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Right. I want to make it clear that my 2019 fatbob is the best Harley i have ever ridden. And with the cleaner lines of the short shots on it i love it apart from one thing and that's the rear brake!
What the hell is going on there?
It's like a Harley brake from the 70's just next to useless . I thought it was me but it appears other 114 owners say the same.....What have Harley done there?????????
I have three M8's, all 3 have the same rear brake system, I actually only use the rear brake during slow maneuvers and then it is more than enough braking power. During normal driving I only use the front
brake, so I have no problem with these brakes at all. I don't know if you've been riding a bike for a long time, but actually you have to say that 95% of the braking is done with the front brake and the rear brake
s hardly used. And certainly with the ABS systems of today ...
You'd be surprised how many riders don't use the front brake. Some old wives' tale or something like that. If you're not relying on the front brake to do most of the work I can see where you wouldn't be happy with the rear. Apologies in advance if this is not the case with you.
I noticed that I had to bend my ankle a lot to operate the rear brake and didn't get much pressure on the pedal. I installed the Harley accessory brake pedal and pad and that fixed the problem. The new pedal is at a different angle and it's very easy to put pressure on the pedal.
Before and after.
Oh i use mostly the front brake as you should but none the less it doesn't mean to say they can put a garbage back brake on .It's agreed by most its a 80%/20% split and for those that have said they only use the front well good luck because you will get so used to using it only that when you need full breaking power and your only used to using the front that 20% you have ignored could be the difference in life and death.
I am not saying about whether one should use both that's your funeral but a brake is put there to brake and it's **** poor. Next time if you are on a fatbob try just using just the back brake it's hopeless ....
I have a SoftBrake Rear Brake lever on my Fat Boy 114, if I stomp on that rear brake, I can make that tire squeal.
There is more than enough braking force available to that rear tire once you adjust the brake lever properly and get it setup for you.
The problem has little to do with the rear brake itself and everything to do with the design of the M8 Softail, and its lighter stiffer, sportier design over the old twincam models.
The lighter a bike is, and the shorter its wheel base, the more front brake dominant the bike becomes.
Last edited by FranBunnyFFXII; Jul 1, 2022 at 03:55 PM.
I own a 2019 Softail and believe it is the most enjoyable bike I have every owned. BUT, the brake problem you describe is a problem and has nothing to do with your braking technique. Harley knows of the problem and has fired up its propaganda machine to cover up the problem, The good news is that easy, inexpensive modifications will fix the problem. First, the angle of the rear brake lever is too shallow. It can be easily adjusted (see posts on this subject) so that you don't have to stand on the rear brake lever to make the rear brake do its job. Second, the HD brake pads on the 2018+ Softails (both front and rear) are inferior and cause multiple problems--excessive rotor wear, poor rear brake performance, front brake grabbing, glazing. Lyndall makes three grades of replacement brake pads for the M8 Softails. Unless you race or push your bike to the extreme, the Lyndall Gold+ pads will improve your brakes' performance and address the other brake problems.
I know that I am about to offend some people, but I have been riding bikes for 59 years and have learned a lot as I age. One of the lessons is the importance of balanced front & rear braking. ALL riding academies and books on motorcycle technique will stress the importance of proper use of the rear brake all the way through and to a complete stop, particularly in an emergency or to reduce speed at higher speeds and in minimum distance. Depending on the bike, 60% to 80% of the work of the brakes is performed by the front brake as as you increase baking. But, assistance from the rear brake keeps a bike stopping in a straight line and without excessive brake dive. The heavier a bike, the more important is balanced braking technique. It is inexcusable that HD teaches the importance of balanced braking in its Riding Academy courses and then has the service department excuse the poor performance of Harley Softail rear brakes.
Last edited by Las Vegas Jim; Jul 1, 2022 at 03:40 PM.
Reason: spelling error
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Rear brake on Fatbob...
You Aren't Wrong or the Problem
