Check Your Brake Pads - WORST CASE
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 287
From: Texas
When people like to say the only time my bike gets washed is when it rains and laugh like theyre proud of it, this is what I imagine happens to their bike or something similar.
I cant tell you how many times Ive been detailing my bike and found a loose exhaust clamp, an electrical wire worn from vibration somewhere, a freaking nail in the tire that hasnt started a leak yet, etc etc etc.
Every now and then Ill put my bike up on a lift and turn the wheels to wash them good. Id find something like this pretty quick well before it happened.
Guys that dont routinely spend time with their bike cleaning it, in my experience, are usually the ones that have surprises happen to them out on the road that could have been prevented had they spent 30 mins cleaning the bugs off and polishing some chrome.
A few of my buddies laugh at my attention to cleaning but Ive never yet been stranded, and Ive saved their asses more than once with tools they didnt bring to fix things they should have caught.
I cant tell you how many times Ive been detailing my bike and found a loose exhaust clamp, an electrical wire worn from vibration somewhere, a freaking nail in the tire that hasnt started a leak yet, etc etc etc.
Every now and then Ill put my bike up on a lift and turn the wheels to wash them good. Id find something like this pretty quick well before it happened.
Guys that dont routinely spend time with their bike cleaning it, in my experience, are usually the ones that have surprises happen to them out on the road that could have been prevented had they spent 30 mins cleaning the bugs off and polishing some chrome.
A few of my buddies laugh at my attention to cleaning but Ive never yet been stranded, and Ive saved their asses more than once with tools they didnt bring to fix things they should have caught.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 1,091
From: Eastern IA
Besides looking things over when you clean your bike watching the mileages and staying on the maintenance schedule helps keep your bike safe , even if something isn't worn per scheduled maintenance at least it was checked.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,550
Likes: 5,892
From: Syracuse NY
I can admit to not being on top of my brake pads on an old metric cruiser I had. I had not ridden nor serviced the bike in a year or so. This is prior to a trip through VT and NH.
I was coming down Mt Washington, two up of course, and noticed brake fade. I realized what it was and would pull into the turnoffs to cool everything.
Turns out the pads were "thin". Not like the OP's customer with metal on metal, but shame on me. This was about 15-years ago.
Fast fwd to this June's XC run, I had my indy check the pads while putting on new tires for the trip. He said, "brakes are good".
Well by the time I got to the HD dealer in Sacramento, the rear pads were thin. Again, shame on me for not doing the "trust, but verify" on what the indy said.
The same indy that let me go out the door with the left hand caliper bolts not even finger tight.
I was coming down Mt Washington, two up of course, and noticed brake fade. I realized what it was and would pull into the turnoffs to cool everything.
Turns out the pads were "thin". Not like the OP's customer with metal on metal, but shame on me. This was about 15-years ago.
Fast fwd to this June's XC run, I had my indy check the pads while putting on new tires for the trip. He said, "brakes are good".
Well by the time I got to the HD dealer in Sacramento, the rear pads were thin. Again, shame on me for not doing the "trust, but verify" on what the indy said.
The same indy that let me go out the door with the left hand caliper bolts not even finger tight.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 199
Likes: 127
From: Valley Head, WV
I can admit to not being on top of my brake pads on an old metric cruiser I had. I had not ridden nor serviced the bike in a year or so. This is prior to a trip through VT and NH.
I was coming down Mt Washington, two up of course, and noticed brake fade. I realized what it was and would pull into the turnoffs to cool everything.
Turns out the pads were "thin". Not like the OP's customer with metal on metal, but shame on me. This was about 15-years ago.
Fast fwd to this June's XC run, I had my indy check the pads while putting on new tires for the trip. He said, "brakes are good".
Well by the time I got to the HD dealer in Sacramento, the rear pads were thin. Again, shame on me for not doing the "trust, but verify" on what the indy said.
The same indy that let me go out the door with the left hand caliper bolts not even finger tight.
I was coming down Mt Washington, two up of course, and noticed brake fade. I realized what it was and would pull into the turnoffs to cool everything.
Turns out the pads were "thin". Not like the OP's customer with metal on metal, but shame on me. This was about 15-years ago.
Fast fwd to this June's XC run, I had my indy check the pads while putting on new tires for the trip. He said, "brakes are good".
Well by the time I got to the HD dealer in Sacramento, the rear pads were thin. Again, shame on me for not doing the "trust, but verify" on what the indy said.
The same indy that let me go out the door with the left hand caliper bolts not even finger tight.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,550
Likes: 5,892
From: Syracuse NY
To be honest, they may. I'll assume it's a one off. If it's 2 for 2, then nope.
But today, if I didn't go back to some car-motorcycle repair shops after an error, I'd have no place to go.
But today, if I didn't go back to some car-motorcycle repair shops after an error, I'd have no place to go.
Last edited by Oko; Jul 10, 2023 at 02:17 PM.
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Joe Kucinski
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
People are amazing. Especially when they hear or feel something abnormal and ignore it, we had a neighbor many years ago. She was driving down the highway and her wheel came. She then mentioned, that she heard a funny screeching noise and rough riding for “a while”. Well, the inner wheel bearing was completely dry, and the bearing had seized, and eventually cut off the spindle.
Her husband was a mechanic, and never drove her car. After that, he then drive her car at least once per week.
My wife is the other extreme. She brings up every squeak, rattle, and weird shift in the tranny.
Her husband was a mechanic, and never drove her car. After that, he then drive her car at least once per week.
My wife is the other extreme. She brings up every squeak, rattle, and weird shift in the tranny.
Last edited by TriGeezer; Jul 10, 2023 at 02:36 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 11,257
From: San Diego, CA
FWIW.....
I replace my brake pads early, but the minimum thickness spec for a Harley Brake pad is 0.5mm or 0.020".....
That's pretty thin.
If you have a shop check your brake pads and they are 0.75mm, they are technically within spec and not in immediate need of replacement....
I would hope the shop would suggest replacement at that thickness, but there are those who would be upset that they changed them early...
https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....7868&nid=28037
I replace my brake pads early, but the minimum thickness spec for a Harley Brake pad is 0.5mm or 0.020".....
That's pretty thin.If you have a shop check your brake pads and they are 0.75mm, they are technically within spec and not in immediate need of replacement....
I would hope the shop would suggest replacement at that thickness, but there are those who would be upset that they changed them early...
https://serviceinfo.harley-davidson....7868&nid=28037
