On my demo ride yesterday I noticed the brake require a lot more effort than I'm used to. Needed 3/4 fingers to pull vs 1/2 on old ride. I'm coming from 2014 low rider with dual disks and no abs/not linked so very different hardware.

Does/did anyone else notice?
Is it a result of abs/linked?
Does it get better as bike breaks in (pads/rotors are bedded in)?

Not a deal breaker - just curious.

 

I actively ride both a '12 TriGlide, and a '17 RoadKing. Maybe not a good comparison due to the weight difference, but the Road King seems to stop quicker with less pull.

Edit: oh yeah, the Road King has both ABS & linked, where as the TriGlide has neither,

 

You crazy man. I'm able to use my middle finger to stop the 2018. Especially the Lowriders'. Maybe the setup you had was wrong or the bike your rode had less then 10 miles on it. Usually the brakes get better once they are worn in.

 

The brakes on my 2018 Fatboy are killer. I too was concerned about the single disk but one I rode it that diminished quickly. Nothing wrong with these brakes.

 

The brakes on my 18 Heritage are the best of any bike I have ever owned.

 

The brakes on my 2018 FatBoy are so powerful that it left an even greater first impression on me than the enormous changes in engine, frame, and suspension from my other Harleys! Especially the front brake! The power, and more importantly, the FEEL of the brakes are astounding. As far as effort is concerned, I had to exert significantly more pressure on my dual front disc Yamaha sport bike brakes. Also, they offered WAY stronger and more predictable performance than my '13 Dual Brembo disc Road Glide ever did! Incidentally, this has nothing to do with break in. The bike's brakes were smooth, progressive, authoritative, and provided superb feel from the very first application.

 

Last week I was coming out of a parking lot which was a slight downhill and a blind right curve when an idiot woman came zooming in and cut the corner right towards me. Trust me those Heritage brakes did a superb job of an emergency stop and the bike is light enough that I held it up even stopping in a curve. No complaints.

 

Mine has ABS so i had to adapt a little , braking is very strong , I'm a one finger braker on the front.

 

ABS here too, and 1 finger is enough on that lever. My Touring bike had ABS that would kick in way too early in the rear causing wheel chatter, weighed 100 pounds more but had twin Brembos in the front. The bike had HALF the stopping power at most.

 

Awesome to hear.
Asked about break in because the bike only had ~10 miles on it.

Thanks all !