1997 RK Brake Conversion???
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Stage III
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3
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From: SoUtah
1997 RK Brake Conversion???
I really like my 97 Road King..... Except the front brakes don't come close to being as effective as my newer bikes.
Anyone with experience upgrading to newer style brakes would be appreciated. Newer takeoff Brembos on ebay and such. I see some adapters out there too.
Info, EXPERIENCE and links to mods would be great!
Thanks and ride well!
Jim
Anyone with experience upgrading to newer style brakes would be appreciated. Newer takeoff Brembos on ebay and such. I see some adapters out there too.
Info, EXPERIENCE and links to mods would be great!
Thanks and ride well!
Jim
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 115
From: Boston, MA
Lots of threads on this very topic. Search for topics started by:
Schex3x
Hgm
Zimm
Gbrown
The cheapest and quickest way will be to buy expensive 4-pot spotters. I'll leave you to make up the stock list and do the math.
Good luck and happy research.
Tom
Schex3x
Hgm
Zimm
Gbrown
The cheapest and quickest way will be to buy expensive 4-pot spotters. I'll leave you to make up the stock list and do the math.
Good luck and happy research.
Tom
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
There are a series of things you can try. Changing pads to an aftermarket brand can give worthwhile improvements, as also will using a braided hose, in place of the stock one (comment applies to both front and rear). They are easy and relatively cheap to do. 
After that costs and effort can go up! An aftermarket bolt-on caliper will be simple, but expensive. They way I went (referred to by T&V above) was to change swingarm, rear wheel and hence caliper to later 4-pot spec. All parts can be had, with patience, from Ebay (I live in the UK, but all my s/h stuff comes from US Ebay) at very modest cost.
I am about to upgrade further to the latest H-D Brembos, but they will need larger 300mm rotors than the previous spec I have. I propose using Lyndell composite rotors and pads, which ain't cheap! Choose which rung of the ladder you would like to step onto.
After that costs and effort can go up! An aftermarket bolt-on caliper will be simple, but expensive. They way I went (referred to by T&V above) was to change swingarm, rear wheel and hence caliper to later 4-pot spec. All parts can be had, with patience, from Ebay (I live in the UK, but all my s/h stuff comes from US Ebay) at very modest cost.
I am about to upgrade further to the latest H-D Brembos, but they will need larger 300mm rotors than the previous spec I have. I propose using Lyndell composite rotors and pads, which ain't cheap! Choose which rung of the ladder you would like to step onto.
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Where did you get the adapters?
Are they OEM or aftermarket parts?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Believe it or not, I found a pair of new take-off sliders available for less than a pair of adapters. Requires a bit more effort to strip and rebuild the forks, but I planned to do that anyway. In fact I've had a good time lately on US Ebay, with new take-off Brembos as well!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
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From: Ohio
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bikers-Choic...b2c72a&vxp=mtr
In my case different sliders would have required new powdercoat also.
In my case different sliders would have required new powdercoat also.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Canton, Michigan
Similar to stock Dunlop tires, if I had better brakes than the OEM HD, I'd have to learn how to ride my bike all over again.
This dog is too old to learn new tricks....
This dog is too old to learn new tricks....