When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My father just bought a 2005 Night Train. We replaced his handle bars with a set of narrow T bars. Besides being a pain in the ***, we got it complete without having to replace the clutch or the brake line. After a short test drive the front brake locked up while pulling it into his drive way. The brake lever was very tight, After about 15 minutes I turned on the ignition and it released the front brake and I was able to pull it into his garage. Of course this is concerning. We havent driven it since. I am have never worked on a bike with ABS, so I am not sure what would cause the front caliper to lock up. We did not open up the brake system at all. Any ideas before it is taken to the shop?
It has 2 lines going to it like this:
And it is a 2005 Night Train. so /shrug
Well, it does say “ABS” on the clip between the two 12 point bolts that hold the caliper on. The line in front looks like it goes to the speed sensor that is part of what makes it all work.
If the brake fluid has not been flushed, it is probably over due. Moisture builds up and will expand in the lines when the calipers get hot making the brakes bind up, then once cooled off they will go back to normal. Check the moisture level in the brake system. If it has ABS, it may also need to be cycled by the dealer.
Appears to have some type of reversed sliders also.
You find the ABS unit?
The earliest ABS units were ill designed and once locked up are toast. However, the stand brake system should still function. The whole system may need a overhaul.
What fluid does the master cap say. Can only use DOT 3 or 4 in ABS. All other Harley's of that year use DOT5. You can't mix them. If someone has, it's all needs rebuilt.
This can get you killed or worst. You need a real expert here. Good luck since you have a rare Harley.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Mar 6, 2022 at 07:11 PM.
It has 2 lines going to it like this:
And it is a 2005 Night Train. so /shrug
Is this an actual picture of the motorcycle in question or one that you found on the internet? If this is the bike in question then someone has swapped out the front end.
Post a picture of the actual motorcycle you are asking about if this picture is just one taken from the internet.
Harley offered ABS on the Police models in 2005. They didn't offer ABS on other models, as OEM or an option, until 2008.... and it started with the Road King....
I was also under the impression that when HD introduced ABS in 2005, they switched all bikes back to DOT 3/4 brake fluid from the DOT 5 previously used, to avoid any possible confusion and/or problems.... I won't swear to this part, my memory isn't what it used to be...
OP, as mentioned, your pic doesn't show OEM front forks... You most likely have a custom front end/ ABS brake setup on that bike... It could be retrofitted HD parts form a subsequent year, or......??
IMHO, it will hard to give any good guess about your issue, without knowing what you actually have installed on that bike...
Looks like the front end from a 2016-2020 Roadster. Retrofitting ABS to a 2005 Night Train would be quite the undertaking considering all the components involved.
[QUOTE=barneyboy;20487781]Looks like the front end from a 2016-2020 Roadster. Retrofitting ABS to a 2005 Night Train would be quite the undertaking considering all the components involved
I vote it`s just a caliper problem on a non-abs bike
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
ABS Locked up
