Use your brakes
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 556
Likes: 12
Both of them. I've seen people posting about just using the front brake... Bad habit.
The problem with just using the front during normal riding, is that in an emergency thats all you'll grab. The rear brake may not do much stopping, but it helps keep the bike straight in an emergency stop.
The problem with just using the front during normal riding, is that in an emergency thats all you'll grab. The rear brake may not do much stopping, but it helps keep the bike straight in an emergency stop.
Good poste
Roger
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
I have ABS with single disc on my 2013 SB. I practice emergency stops and the ABS is great and stops very straight( both front a rear together no matter how hard) . But I do find with a single front disc , the bike does not stop near as short distance as a bike I had with dual disc.( V rod) .I also have read that abs increases the stopping distance, but is much safer overall. I can't believe the government tests allow a single front disc on a 700 lb bike. Look at BMW. I wish some smart lawyer would sue Harley....
...Simply put, you need two disc up front.
Roger
...Simply put, you need two disc up front.
Roger
A BMW has about 1000 pounds of vehicle weight per brake disk. Your example of a 700 pound Harley only has 350 pounds per brake disk. So if the number of disks was what mattered, shouldn't the government be requiring at least 5 more brake disks on a BMW, just to make it as good as a single-front-disk Harley?
Last edited by Warp Factor; Dec 26, 2015 at 07:07 AM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
OK, let's look at BMW:
A BMW has about 1000 pounds of vehicle weight per brake disk. Your example of a 700 pound Harley only has 350 pounds per brake disk. So if the number of disks was what mattered, shouldn't the government be requiring at least 5 more brake disks on a BMW, just to make it as good as a single-front-disk Harley?
A BMW has about 1000 pounds of vehicle weight per brake disk. Your example of a 700 pound Harley only has 350 pounds per brake disk. So if the number of disks was what mattered, shouldn't the government be requiring at least 5 more brake disks on a BMW, just to make it as good as a single-front-disk Harley?
So.....A BMW motocycle weighs 3,000 pounds?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
If you haven't noticed, BMW also makes a car or two. 
Last edited by Warp Factor; Dec 26, 2015 at 02:57 PM.
Makes me feel so much safer to know how many of you took the MSF course and have read instructions on proper braking.
Here's another TidBit;
Your traffic cone suit, helmet, new boots, and gloves won't help you when you PANIC and can't remember what to do. Until you've put lots of time in (years) - STAY AWAY from ME.
50,000 miles upright highway miles are of much less value than 1 butt puckering, sliding, scraping, steering-countersteering, in control events.
Here's another TidBit;
Your traffic cone suit, helmet, new boots, and gloves won't help you when you PANIC and can't remember what to do. Until you've put lots of time in (years) - STAY AWAY from ME.
50,000 miles upright highway miles are of much less value than 1 butt puckering, sliding, scraping, steering-countersteering, in control events.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 23
Did you guys play with the spread sheet I posted a page or so back? The dynamics of a BMW ABS braking system is way more similar than you might imagine. When I developed the math for motor cycles, I started with one developed for cars and then deleted a bunch of math. Bikes are way easier to calculate.
As weight transfers to the front, the percentage of braking force rolls off of the rear. This roll off happens in 1/10s of a second. Ironicly, it always rolls of to almost always rolls off to the same PEDDLE FORCE. That force depends on the CG of the bike. The more rear heavy the bike is, the more force.
Sadly, brakes on a Harley tend to be under sized on the front for the sake of a photo shoot.
Here is a pic of the front binders on my Sporty.
http://www.nbs-stl.com/motorcycle/VRodDisk.jpg
Andy
As weight transfers to the front, the percentage of braking force rolls off of the rear. This roll off happens in 1/10s of a second. Ironicly, it always rolls of to almost always rolls off to the same PEDDLE FORCE. That force depends on the CG of the bike. The more rear heavy the bike is, the more force.
Sadly, brakes on a Harley tend to be under sized on the front for the sake of a photo shoot.
Here is a pic of the front binders on my Sporty.
http://www.nbs-stl.com/motorcycle/VRodDisk.jpg
Andy
Last edited by whittlebeast; Dec 26, 2015 at 10:15 AM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 23
The way you rate a brake is by having the ability to hold the front tire right at the limit of skidding. When the front tire does lock, you want the ability to release the slightest pressure and get the tire to start rolling again. This is called the static pads static friction compared to the dynamic friction between the pads and the rotor. The closer these two numbers are, the better. This determines how much you have to roll off the lever to regain control.
Tires have all the same issues.
Andy
Tires have all the same issues.
Andy
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 196
From: Boise, ID
I read an article the other day stating that "older riders" are at a higher percentage of motorcycle accidents. Especially single vehicle accidents. It also suggested that this was because guys who have been "riding for years" feel they don't need any additional training.