Crappy brakes
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Crappy brakes
07 flht
My flht has to have the crappiest brakes of any bike I have ever owned. Is this another one of those Harley things?? I have had the front brake blead 2x and it still sucks. Is this common??
What are my options for upgrading the front brakes. My bike is in storage so I can't take a close look but I'm assuming it has non metallic brake line. Will upgrading to a stainless steel brakeline make the front brake actually act like a brake. Or do you need to go with new calipers also. I come from the world of performance dirtbikes. when i go for the front brake i want something to be there other than a big handfull of mush.
and don't get me going on that back brake that locks up at the drop of a hat!! Sure gets you plenty of attention whe the back wheel starts screeching. Roooorrorrrororoorrrororrr!!
As far as brakecomponents go any brand in particular that you would recommend.
Thanks
My flht has to have the crappiest brakes of any bike I have ever owned. Is this another one of those Harley things?? I have had the front brake blead 2x and it still sucks. Is this common??
What are my options for upgrading the front brakes. My bike is in storage so I can't take a close look but I'm assuming it has non metallic brake line. Will upgrading to a stainless steel brakeline make the front brake actually act like a brake. Or do you need to go with new calipers also. I come from the world of performance dirtbikes. when i go for the front brake i want something to be there other than a big handfull of mush.
and don't get me going on that back brake that locks up at the drop of a hat!! Sure gets you plenty of attention whe the back wheel starts screeching. Roooorrorrrororoorrrororrr!!
As far as brakecomponents go any brand in particular that you would recommend.
Thanks
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: South-Central Minnesota
RE: Crappy brakes
First thing you may wanna try is ditching those crappy stock brake pads. They must be made from crushed walnuts or something for how well they work...and they disintigrate leaving dust all over your wheels.[:@]
I've had SBS sintered metal pads and Lyndall racing brakes "gold" pads. I've also heard excellent stuff about EBC's carbon/kevlar. Any of these should give you a much improved feel and performance. I've managed to lock up the front tire and skid it using both the pads I mentioned above. The only time I've noticed my lever feel getting mushy is when the temps are above 85*....it seems like the high temps soften the rubber on the brake lines a bit. Eventually I will get the fronts upgraded to stainless braided lines.
I've had SBS sintered metal pads and Lyndall racing brakes "gold" pads. I've also heard excellent stuff about EBC's carbon/kevlar. Any of these should give you a much improved feel and performance. I've managed to lock up the front tire and skid it using both the pads I mentioned above. The only time I've noticed my lever feel getting mushy is when the temps are above 85*....it seems like the high temps soften the rubber on the brake lines a bit. Eventually I will get the fronts upgraded to stainless braided lines.
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 610
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey
RE: Crappy brakes
You may want to try going to braided brake lines also. They don't expand like the rubber ones and should give you some improvement.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 1
From: Texas
RE: Crappy brakes
I recently rode 4 different 07's at one of the local dealer's demo days. The first thing I noticed was how well the brakes worked compared to my '86 FXRS's brakes. It was like night and day.