Does your rear brake work? Maybe you should check.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
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From: Upstate New York
Does your rear brake work? Maybe you should check.
Yesterday, I discovered that the rear brake on my '19 Heritage was not working at all. To my embarrassment I also realized that I've likely been riding the bike in this condition for several weeks. After all, the front brake is so much better than the front brake on my Evo Softail, that I've come to depend on it more than I used to. As a result, I didn't realize the rear brake pedal travel was slowly increasing until the pedal was bottoming out until I tried stopping using just the rear brake and found I couldn't.
As the bike is still under warranty, I called my dealer and spoke to the service manager. He got me right in first thing this morning. Based on the symptoms, I suspected a bad master cylinder, but, after thoroughly bleeding the system, the rear brake is working as it should. I still can't understand how air could be in the system though, as there's no sign of leakage and I've never had the system open for any reason.
The reason I mention this as a cautionary note is that there was another '19 Heritage in the shop (same model and color even) with exactly the same issue, so it's possibly not an isolated issue.
As the bike is still under warranty, I called my dealer and spoke to the service manager. He got me right in first thing this morning. Based on the symptoms, I suspected a bad master cylinder, but, after thoroughly bleeding the system, the rear brake is working as it should. I still can't understand how air could be in the system though, as there's no sign of leakage and I've never had the system open for any reason.
The reason I mention this as a cautionary note is that there was another '19 Heritage in the shop (same model and color even) with exactly the same issue, so it's possibly not an isolated issue.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 615
Likes: 209
From: California
Yesterday, I discovered that the rear brake on my '19 Heritage was not working at all. To my embarrassment I also realized that I've likely been riding the bike in this condition for several weeks. After all, the front brake is so much better than the front brake on my Evo Softail, that I've come to depend on it more than I used to. As a result, I didn't realize the rear brake pedal travel was slowly increasing until the pedal was bottoming out until I tried stopping using just the rear brake and found I couldn't.
As the bike is still under warranty, I called my dealer and spoke to the service manager. He got me right in first thing this morning. Based on the symptoms, I suspected a bad master cylinder, but, after thoroughly bleeding the system, the rear brake is working as it should. I still can't understand how air could be in the system though, as there's no sign of leakage and I've never had the system open for any reason.
The reason I mention this as a cautionary note is that there was another '19 Heritage in the shop (same model and color even) with exactly the same issue, so it's possibly not an isolated issue.
As the bike is still under warranty, I called my dealer and spoke to the service manager. He got me right in first thing this morning. Based on the symptoms, I suspected a bad master cylinder, but, after thoroughly bleeding the system, the rear brake is working as it should. I still can't understand how air could be in the system though, as there's no sign of leakage and I've never had the system open for any reason.
The reason I mention this as a cautionary note is that there was another '19 Heritage in the shop (same model and color even) with exactly the same issue, so it's possibly not an isolated issue.
my ABS brakes work wonderfully on the dime.
took a couple thousand miles to really break it in good.
relying on your front brake will put you on the ground.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Rear on my 17 Road King has always been soft compared to other bikes, no ABS and mechanically everything checks fine & good pedal, just pad compound I think. Don't mind as it won't lock unless I stand on it.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Upstate New York
As I said, I didnt even notice. I generally plan far ahead and dont use my brakes that aggressively. I guess it comes from riding back in the day when motorcycle brakes werent all that good.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 978
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From: UK
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,258
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From: England
After you have watched a dozen slow riding videos you get why you need a rear brake.
I guess if you don't want to try some of that stuff it doesn't really matter.
Come again?
I guess if you don't want to try some of that stuff it doesn't really matter.
I've only use the rear on my Harleys.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 12
Likes: 6
From: Australia
Must admit, it surprised me how good the brakes were on the Black Witch (2018 Fattie)..........................
having read about cruisers and how the brakes were biased more towards the rear as opposed to UJM's
I was expecting a lethargic response to throwing out the anchor but............. pleasantly surprised.
A decent grab of the stoppers produced good results.......... and.... to be honest
If you guys are'nt practicing 'hard braking' every so often, you are gunna get caught out one day......
having read about cruisers and how the brakes were biased more towards the rear as opposed to UJM's
I was expecting a lethargic response to throwing out the anchor but............. pleasantly surprised.
A decent grab of the stoppers produced good results.......... and.... to be honest
If you guys are'nt practicing 'hard braking' every so often, you are gunna get caught out one day......
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Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: Upstate New York
Exactly. My question is "how is air getting into a closed system?" I've ridden Harley-Davidsons for 32 years and never had this happen before.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 978
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From: UK
On the sports bikes I've had, the front brake has been more than enough and the chassis and quality of brake feel enable trail braking on the front brake, without sitting the bike up. That's just as well, because some of the rear brakes I've had on those bikes were useless: more placebo, than Brembo. On the Harleys I've had, the front brakes are ok for most situations, but not enough for spirited riding and the feel isn't quite so good. So I use the rear brake as well for harder stopping and trailing into corners. But I could definitely ride the bike safely without a rear brake if needed, as I'd have thought we all could.
Last edited by Mart; Sep 18, 2020 at 05:31 PM.