been watching reviews.............any word or articles on if the brakes have been updated for 16 model year. some say yes some have no clue

 

On the 16's HD has mentioned the strong performance of the brakes. But so far I have not been able to find out if they are different than the 15's. I have looked at the 16's but can't tell any difference.

I think if I check the brake parts numbers to see if they are the same.

 

All it would take is simply changing out the original rubber hoses for something a little more rigid and that would make a big difference in the stopping performance of these bikes and I'm guessing that's what they did.

 

Stock brake lines on my 2011 Road King are stainless steel with black coatings on the outside. I don't know of any touring bike built after 2011 that has rubber hoses.

 

Both brakes are now 290mm discs, the rear brake now has a remote fluid reservoir and standalone master cylinder, front master cylinder has been slightly modified with a different bore size to increase hydraulic advantage, and brake lines are made of stronger materials to prevent stretching under load

 

In bikes that need it the most, ABS is absent??????

 

Name any technological safety advance like ABS brakes and American auto manufacturers will fight it tooth and nail. Seat belts, ABS brakes, air bags. All of the big American auto makers fought installing them until it was made law. Once it's law they start advertising how safe their cars are because they care about your welfare as a customer.


It's this kind of attitude that Harley also seems to have adopted. They'll sell you ABS begrudgingly, on certain models. It's also why the Street is getting it's *** kicked by other brands on the sales floor.


Every entry level 2016 Triumph Street Twin comes with ABS and traction control, same with the latest 2016 Moto Guzzi V7II range. Every motorcycle sold in Europe will have to have ABS brakes in order to be sold. It's not law in North America and luckily companies like Guzzi and Triumph spec the bike the same for NA.


I sell motorcycles for a living and I can tell with certainty that in this area when a new rider graduates from a motorcycle safety course they are being told to only buy a new motorcycle if it has ABS.


People walk into a HD dealership because they want a premium product. The Street is too little too late. By most accounts the brakes are barely adequate.

 

It's not just the manufacturer's who look down on the need for ABS, it's also a lot of old riders. I can't tell you how many guys told me that "they've ridden for "X" number of years and never needed ABS. Theinstructor at a CMST course that I took has a Gold Wing with 137,00 miles on it. I asked him if he has ABS. He said "no, but I really believe in it, and will get it on the next bike" He said that there are conditions beyond our control, where ABS has it's advantages. You're on a slick city street, and somebody opens a car door right in front of you, and there's traffic coming at you in the next lane, so where are you gonna' go?
By the time this posts, almost everyone should already know that the brakes were changed on the '16 models. New front caliper, rigid line, larger disc, better master cylinder, etc. Now the '17's are just coming out and ABS is offered as an option. It will be interesting to see how many the dealers order with ABS. It's been an option on Sportsters for quite a while and you have to look to find one on the floor.

 

ABS is on the 17 because it's required overseas now, which is a bulk of the market for the Street. Always nice when the option is there for us.