Mountain Biking - Stopping Distance?

Well, I just got my Shimano XT discs today, so I decided that I would install them myself (without any previous hydraulic disc knowledge). Once I was finished bleeding using Shimano's technique, I attached the brake onto my fork. After getting everything shimmed up, I took my bike for a test ride. When riding at a brisk jogging pace, and then applying as much force without the feeling of braking something, it took my bike about 5 feet to completely stop (about a bike length plus one foot).

Now, the question that I want to ask is: Is the stopping distance normal for a pair of brakes that have yet to be bedded in? Also, when pulling the brake lever back, about how far does it travel (how many inches, or centimeters is the tip of the lever from the grip)?

I know this may sound like a dumb question, but I'm nothing more than a disc brake noobie right now...

Funko

P.S. I've heard somewhere that using the Shimano Technique for bleeding the brakes is not the best. I have to agree with that statement. A lot of mineral oil is lost when recapping the resovoir. Relating to someone else's post, I would agree that bleeding from the bottom up would be the best technique. This way, the oil is actively forcing all the bubles up; instead of tapping the hose to dislodge bubbles.

with hydraulic brakes + levers you have to pull them pretty much as far back as they go to get the full pressure on the disc, im not aware that you can adjust that, like you can v-brakes.

Well, yea, I know that you have to pull them as far back as they go to get the full stopping force. But what I want to know is about how far back do other people, who have hydraulic brakes, have to pull their levers.

Funko

Your pads need to be broken in before you get great stopping power.......and no, the levers dont need to be pulled to the grips....are u nuts? The levers should be pulled back to where its comfortable for you, funko...

Just slowly pull on them while your not moving. And see how far they come back. Don't pull too hard though.:beer:

No no no Klein, I didnt mean it that way. What I meant to ask was how stiff your levers are. About how far back can you pull your levers? I dont know if this could be an issue of whether or not my brakes have been properly bled or not. Also, are the levers supposed to feel extremly crisp? Mine have a bit of squishy-ness in them, and I'm wondering whether or not its normal.

Funko (the brake newbie)

Does anyone have any information about how long it takes them to stop? I doubt that I'm the only one who did a rough estimation when I installed my discs...

...or maybe I was :(

Funko