The stock brakes seemed to do their job on my 97 WG, but like someone else said earlier, it it ain't broke, break it. I did got to 4-piston F and R Performance Machine brakes back in 2006.

 

Exactly. Over 7 years, I changed everything on by 2012 FXDB, except for the transmission. In retrospective I wish I rode more and enjoyed it. Now I don't have much time to ride. I probably will just replace line, rebuild it and call it a day with this one

 

Wilwood four piston brake calipers are the best and most cost effective change. See link

https://www.wilwood.com/calipers/cal...ame=motorcycle

 

The stock front caliper is a single pot caliper They don't work the greatest because they flex... As @misfitJason said the best upgrade for them is a four pot Wilwood... Bolt on top older sliders..

 

Meh...they work just fine. *ALWAYS* use *BOTH* brakes simultaneously, unless doing nice, easy slowing down after using the gears, then I just use the front brakes (unless there's gravel/water/ice/oils on the road). I've been able to stop just as fast as the guy next to me with the fancy new sled when a car pulled out in front of us. Just keep the reservoir(s) filled with the correct fluid, and every once in a great while flush it to get a whole new fill of fresh fluid, and you're good to go. The brake pads have never been one better than the other for me either, the stock work just as good as the fancy, as far as I'm concerned and my own experience.

One thing to check and make sure you keep it workable...the drain nipple! The one on my '98 FXD somehow got froze and I couldn't turn it and ended up stripping it, so had to get another stock caliper. Just something to keep in mind on old(er) bikes.