I'm with Prot on this one.
My front brakes are crap and always have been.


The only time my front brakes lock up is if the bike is in the air (on the jack) and I spin it by hand. Under no other conditions will it even think about locking up.


Hell you pull my brake lever and it's as if the brakes ask you "Are you really sure you want to stop?"

 

Exactly. It's like you have to plan on stopping. With all the idiots on the road texting, emergency stops are more frequent.

I have never ridden my dad's road King, but I suspect it stops a hell of a lot better than my 95 Heritage.

 

I'm with you as far as all the idiots with phones trapped between their ear and shoulder, doing Facebook and checking their email.

It's not as if they could drive that well *before* all that crap started.

And they should refuse driving licenses to any cultures that also produce suicide bombers.
You know, this comes up a lot on Harley forums and it's kind of defensive.,

Locking up your tyres is not proof of good brakes. In fact, on/off brakes are an old problem related more to the 1970s.

Good brakes are powerful, progressive and controllable with good feel. it strikes me, H-D has dumbed down their brakes for decades to suit neophyte riders.
Road Kings come fitted with boat anchors in the saddlebags. Stop best if you chuck it out at the right moment.

See on/off comment above.

 

I'm looking forward to the pictures. My front brake improved when I started using an oil can and forced fluid up through the caliper to the master. I think there was air trapped from day one. Same scenario with the back one.

 

I will admit my brakes aren't working as well as they did since installing new rotors and pads. It seems to be taking an inordinate length of time to fully break in the new rotors.


Either that or my right hand doesn't have the strength it once had. Well, so much for 35 year old technology.

 

You might benefit by simply changing to stainless steel braided lines, especially if your lines are original.

The lines I ordered seemed like a good complete product on their website. I'll post up about them when they arrive.

 

I'm in the same boat. My springer with single front disk (same as your Evo brakes) takes a manly squeeze on the lever as well..and then it's not that impressive. My 95 Evo Road King with dual disk had great front brakes.

Rear brakes are just used in the parking lot. Well may be a bit more often but front brakes are the working brake at speed.

Prot I'm eager to see your report on the HawgHalters. They make a front caliper for springers too.

Prot if you've got a spongy feel that's likely air in the lines. Have you bled them?

 

It doesn't quite feel like air. And really it's been an ongoing problem for years, with occasional master cylinder or caliper rebuild etc. I had gotten used to lousy brakes apparently because upon returning to riding after being sick for a couple of months, it became obvious I needed to do something.

The bike has been great and my engine is pretty damn sweet, so these brake upgrades are worth it and and I end up with a bike that I like better than a new one.

 

A riding partner bought a new 2010 and when he did his 1k service the slip came back with a note saying the dealer bleed the brakes, he claims to have noticed better braking performance. I forgot if he upgraded to stainless lines at the time of purchase or maybe they are still the moco lines. Hmm?
Tom

 

ill be doing this upgrade to the front shortly. I talked for quite a while with the Jaybrake guy at sturgis and one thing he pointed out was that 20 year old brake lines get quite a bit of expansion under pressure. He said a stainless brake line would offer considerable improvment followed bya 6 piston caliper.