Howdy, trying to buy a softy but have a couple of questions:

I have ridden a Fatboy that when braking using both front and rear brakes makes an odd noise that comes from the front of the bike.  It builds in noise and is like a faint whirring/whine.  It's not mechanical,no clunks etc. Funny thing is I spoke with a customer at the service area who had the same model bike, he said he noticed the same noise and it did it from new but doesn't worry him.  When I spoke with the tech guys in the service dept, they said never heard it, is it brake squel blah blah.  The sales guys says he has never heard it but I expect him to say he hasn't heard anything unusual.

My question to you guys on the forum who own Softy's that have ABS is: do you notice a noise when using BOTH brakes at the same time? I tired using either front or back separately but there was no noise build up.  BTW the ride was on a November 2011 model.

Second question is: is a bike that is built in November 2011 a 2012 model, the dealer is trying to tell me it is from H-D persepctive as all new bikes come out from September onwards.  I ask this question from a resale value point of view.

Any help, insight, tips appreciated.

Cheers,

IE

Hi, I have a 2011 FXST, I have ABS brakes. No I have not heard any strange noise from any part of bike while braking.
Yes bikes for next year are released & sold from Sept this year, but are sold as 2015, models. I know it sounds funny, but this is what HD does. Yeh I know with cars, they sell in Jan & Feb for eg; and sell as previous years models as that is what is has as build date on plate.

2011 Fatty and I have never had any noise or problems with ABS, mine is a 2011 model built in Sep 2010
so on the Rego papers its a 2010 but Harley tells me its a 2011.

Thanks FXST11 and Mickle, the dates for the bike models confirm what the dealer stated.  He told me it was a 2012 but the VIN and Vic rego indicated a 2011 model.  If I buy the bike I don't want to pay for a bike that is another year older (and up for cheaper negotiation prices), what you said FXST11 is exactly what I thought, for cars it's a different game.

 

Re the brake issue, I can see how it goes, the dealer will give a 5000km or 3 month warranty as it's no longer under the H-D warranty.  I'd prefer to buy new, then I know the history of the bike, but in this case $$$ only go so far.  I rode a Dyna but the vibrations on the bars or footpegs let it down.  For the cash they're (dyna) worth, i'd keep my Sporty (which i'm now in the process of selling) and upgrade the engine to the Hammer 1250 kit with cams etc.     

Cheers for replies.

I may well be riding one of these in the not too distant future.

IE

 

I got an 87 softtail mine does same thing,only on slow decelleration, sounds like gear whine very faint..... been looking on US forums and some guys relate it to primary chain tension or oil type !

Just throwin some ideas i am going to try these and see what happens.

my 2002 fatty (not ABS) used to squeal a bit when using the front brake so I started using the back brake more often. after a while the back brake started squealing so I changed the pads front and rear and all was good for about 3 months. the front brakes are starting to make a noise again and the best way I can describe it is something between a howl and a whine. when I changed the pads there was 25% left on the front and 50% left on the back and there must be at least 90% on the new pads and the disks seem fine but it seems to be happening again.

Hi Iron Eddie,
I know this post is a few months old, but I'm new to the site. I recently bought a 2013 Fatboy (2500 Kms) and a mate bought a 2012 Fatboy (1500 Kms) and both our bikes make the same noise so we assumed it was normal. Have you been able to find out what it is, and is it in fact normal?
Cheers,
DCQ

I clicked on taicas link and didnt like the look of it. whats going on here?

thanks Jay. I checked out his previous posts and they were all the same. I just noticed his post is gone. well done to the moderator who did that. cheers

Thanks IE,
Yeah I think it is just a quirk. I agree with the quality/cost question, HD certainly aren't good value (in Aust. anyway) or great performers, but they do have that "something" that makes them fun to ride. Probably my favourite toy, though I wouldn't want to rely on it as a serious mode of transport!

Couple of things at play here i reckon. 1, Possible resonance of the front guard at a certain frequency/speed of the wheel whilst under brakes caused by the tyre gripping the surface, and tread pattern.
2, same but caused by discs being gripped by the caliper causing same sort of resonance through the wheel/guard.
I have periodically heard noises from my front end at certain road speeds and think its from my guard vibrating.
Another separate noise I have is coming from the discs whilst heavy braking. This sounds of the holes in the discs passing through the caliper pads creating a whirring or even slight buzzing sound.

A bit late to reply but might be of some use to somebody out there.

Yeah they both sound viable.  I'm due for a service soon, so I'll ask then. There dosn't seem to be any effect on braking performance and it doesn't seem to cause any vibration. It sort of sounds like a quiter version of when you used to put a card in your BMX's spokes as a kid (assuming I wasn't the only kid who did that )

I get the same whirring noise from my rocker.

I get a sort of squealing noise from the front brakes on my 2010 Fatty. If I am heavy on the braking I don't get the noise, but if I am just slowing down without a lot of pressure it makes the noise. I took it to my mechanic. He said it is the type of brake pad compound used. He took them out and they looked glazed and roughed them up on the concrete, got rid of the glazing and all was good for a while. It comes back again from time to time. The mechanic said go out on a quiet road, and do some heavy braking on and off for a little while and the noise will disappear. It works. Maybe that's not the noise you are getting though.

I get the same thing on my 2013 standard and as FLHuTChu said its a resonance or if you like harmonic vibration ... was reading yank forum and one guy said he took the pads out chamfered the edges and all ok have not done it myself as it does't bother me that much and only happens occassionally.