How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Likes: 2
From: Coconut Creek, FL
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Happened to me the other day. Luckily I didn't go down. I guess I had gotten a little lazy about paying attention so it was a huge wake up call for me to wake up and watch what I'm doing. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have locked up as quickly or easily had I been 2 up.
Novice
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
The rear brakes on my 08 Ultra will lock up in a heartbeat--and the bike will swap ends if I don't get off quickly. I've had the MS course, but I still forget now and then and in a hurry go to the rear brakes. I wish I had gotten the ABS--I think they're worth the money--just for stupid times like I've had on 2 occasions. Never down or anything, but a couple of pucker moments.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: Discovery Bay, CA
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Sounds like inexperienced operator error to me... I've been riding 30+ years and have never locked up my rear brakes. Maybe you should take a MS course so you don't kill anyone... just a thought.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 3
From: 28°31'49.84"N , 82°30'8.56"W
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
I wish I had the ABS too... one day it'll be standard item... I almost lost it on my 07 Ultra Calssic a few days after getting it, the back tire locked up real good... after I got some use on it, it stopped locking up on me
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
ORIGINAL: bobbyg12
I'll quote from the RLAP videos - Front brake, front brake, front brake!!
I rarely use the rear until I'm at low speed. I'm sure that you'll hear other opinions...
I'll quote from the RLAP videos - Front brake, front brake, front brake!!
I rarely use the rear until I'm at low speed. I'm sure that you'll hear other opinions...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,049
Likes: 6
From: Oregon City, OR
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
I can lock up the rear brakes on the King easily, but have only hadtolock them up once.When I test ride bikes after working on them, I always test both brakes separately when I am leaving the parking lot. Some bikes will lock up without much effort and another just like it (same yr/model and similar miles and brake pad/ rotor wear) will be almost impossible to get to slide. Brake fluid level, condition of brake lines, master cylinder and caliper seals, tire wear (and mfg) and a few other things will all influence how a bike will stop. Important thing is once you lock them up, stay on 'em til you stop.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 598
Likes: 0
From: Deming, New Mexico
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
ORIGINAL: mazz
all good advise but remember when that back tire locks up stay on that break until you stop
it will launch you if you left off the break in a skid
all good advise but remember when that back tire locks up stay on that break until you stop
it will launch you if you left off the break in a skid
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,106
Likes: 12
From: SoCal
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Folks here have given some good advice.
In an emergency stopping situation, some ridersrevert back toI call "driving the car". They do on their bike what the do in their car, which is jam on the brake pedal and forget all about the front. Their instincts become more car, than bike. This can lead to rear wheel lock up. So I tell riders they should practice threshold combination braking. The application ofboth brakesright up to the thresholdof imminent lock up. I always use both brakes because the bike has two sets of independant brakes on them. Perhaps the rear only accounts for 20-30% of stopping power, but that's thats 20-30% more than if I didn't use them. And remember, when you apply BOTH brakes, the front, (which has over 70% of the stopping power), will cause the front end to dive andthe forks to compress. And as the front end gets heavier and goes down, the rear gets lighter and comes up. Hence the rear will have a greater propensity to lock up. So you need to be able to modulate your rear pedal to avoid the lock up. Of course the only way to become proficient at this is REGULAR practice. Make practice part of your riding routine. Factor in 10 extra mins before the ride to practice braking and other skils.
And like the others said. If you lock up the rear STAY ON IT AND KEEP IT LOCKED UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
In an emergency stopping situation, some ridersrevert back toI call "driving the car". They do on their bike what the do in their car, which is jam on the brake pedal and forget all about the front. Their instincts become more car, than bike. This can lead to rear wheel lock up. So I tell riders they should practice threshold combination braking. The application ofboth brakesright up to the thresholdof imminent lock up. I always use both brakes because the bike has two sets of independant brakes on them. Perhaps the rear only accounts for 20-30% of stopping power, but that's thats 20-30% more than if I didn't use them. And remember, when you apply BOTH brakes, the front, (which has over 70% of the stopping power), will cause the front end to dive andthe forks to compress. And as the front end gets heavier and goes down, the rear gets lighter and comes up. Hence the rear will have a greater propensity to lock up. So you need to be able to modulate your rear pedal to avoid the lock up. Of course the only way to become proficient at this is REGULAR practice. Make practice part of your riding routine. Factor in 10 extra mins before the ride to practice braking and other skils.
And like the others said. If you lock up the rear STAY ON IT AND KEEP IT LOCKED UNTIL YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 1
From:
RE: How easily does YOUR rear tire lockup
Not sure why HD puts such powerful brakes on the rear. Look at Sport bikes, Sport touring etc and they all have big dual disks on the front and a much smaller disk on the rear. The Harley arrangement can be downright dangerous.
I try to remember to practice quick stops once a month and have gotten so I do not lock the rear wheel but next bike is gonna have ABS.
I try to remember to practice quick stops once a month and have gotten so I do not lock the rear wheel but next bike is gonna have ABS.