a stiff brake pedal.

 

Being a fairly new VFR owner, I too have noticed a somewhat dead feel to the rear brake pedal. I bled the system several times, have new EBC pads (a great help), and am sure that the system is working as it should. After reading the service manual carefully, I realize that the rear brake system has a time delay in it's line to the front caliper. Wonder if that is part of the odd feel? Brakes do work great, just a different feel to the rear.

 

+1 on the flush.
Use the manual as you have to follow the 487 step procedure (LOL). It starts with the right front central bleed nipple and you depress the rear brake peddle, not the front (as I did for 20 mins)