A question about brake pads for my 2003 Heritage Softail.

After a ride of soem 300 lkms up to the Glasshouse Mountains across to Somerset Dam and then over Mt Glorious, I had NO brakes to speak of coming down Mt Glorious to Samford.

Yes, I used my gears to do the job but I am asking the question. I was two up by the way.(light pillion)

Sure, that situation may not always be on a trip but I am about to do a road trip to the Great Ocean Road and back next week and woulsd like the best brakes possible.

 

What are the best disc pads to put into a stock caliper ?

Or should the whole caliper be replaced ?

 

Thank you for any helpful suggestions you may provide 

 

Thanks dev1, I guess you are spot on, I am new to riding Harley's and do get what you have said.
They are built for cruisers and not tearing down steep mountainous roads having to use the brakes a bit.

I will look at an upgraded calliper as I do enjoy the ride but would still like better braking.

Has anyone on this forum done this upgrade ?

Cheers back.

Thank you for the tip dev1, much appreciated.

Had a look at your suggestions online and see that Rollies Speed Shop has some lyndal gold pads in his catalogue.

http://rolliesspeedshop.com/suppliercatalogues/lyndallbrakes/2013/

I will fit a set this morning if they have them in stock(front and rear) and see how they go on this trip.

Good brakes are handy on a bike for sure....There is sometimes a good need to have them, touch wood.

and it wont hurt to flush the system and replace the fluid if it has been getting hot a few times. who knows how long since it was changed anyway

I upgraded my brakes on a deuce with cvo legs ,v-rod brembo calipers & master cylinder,vrod front wheel with floating discs & lyndall red pads & braided lines.-Stops & handles well.
Cost a few $$ but i reckon its worth it -highly recommended-as it is all H-D parts -the multi-fit program -there are no engineering issues-mine has been VASS assessed in Victoria-no problems

They were on page 29 of show u r bike & have now been removed-I can't work out how to put them back?

 Well, Saturday morning I went into Rollies Speed Shop to buy some new Brake Pads recommended on this forum.

After a discussion with the spare parts bloke(forgot his name now), I walked out with a brand new 6 piston front brake caliper.

I guess some of you must have tried one of these before. I fitted it last night and spent some time repalcing the brake fluid and bleeding the air out.

Will test out the new brakes this morning and say what I think about it later on sometime.

This is the web address of the caliper I have fitted if anyone is interested enough to check it out.

 

performancemachine.com/motorcycle-brake-calipers/front/6-piston/2000-2013-differential-bore-caliper.html

 

Below is a photo of the fitted caliper. You have to shim it when mounting it (shims were supplied) so it mounts centrally. 

Tested the new 6 piston front brake calliper today over Mt Mee.
Very happy, was two up and was able to really enjoy the "ride" having some decent stopping power.

Seriously made the ride more fun being able to brake later coming in to corners.

looks great. good job. Quality parts. good decision.

what sort of dollars mate.

$600 round about.....
If it stops me once from hitting some cage driver that does not see and pulls out, does a yuey in front of me, it will have paid for itself......

Good choice Heritage fan ... I went with a 6 piston PM Calliper recently myself for my 2008 Softail ... only other change I made was replacing the standard 11.5" rotor with a 13" one out of the RC Components catalogue .

Got my stuff from M & M Cycles out of Ohio ... if you don`t mind the whole buying over the net type of thing it is definitely the way to go ... My PM Calliper was bought AND shipped to me for under $400 ... the same as the rotor , about half the price of anything of equal quality here .

Mind you that was when the Aussie dollar hadn`t taken a nose dive as it has of late ... although even with todays figures it still would have been cheaper ... but your price was good for here in Oz and you get the benefit of being able to pick it up straight away and also not have to worry if it is going to get lost in the post some where between there and here ... I`m a paranoid bugger , Lol .

But seriously if you think you might end up spending a bit of your hard earned on the occasional bit of bling or other assorted bike gear be sure to have a look at M & M , doesn't hurt to know your options ... have a good ride down south , hope the weather is kind to ya .

Tim .

 Hi Tim,

just back from Great Ocean Road Trip and read your tip on M & M Cycles, thanks.

I will be sure to have a look at their website.

regards.

No worries Heritage Fan ... always like to help others out if I am able ... just not always able is all , Lol .

Hope your Ocean Rd ride was good for ya ... how far across did you get ... cheers ... Tim .

We got as far as Peterborough Tim. The ride was spectacular, world class scenery.

The weather was unbelievably kind to us as we had dry roads from the Sunday through until Monday pm while we were on the Great Ocean Road.

Saturday was spent on Phillip Island with a long time surfing mate when it rained most of the day and we had a place to stay.

I need to recommend a good stop on the way through Lavers Hill just past Apollo Bay. The Shoppe is owned by John Towers and has great food and atmosphere. John makes all the food they serve up and it is great stuff.

Photo of John outside his shop with my brother(Fatboy and my Lady)

 

The start of the Great Ocean Road sign

 

Peters ( My Brother) Fatboy, we did the trip together.

At the Apostles

 

 

Glad to see you got good weather for your ride across ... will drop into that shop you talked about on next trip down ... we stayed at both Apollo Bay and Peterborough ... great pics .

Tim .