Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

2012 rear brake issue

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 01:39 PM
  #1  
BUIZILLA's Avatar
BUIZILLA
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: Miami, Fla.
Default 2012 rear brake issue

hello all...

my '12 Ultra LTD w/650 miles and ABS has **** poor rear braking, it requires what I feel is extraordinary effort to accomplish a simple task... ie; stop the bike

has anyone changed the brake pads to another brand, and had any resolution?

dealer thinks the pads are glazed but it's been like this since new and 6 miles on the odo.. it is getting somewhat better but it's still lightyears from being acceptable.... master cylinder maybe??

I have owned 3 other bike brands with ABS before this one, and had zero issues, in fact they were ALL great..

thanx for any idea's
 
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 01:43 PM
  #2  
NevadaNick's Avatar
NevadaNick
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
Default

ABS only keeps it from locking up
 
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 02:53 PM
  #3  
wacool65's Avatar
wacool65
Novice
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Mill, SC
Default

My 2010 feels the same way when compared to "other" brands of bikes I have ridden in the last 39 years. With 5k miles I got tired of the noise and replaced the pads with aftermarket "sintered" kevlar impregnated pads. Noise went away, stopping is only marginally better. I was surprised at how little brake material there is, I would assume all of the pads are made with very hard material to last as long as possible and this would cause what you are describing. BTW, I'm a 25yr. master tech/automotive trainer so I am somewhat familiar with brakes and components.
 
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 03:10 PM
  #4  
mkguitar's Avatar
mkguitar
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
Default

you should be able to get to the lock up point pretty easy with your right foot- if you are not getting there then there is a fault, whether glazing, contamination or air in the lines. Even a problem with the switch

can you make it lock ?


the front does all the braking.

the weight shifts , the rear locks up and skids on non-abs bikes.

I know that my 900 pound 09 stops in half the space of my evo bagger

and I know that the 480 pound evo fxr stopped pretty good too.

you have to consider weight/speed/traction/stopping distance

Mike
 

Last edited by mkguitar; Oct 17, 2012 at 03:39 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 03:20 PM
  #5  
BUIZILLA's Avatar
BUIZILLA
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: Miami, Fla.
Default

Originally Posted by BUIZILLA
it requires what I feel is extraordinary effort to accomplish a simple task... ie; stop the bike
I fully comprehend what ABS is, and how/why it works..

my point is this, I am trying to understand why I have to put a LOT of extra pedal pressure to get it to respond to NORMAL braking when it's used...

my 07 SG and my previous 4 Harley's are/were smoooooth and responsive non-ABS braking, and doesn't require me to lift my foot off the board, and put my body weight into getting the bike to simply stop..

front brakes work great, but there are times when you NEED to use the rear brake

I've had 3 previous ABS equipped other make bikes that were awesome, so I know something is wrong with this one

and, I know i'm not the first person to bitch about this either..

thanx for the replies
 
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 03:48 PM
  #6  
morleyz's Avatar
morleyz
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 123
Likes: 5
From: Illinois
Default

I have the same bike and would say that it brakes just fine in my opinion. I don't feel like I have to put much pressure on the rear pedal to get it to stop and definitely don't have to put my body weight behind it. It's also very comparable to my previous non-HD ride. Maybe you can find someone near you with the same bike that might swap with you in a parking lot or something to find out if it's you or the bike.

I wouldn't take a "that's the way it is on your bike" response from your dealer. Get it fixed...it's your brakes after all.
 
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 07:28 PM
  #7  
geezer glide 56's Avatar
geezer glide 56
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 104
From: Mississippi
Default

Originally Posted by BUIZILLA
I fully comprehend what ABS is, and how/why it works..

my point is this, I am trying to understand why I have to put a LOT of extra pedal pressure to get it to respond to NORMAL braking when it's used...

my 07 SG and my previous 4 Harley's are/were smoooooth and responsive non-ABS braking, and doesn't require me to lift my foot off the board, and put my body weight into getting the bike to simply stop..

front brakes work great, but there are times when you NEED to use the rear brake

I've had 3 previous ABS equipped other make bikes that were awesome, so I know something is wrong with this one

and, I know i'm not the first person to bitch about this either..

thanx for the replies
A lot of dealerships don't prep the bikes as they should...The rotors should be cleaned with brake cleaner...And the bike should be ridden and front and rear brakes thoroughly tested...It seems to take longer and lots of heavy use to get the rear brakes to stop as they should...Once this is done they should be fine.
 
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 07:38 PM
  #8  
roadking2014's Avatar
roadking2014
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
Default

did it come under the recall for rear brake switch? before and after comparison on changing the switch, the original switch stopped great, the replacement was a joke.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 07:43 PM
  #9  
av ultra's Avatar
av ultra
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 545
Likes: 8
From: antelope valley ca.
Default

Check the brake pedal piviot, could be binding up, also look at the rear calaper, making sure it floats on the pins with no binding. I felt like my rear brake/abs was usless when I got my 10 ultra and was ready to disconnect it but I've learned to use the front with more confidence because of the abs.
 
Reply
Old Oct 17, 2012 | 08:29 PM
  #10  
mnclassic's Avatar
mnclassic
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 179
Likes: 1
From: MN
Default

I have the same issue with my non-ABS 2012 FLHTC. I've tried to lock up the rear brake and it can't be done. Will have the dealer check it out when I take it in for the 1k maintenance in a week or two.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:45 AM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE