Reflex Braking System, do you like it?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1,040
From: Seabrook, NH
First are you sure its working properly? Have you had a chance to ride other bikes for comparison? My recommendation is give it time. I own a 13 limited and really like how it stops after I replaced both the front and rear suspension. Night and day better than my previous 2001. That being said I really believe in a panic situation the linked braking system may just be able to stop you just a few feet earlier compared with ABS alone. Been riding all kinds of motorcycles since 1976 and my limited loaded up with gear and a passenger needs all the help mechanically possible to avoid the jerks we all unfortunately come across. Again give it time, it may just save your life.
Well, there are enough issues it appears that this thread got hijacked in many ways. In my case all I wanted to know was if most people thought that the ABS/Reflex system design was defective. I just bought my bike used from a certain dealer in Daytona Beach and it wasn't a pleasant experience for the most part. Since there was an "event" going on I wasn't allowed to test ride the bike but it only had 11,600 mi on it and it was a Police model so I figured it had been well maintained.
I didn't have a choice if I wanted to ride home... yes, I could have rented a car or flew home. I had friends with me and I didn't want to ruin the entire trip.
Anyway, I rode the bike for two days and then took it back and asked for a couple of things to be addressed... one of them was the brakes. There was little improvement.
Do y'all think that a dealer is supposed to sell a Harley "as is" or should they have repaired the bike (or at least negotiated a reasonable compromise since they thought that they had enough money in it already... of course!)?
These brakes grab like nobody's business. There is no way to just gradually come to a stop >if< you are using a front brake/rear brake combined stop. I assure you I have had enough practice in the past 4 months to "learn" how to use this system. Either the rotors are hot spotted or the system doesn't work as I think it should. I'm just doing some research to see if I should try the warranty route, the beat on the dealer route, or the suck it up and take the hits on my wallet route. Since this is the first time I have encountered a reflex system (but not an ABS system) I wanted to hear some constructive input.
I am just looking for input to see if there is any difference between standard ABS and Reflex assisted ABS and if it is a problem free design before I start arguing or crying, whichever the case may be.
As for the dealer, they wouldn't even let me pay cash for the bike for one example of many things I am not happy about. They wanted their kickback from Eagle financing. I paid it off immediately when I got home.
The guy at the custom desk, otoh, was excellent and should be running the place imho.
I didn't have a choice if I wanted to ride home... yes, I could have rented a car or flew home. I had friends with me and I didn't want to ruin the entire trip.
Anyway, I rode the bike for two days and then took it back and asked for a couple of things to be addressed... one of them was the brakes. There was little improvement.
Do y'all think that a dealer is supposed to sell a Harley "as is" or should they have repaired the bike (or at least negotiated a reasonable compromise since they thought that they had enough money in it already... of course!)?
These brakes grab like nobody's business. There is no way to just gradually come to a stop >if< you are using a front brake/rear brake combined stop. I assure you I have had enough practice in the past 4 months to "learn" how to use this system. Either the rotors are hot spotted or the system doesn't work as I think it should. I'm just doing some research to see if I should try the warranty route, the beat on the dealer route, or the suck it up and take the hits on my wallet route. Since this is the first time I have encountered a reflex system (but not an ABS system) I wanted to hear some constructive input.
I am just looking for input to see if there is any difference between standard ABS and Reflex assisted ABS and if it is a problem free design before I start arguing or crying, whichever the case may be.
As for the dealer, they wouldn't even let me pay cash for the bike for one example of many things I am not happy about. They wanted their kickback from Eagle financing. I paid it off immediately when I got home.
The guy at the custom desk, otoh, was excellent and should be running the place imho.
I own a 14 sgs and I am more than happy with the braking system, and I put the bike through it paces. I only notice the linked system every so often and when I say notice that's in a good way. It also did not take me long to be totally confident with the new linked brake system.
What u r describing is abnormal behavior and I recommend you get it looked at. Did you compare it to any other bikes with linked brakes and see if you get the same feeling.
I hope you sort out these problems and give it a chance because it is really a well designed system for all types of riders. Trust me years ago I would be the first one to say screw abs and whatever else they were pushing on us, but in the end I am glad I / we have all these cool new options.
Good luck Chris.
Nose dive is noticeable, but, my '15 brakes blow away my '13's. Both anti-lock, but the '13's brakes stutter badly while breaking on choppy surfaces. The 15's do not. So, to answer your question, I like the reflex brakes a lot.
Last edited by Bafflingbs; Feb 4, 2016 at 11:15 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
I have a 2014 FLHR. The brakes are smooth and under normal and hard braking they work very well in my opinion. The only time I really notice the link system is if I apply the rear brakes first and then squeeze the front brake it has a little bit of take up before it gives resistance. This is because one of the front calipers is already being engaged by the link system. If your brakes are grabbing and are impossible to stop smoothly there is a problem with your brake system. If that was the case with all rushmores or even common there would be numerous complaints about it on this forum. I would get it checked out by trusted mechanic. Hope this works out for you.
I bought the extended warranty since I am planning some long trips. I did all of my own work on my Nightrain but had a breakdown (clutch problem) while in FL a year ago. The dealer in St. Pete "fixed it" and it lasted another 5 months... I asked the service personnel what it was that they found and they just shrugged. Being a trusting soul I trusted their "mechanic" and didn't take it back apart when I got home. Next big trip out it failed again and the Daytona HD "trusted mechanic" replaced the plates for $900 (rip-off) and since I had 91k on the bike I took advantage of a "good deal" and traded it in. Another "trusted mechanic" at that HD dealer in Daytona checked out the brakes because I didn't think they were right.
I just don't look forward to spending $700 on parts to redo the pads and rotors and I'm willing to bet that the HD Dealer in Daytona (when I get there in March) won't replace the system under warranty, either, even thought all it had was 11k on it. If the system design had issues at least I might have been able to use the warranty.
Thanks for the answer.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 473
Likes: 5
From: Grays Creek, NC
Now have a 2016 Road glide. Holy crap these brakes grab. When first riding it I was over braking at every stop sign, had to let up a bit to roll to the stop line.
But I started to get used to it and adjusted. I noticed that on longer rides I will completely adjust and not pay it any attention at all. But I will still over brake at first if the bike sits a few days. Old habits are hard to break (brake). When I do over brake, I don't get upset at them, I get impressed
That "feeling" in the front brake lever you get when you apply a bit more rear still gets me once in a while.
My take on it is that these are the best brakes I have ever had on a Harley and it is up to me to adjust to them.
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