Took out a 2012 Heritage today and was surprised at how much I liked it VS the Road King that I was also test riding.
However one thing stood out as a deal breaker.......the unacceptably weak front brake.
Any fixes for this that are both reasonable price wise and effective?

 

No not really. Two discs are better that one.

HD brakes are adequate at best. Replacement break pads will help but adding a second disc to the softail line would be the best.

 

Is adding another disk a easy task? How is it done?

 

Dual disks on the front would be nice for sure but I find that the brakes on my Heritage really do just fine. They also wear very well. Just put new pads on the back at over 21,000 miles. Fronts are still original. I do think some on here have done a dual conversion.

 

Upgrading with an after-market caliper may help...

 

I did do the Lyndall pads after my stock pads on the front finally wore out at 32k and I use the fronts at least 75% more than the rears that only go about 15k, IMO the Lyndall's are a little better, but I like the no dust feature better with them.

I've had the front tire squeek from braking several times. If I applied any more pressure I'd locked up the front tire,, not Good at all...

So I really don't know how much more braking power I need than what I have now ?..

I might be thinking wrong, but the biggest diff would be the time it would take before fading set in on some really curvy roads.. I did have some fading on Blue Ridge mountains last yr. Just had to slow down some to let them cool off to resolve it..

 

I installed a Müller 6-piston caliper at the front. The difference compared to stock isn't shocking, but definately very noticable.
I'm now considering to replace the front brakeline with a competition braided line, and maybe also to replace the front disc by a floating one.
If that is still not sufficient, i might consider installing a second disc.
The rear brake is still stock and I like it that way.

 

Found this brake test. The hd caliper is actually pretty good compared to after market calipers. PM are the worse performing, Mueller the best.

http://www.bikernet.com/pages/Brake_..._Magazine.aspx

 

Surprised the heck outta me. I always heard that PM have some of the best stuff out there. HawgHawlters are supposedly pretty effective as well.

 

Just going by seat of the pants feel from the bike I was tests riding, coming off from my 08 Fat Bob (dual disc) and the Road King I just tested also, the Heritage was downright scary in comparison. I never thought the Fat Bob's brakes were fantastic either but they sure do seem good coming off the Heritage.
Maybe it just takes some getting used to having to grab such big handful of front brake to get any Whoa power?
Does opting for the ABS help anything? How about the Hawg Halters set ups?