I’ve been riding my River Indie for about a month and a half now, and I’m reaching a point where I feel genuinely unsafe in traffic. I wanted to check if other owners are experiencing this or if I’ve got a lemon.
The Problem: There is almost zero gradual modulation in the braking system. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, where you just need to shave off a little speed, the brakes don't seem to engage at all with a light or medium squeeze. However, once I pull the lever past a certain point, the brakes bite aggressively and bring the scooter to a dead halt.
The Safety Risk: It’s basically "all or nothing." Because there’s no progressive braking, I’m constantly worried about:
- Being rear-ended by vehicles behind me because my stops are so sudden.
- Losing control or sliding during low-speed maneuvers.
Service Center Response: I raised this during my first service, and the technicians told me that the "brake fluid needs time to flow properly" and it would resolve with more usage. Well, I’ve cleared the first service, put in the miles, and the behavior hasn't changed at all.
Questions for the community:
- Has anyone else noticed a lack of "bite" until the lever is fully squeezed?
- Could this be air in the brake lines, a faulty master cylinder, or just poor brake pad compound?
- At this point, should I be demanding a replacement of the entire braking assembly (master cylinder/calipers)?
I love the utility of this scoot, but this braking issue is making daily commutes way more stressful than they should be. Any advice on how to handle the service center from here?
TL;DR: My River Indie brakes only work when fully applied, causing sudden stops. Service center says it’s "normal," but it feels dangerous. Advice?
P.S : Gemini was used for better articulation.