Well it just keeps getting better and better....

The front brakes have always been nice and firm. Generally when applying the brakes I use my index and middle finger on the lever and keep my other two on the grip. I have never had any issues and I was quite comfortable and knew when to apply the front brakes based on the distance between me and the vehicle in front of me along with the lever travel. Anyway, yesterday after picking up the bike from its 10K service, paying the jaw-dropping bill and leaving, I'm headed up to a stop sign with one car in front of me. So I downshift and start applying the brakes as normal. However this time the front brakes lever pulled back further than normal and actually bottomed out against my knuckles on the two finger that were still wrapped around the grip. Needless to say I had a bit of a butt-puckering moment and applied the rear brakes quite heavy just to avoid hitting the car.

So I promptly turned around and headed back to the shop to explain what happened. The shop owner took the bike out for a run, came back and told me that's the way the the dual caliper brakes should be and if they were tighter before they shouldn't have been and something had been wrong to begin with. He also said that apparently when they "disrupted" the calipers when removing the wheel to change the tire, it was "fixed" and are now operating as they should be.

So I decided to bleed the brakes tonight just to make sure there was no air in the system. Now, from working on cars I know the symptoms of air in the lines is if the brakes are not applied for a few minutes then the first time you do apply the brakes and you get a lot a pedal travel, but gets firmer with each pump of the pedal. Well that's what's happening with the front brakes on the bike. If I don't touch them for about 5 minutes and first apply them I get a lot of travel in the lever. With each pump of the lever they get more firm to the point of where it was before I took the bike in to the shop.

Am I losing my mind or do the dual caliper brakes normally have a fair amount of lever travel? The thing that I don't understand is now the brakes do pump up to be firm after apply the brakes about 4 - 5 times. Should I be looking at making a trip to the dealer?

Any input from other dual caliper bike owners would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks once again,
Brian

 

Well you already have the dealers answer. You apparently know how to fix it, so I would go ahead and do it. Lesson learned. My bike has NEVER been back to the dealer. I just don't trust them.

 

Actually all this took place at a local independent shop. Bleeding the brakes tonight did not take care of the issue I'm having. That's why I was contemplating a trip to the dealer.


Brian

 

I have a '05 RKC and my travel is no where near what you describe. I empathize with you regarding the stealer's comments, there favorite thing seems to be "it was wrong before but it is normal now". I had a rear tire changed and the bike started pulling to the left like it was lined up properly, sure enough I got the "that's normal" bit.

Wish I could be more help, do you have another dealer nearby to have them check it without giving them the history until after they give their answer.

 

Brian

My front brakes are exactly as you describe before any work was done on your bike. From my experience all the rear brake does is lock up the wheel and slide. I do the 2 finger pull and am able to bring the bike to a complete stop without any drama.
Not sure if I buy that [sm=bs.gif] about they are normal now stuff

 

Try tying back the brake lever to the handgirp (nice and tight) before you go to bed and leave it that way overnight. In the morning, BEFORE releasing the lever, tap on the brake lines with a wooded handle from the calipers up towards the master cylinder. This will sometimes dislodge air in the system. Just tap the lines a few times going all the way up to the m/c and then untie the lever. If this doesn't work, make sure all your brake fittings are good and tight at the calipers, brake tee and M/C and then bleed them again. It sometimes takes time to get rid of all the air. It sounds like you got some air in there somewhere.........

 

Mine was doing the same thing. I took it in today for 15k service and asked them to check the front brake. I told them that it acted like it had air in the lines as it got firmer as I pumped the lever, which I do alot of times to alert following cages with a "flash".
When I picked it up they had replaced both front rotors as a warranty item. They said they were both warped which was causing this. It is a lot firmer now. I'll have to learn to apply front brake pressure all over again.

 

In my opinion, I do not think your clutch is operating correctly and recommend getting it checked out by an HD dealer soon. Good luck.

axe11

 

There was a message posted in one of the tech forums here that links to an interesting article on "reverse brake bleeding". I haven't tried it myself, but it looks like a good idea.

 

I have an 06 Road King Classic and my braking teqnique is like yours, a couple of fingers on the brake and the other fingers on my throttle. I have never had alot of play in my lever. I could stop at half travel with the lever. Now I changed my cables and can't get the brakes to bleed properly. Still trying to get all the air out of my lines. I can pull my lever all the way to the throttle and have no brakes at all.