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:

brake pad life?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 02:30 AM
  #1  
skipperhd1's Avatar
skipperhd1
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 239
Likes: 1
From: billings,montana
Cool brake pad life?

hi guys! i've got a 2006 road king with 19,000 miles on the clock. i'm a road rider and want to know the life of the brake pads. any good aftermarket parts and can i save some money? cheers from montana
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 06:37 AM
  #2  
sfcmo357's Avatar
sfcmo357
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
Default

I can't really answer your question but I think alot is determined by your riding style. I'm not a heavy braker....I'm from the school of "downshifting" and allowing the engine to do the bulk of the braking. There are many instances when I only use my brake for the last few feet of a "NORMAL" stop because I downshift alot.
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 06:44 AM
  #3  
Greezey Rider's Avatar
Greezey Rider
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
Default

Yes...It does very much depend on your riding style. I can go through a set of pads in a very short time (front pads in particular) when I run hard.
If I ride easy, I can get 20,000 miles out of them.


But they're cheap and easy to replace, so I use'em hard!
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 10:21 AM
  #4  
lionsm13's Avatar
lionsm13
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 89,184
From: Western South Dakota
Default

Many of us use Lyndall Z Plus that we buy from Drew @ Hog Pro.
They're a sponsor or this forum.
Check em out.
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 10:34 AM
  #5  
Hogpro's Avatar
Hogpro
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
Default

I'm more of an engine braker as well. I don't use my rear brakes. I put the LRB Z Plus pads in my bike at 5000 miles and I am now at 23500 miles. They still have plenty of pad left. I am thing probably another 10K before I need to change them.
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 10:46 AM
  #6  
dsigrist's Avatar
dsigrist
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 283
Likes: 22
From: Grand Prairie, TX
Default

I'm just about to replace my first set, front and rear, on my Road Glide at 35k. It all depends on how you (or the original owner) ride. Harley says replace them at .016 but I typically error on the side of replacing them before they get quite that thin.
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 12:16 PM
  #7  
Duc's Avatar
Duc
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 644
Likes: 31
From: Central Texas
Default

Like others have said all depends on how and where you ride. I have 40k on my stock HD pads and they have life left, I've got new pads ready but probably go another 3-5k before I replace.
Clif
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 12:21 PM
  #8  
dochawken's Avatar
dochawken
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 992
Likes: 2
From: TN
Default

Originally Posted by skipperhd1
hi guys! i've got a 2006 road king with 19,000 miles on the clock. i'm a road rider and want to know the life of the brake pads. any good aftermarket parts and can i save some money? cheers from montana
I have 22k on my oem pads, they look great...
 

Last edited by dochawken; Aug 6, 2014 at 04:36 PM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 12:55 PM
  #9  
Krutch's Avatar
Krutch
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 313
Likes: 2
From: somewhere in "The Peoples' Republic of Illinois
Default

As noted, riding style has the most effect on pad life. I have 51,000+ on my FLHT and I've changed the rear pads with almost every rear tire change (5 tires total). Have second set of pads on front. I use the rear mostly but downshift for slowing so the pads don't last as long back there.
You can look at the pads from underneath to see how thin they are. Never let them wear into the steel backing. Pads are cheaper to replace than most rotors.
No matter how pretty, fast or radical your bike is it has to stop when you really NEED it to! Always remember: "What's your life worth!"
 
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2014 | 01:56 PM
  #10  
69cj's Avatar
69cj
Road Master
10 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 855
Likes: 6
From: Riverside, Ca.
Default

I personally use the brakes over down shifting. I figure brake pads are cheaper and easier to replace than clutches and drive belts. Opinions are what makes the world go round as long as they only affect the one making them.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:55 AM.

story-0
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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-8
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-9
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