Adjust Brake Pedal on 2008 Street Bob
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
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From: D-Troit
Adjust Brake Pedal on 2008 Street Bob
I just joined the forum so I hope I am posting my question in the right place. My 2008 Street Bob was just delivered today! It's set up like bar hopper, or as the delivery guy put it a "Hot Rod". I am brand new to Harley's and I really don't know a lot. Here's the rub: I am 6'-5" tall. The bike has forward controls. The position of the foot pegs are fine. But the angle of the foot pedal is way too high. I have to lift my foot off the peg to apply brake. If the brake pedal was tilted forward, I would be fine. I have a similar issue with the gear shifter, but it looks like it has a set screw that I can use to tilt it forward. I called HD Biker Bob's in Taylor MI and talked to the service guy and he quoted me extended forward controls for 900 bucks. Theres gotta be a way the brake pedal can be adjusted, or maybe a different pedal. Something other than dropping another 900 big ones..help! thanks!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: WI
If I understand what you are asking and recall what my Bob looked like when I did it, both the shifter and the brake pedals are seated on a spindle-type bracket (I can't remember the name of those things), and all you need to do is loosen the set screw and rotate as needed. Be sure to use Loctite on the set screw when you are done. I hope I've described that well enough. $900 is way too much to spend on extended controls! Good luck.
If this is confusing, invest $60 on the service manual. It'll pay for itself right away.
If this is confusing, invest $60 on the service manual. It'll pay for itself right away.
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Cruiser
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From: D-Troit
As I said, the gear shifter does have a set screw. I am going to ride it a bit to see if I really want to change the gear shifter angle. My primary concern is the brake pedal. It DOES NOT have a set screw. It has a hole on the bottom with linkage attached to an operating rod that goes back to the rear brake. I don't know if the rod can be adjusted, or if there is another brake pedal where the inkage attaches to a different point on the radius to allow the brake pedal to lay farther forward. I hope that makes sense!
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 346
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From: Ponchatoula, LA
I had the same problem of having to lift my foot off the peg to get to the brake pedal. I got some different pegs with heel rests and now I'm able to piviot my foot on the heel rest to reach the pedal. Makes it much eaiser now.
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Cruiser
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From: D-Troit
I have adjusted my rear brake so that there are no more threads showing in front of the master cylinder and it has allowed the brake pedal to lay forward in a manageable position. The only thing I am wondering now is,,,,,,,by doing so, did I take all the "Slack" out of the brake? Am I going to touch the pedal and lock up the rear brake?
Side note: I have never ridden the bike because I received it amongst snow that still remains. When I do get to ride it finally, I intend to try the rear brake in a slow moving controlled environment to avoid problems.........like crashing. Am I worrying too much?
Side note: I have never ridden the bike because I received it amongst snow that still remains. When I do get to ride it finally, I intend to try the rear brake in a slow moving controlled environment to avoid problems.........like crashing. Am I worrying too much?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
I just joined the forum so I hope I am posting my question in the right place. My 2008 Street Bob was just delivered today! The bike has forward controls. The position of the foot pegs are fine. But the angle of the foot pedal is way too high. I have to lift my foot off the peg to apply brake. If the brake pedal was tilted forward, I would be fine. I have a similar issue with the gear shifter, but it looks like it has a set screw that I can use to tilt it forward. I called HD Biker Bob's in Taylor MI and talked to the service guy and he quoted me extended forward controls for 900 bucks. Theres gotta be a way the brake pedal can be adjusted, or maybe a different pedal. Something other than dropping another 900 big ones..help! thanks!
2. 9 Large? WTF? I just looked in the '08 HD Accessory Catalog and it shows the Forward Contro Kit (gear and brake side) for $329. Where is the other 6 coming from?
3. If you have the mechanical skills, it is something you can definitely do yourself.
4. And can't speak to new iron, but extending that rod on my 65 with the Warner-Lockheed assembly actually pushes on the brake pads from the extra juice pressure put on them. And on mine doing that would cause the brakes to lock up once your are up to speed and going down the road.
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Cruiser
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From: D-Troit
Panz4ever,
The 9 large was installed. But still. 9? Wtf?
I have mechanical ability, I'm already monkeying with my brakes!
I'm not extending the rod, I actually shortened it. I loosened the jamb nut and tightened the nut down so no threads were showing, then re-tightened the jamb nut. So I basically sucked it into the master cylinder. No threads showing now. Am I good?
The 9 large was installed. But still. 9? Wtf?
I have mechanical ability, I'm already monkeying with my brakes!
I'm not extending the rod, I actually shortened it. I loosened the jamb nut and tightened the nut down so no threads were showing, then re-tightened the jamb nut. So I basically sucked it into the master cylinder. No threads showing now. Am I good?
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Cruiser
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From: D-Troit
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Hopefully someone else with more knowledge about new iron will speak up but from your description it sounds like a recipe for a brake lock up.
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Cruiser
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From: D-Troit
Well, it rolls back and forth in the garage just fine, and when I coast it forward in gear and stop with the rear brake it seems normal. But I'm only going a few feet. So I don't think it is locked up. My concern is that I made the rear brake more touchy.