Modern Vespa

When I press down on the front brakes they sound like crickets but the rear brakes are silent - is this normal or the sign of a malfunction?

Normal

Might be the wear indicators on your pads. How many miles on the bike? Do you favor the front brake?

Both my 07 and 08 GTS did it from day one, I think they all do, just the nature of the brake pads against vented discs.

I had the bike from new for just under 2 weeks, have done under 400km on the bike. I favour the front brakes more as I was told to use the front brakes when braking in a straight line first and then the rear and I was told to only use the rear brakes first if braking when doing a corner.

Mine sounds more like a muted cicada.

So yeah, if it sounds like some type of chirping insect, it's normal.

As everyone else has said it is completely normal and nothing to worry about. Both my GT and GTS displayed this behaviour from day one. It is related to the holes in the front disk brake.

Has anyone heard that if you sand a slight bevel into the leading edge of the brake pads that the noise may be minimized? I think I read this somewhere.

Then again I may be spewing useless fluff... your choice!

That should minimise it - it may not reduce it completely. An easier way is to bevel off the leading edge of the pads themselves. Again, it won't quite them completely.

Me, I don't worry about it, it's normal so that's OK in my book.

Nothing to worry about, its air in the holes escaping.

It's the equivalent of a rather poorly made 'penny whistle', which is why the bevelling can help (unnecessarily) to reduce it.

Have you all forgotten the wiki already?

FAQ: Why do my front brakes make a whirring / cricket sound?

cool, i've accepted it's quite normal - thanks all

Ditto ... the rear brakes are doing the same ... only you can't hear 'em because they're drowned-out by other noise ... no worries, keep riding

ahhh haaa! i now understand - will also peruse wiki

No I actually remembered it but was too lazy to post a link to it.