I have good fluid and no leaks on front brakes, but lever pulls all the way back and doesn't slow up at all. Never have had to service brakes before . Would this be pads? We have hit the trails hard with this 2003 recon, and It has about 200 hours of riding time since I bought it 2 years ago.

 

silly question, but have you tried adjusting the brakes??

 

There are red rubber plugs on the outside of the front rim holes that access to the brake adjusters. Remove them. Rotate the wheel so the hole is at the 5:30 position. Look in the hole with a light. You will see the adjuster wheel. Adjust it until resistance is felt and back it off about 2 notches. Turn the wheel to the 6:30 position. There is another adjuster wheel there. Adjust as I just explained for the other shoe. There is one adjuster for the front brake shoe in the front wheel and also one adjuster for the rear brake shoe in the front wheel. Replace the red rubber plug and adjust the other front wheel the same way.
Brake lever should feel firm.

Here is a little tip also

If one wheel seems to grab more than the other when adjusted evenly, the front drum may need to be removed. Honda uses a seal on the outer edge of the brake drum that seals against the backing plate. During assembly this seal is lubed with grease. I have seen units that too much has been wiped on the seal and squeezes out coating the brake shoes. This will make the brake grab. If this is found, clean the excess grease and a good practice would be to replace the brake shoes as they are glazed.

----- gimp -----

 

Do steel braided lines help? The stock rubber unit appear to expand quite a bit.

 

Mat.....the guys on a Yamaha V Star forum I frequent swear by a steel braided line to help with the 650's braking action giving the very reason you posted.....expansion of the stock rubber brake line.