Low Rider 2019
18 lowrider owners
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1,985
From: Cleveland Zoo
Novice
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 16
Likes: 3
From: Australia
What are you guys doing for front brakes? I've toasted two sets of pads (first pair cracked) in 20,000km's...
Before hitting up Dirty Dixie and getting them to machine my front wheel to accept twin discs (I don't want the bike off the road waiting for them to machine it, i'm in Australia so it would be weeks) are there any good upgrades for the single disk front end?
Before hitting up Dirty Dixie and getting them to machine my front wheel to accept twin discs (I don't want the bike off the road waiting for them to machine it, i'm in Australia so it would be weeks) are there any good upgrades for the single disk front end?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 290
Likes: 67
From: Fairfax, Va
Many recommendations here for the Lyndall Gold Plus pads, front and rear. Improved friction over stock pads and still easy on the discs. Their Xtreme pads are better still but likely sacrifice the disc a bit.
I installed the Gold Plus on my 2018 LR, and find the single front disc to be perfectly adequate for the type of riding I do.
I installed the Gold Plus on my 2018 LR, and find the single front disc to be perfectly adequate for the type of riding I do.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 122
Likes: 23
From: Paris
What are you guys doing for front brakes? I've toasted two sets of pads (first pair cracked) in 20,000km's...
Before hitting up Dirty Dixie and getting them to machine my front wheel to accept twin discs (I don't want the bike off the road waiting for them to machine it, i'm in Australia so it would be weeks) are there any good upgrades for the single disk front end?
Before hitting up Dirty Dixie and getting them to machine my front wheel to accept twin discs (I don't want the bike off the road waiting for them to machine it, i'm in Australia so it would be weeks) are there any good upgrades for the single disk front end?
I mostly ride in town in Paris (France) and I barely touch the front brake other than for stopping the bike at the red light when I put my right foot out.
Before that I just use the rear brake and the engine brake with quick revmatch.
We learn to use 60/40% front/rear but I don't think it applies that well for the big torquy engines that we have.
I think I'm more on the opposite, 40/60.
That said I ride a Heritage so the better front fork may play a role.
I know a lot of people complain about the front brake but damn the rear brake is very effective.
Maybe try to change your braking habits a little bit or try better shocks on the front ?
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 614
Likes: 231
From: Hendeson, NV
Multiple posts on poor braking on 18+ Softail, particularly the Low Riders. On my 2019 Low Rider, the rear brake badly under performed, and the front brake was "grabby". I also observed excessive rotor scarring in <1k miles. At 1k miles, I changed to the Lyndall Gold Plus pads, raised the height of the rear brake peddle about 1" and cleaned the rotors with Brake Kleen. The difference is significant. With 8k+ miles on my bike, braking remains predictable and smooth as silk.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 422
Likes: 182
From: Queensland
Agreed Las V Jim,
the Brakes on our Low Riders are Sub Par compared to other makes , everyone knows Harleys have $hit Brakes my rear brakes are like non existent sometimes and the front single disc has a huge job pulling this heavy bike up quick
the Brakes on our Low Riders are Sub Par compared to other makes , everyone knows Harleys have $hit Brakes my rear brakes are like non existent sometimes and the front single disc has a huge job pulling this heavy bike up quick
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 833
Likes: 221
From: Bridgeport, CT
I may suggest that you are using the front brake too much.
I mostly ride in town in Paris (France) and I barely touch the front brake other than for stopping the bike at the red light when I put my right foot out.
Before that I just use the rear brake and the engine brake with quick revmatch.
We learn to use 60/40% front/rear but I don't think it applies that well for the big torquy engines that we have.
I think I'm more on the opposite, 40/60.
That said I ride a Heritage so the better front fork may play a role.
I know a lot of people complain about the front brake but damn the rear brake is very effective.
Maybe try to change your braking habits a little bit or try better shocks on the front ?
I mostly ride in town in Paris (France) and I barely touch the front brake other than for stopping the bike at the red light when I put my right foot out.
Before that I just use the rear brake and the engine brake with quick revmatch.
We learn to use 60/40% front/rear but I don't think it applies that well for the big torquy engines that we have.
I think I'm more on the opposite, 40/60.
That said I ride a Heritage so the better front fork may play a role.
I know a lot of people complain about the front brake but damn the rear brake is very effective.
Maybe try to change your braking habits a little bit or try better shocks on the front ?
Novice
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 7
From: Texas
where did you get those hard bags from?