How far back should your brake lever go?

[Dead Eye]

I've never had any issue bleeding the brakes even without a kit - I just have a length of hose I bought from B&Q about a year ago

I attach the hose and hang it off of indicator stem most of the time, the other end is in a container of choice - usually one of those plastic chinese takeaway tubs and I don't put any fluid in it either. Then, I crack open the bleed nipple and tighten it again so that it is just tight enough that I can undo it with one hand on the spanner. My other hand is then used on the brake lever and the process follows;

1. Open nipple
2. Squeeze brake lever
3. Close nipple
4. Release lever
5. Repeat from step 1

Until I am satisfied there is no air in the system. Make sure the reservoir doesn't empty, so keep topping it up with brake fluid. Hanging the hose above the caliper means that any air that escapes goes straight away from the nipple and if anything does go back in to the caliper it will only be the brake fluid that has just come out

On new lines I usually bleed all of the banjo bolts as well, but if you are just doing a fluid change / re-bleed then it typically isn't necessary