03 Road King Brake upgrade

[fritzcoinc]

I just bought a set of take off front brakes from an 08 Ultra. Can anybody think of a reason these will not fit up to an 03 Road King? I have the complete 08 brake system including rotors, calipers, master cylinder, levers, and switch covers.

[fritzcoinc]

Well here's the low down on putting 08 HD OEM Brembo brakes on older bikes.
This is a bolt on mod. for 2000 and newer FL standard models.
Other models with special wheels may or may not have shims between wheel and rotor.
Use of the 08 master cylinder is recomended.
Hoses are same.

[chornbe]

... a set of take off front brakes from an 08 Ultra.

Please explain to me who would ever take off that KICK ASS braking system from an '08?   I don't get Harley guys at all.

[fritzcoinc]

Yeah, it took me a while to figure that one out too. There is a one word answer " CHROME ". These take offs are the standard parts. They were removed and replaced with the chrome pcs. Although flashily, the chrome parts are very easy to keep clean because the brake dust does not stick to the chrome. Same story with the chrome engine parts. Harley actually names the chrome engine package the " low maintenance" option. I spend hours with Brake Kleen and a brass brush cleaning the Brembo calipers on my Guzzi. Too bad Brembo can't come up with a gold chrome! So, the take off is not about some dumb ass Harley rider ditching a great brake system just to be cool, it is to get more chrome and really BE clean cool.

[chornbe]

eh, good point. Chrome does wash up pretty easily. But man oh man is it gaudy!

[veefer800canuck]

Y' know what they say...... If it don't go - Chrome it!    

[mnb]

I don't know if the '03 has the same brakes the '07 does, but if they are, I really doubt you'll notice a difference in the brakes.  The Road King has dual front disk brakes and I'm pretty happy with my "Last Year Before The Brembos" brakes.  Sure, it won't stop on a dime or do stoppies, but you're stopping a bike literally half twice the weight of a modern superbike.

[chornbe]

I don't know if the '03 has the same brakes the '07 does, but if they are, I really doubt you'll notice a difference in the brakes.  The Road King has dual front disk brakes and I'm pretty happy with my "Last Year Before The Brembos" brakes.  Sure, it won't stop on a dime or do stoppies, but you're stopping a bike literally half the weight of a modern superbike.

psssst. I think you mean 'double'.

Plus, he said '08, which *is* the Brembo system. Not the '07.

[mnb]

psssst. I think you mean 'double'.

Plus, he said '08, which *is* the Brembo system. Not the '07.

oops, sorry.  You know what I meant.  The modern bike is half the weight.

My point was that I seriously doubt the brembos provide noticably superior stopping power than the prior calipers (Nissins I think).  HD just went with the name, IMO.  The calipers don't appear to have more pistons from the casual glances I've seen.

[chornbe]

oops, sorry.  You know what I meant.  The modern bike is half the weight.

My point was that I seriously doubt the brembos provide noticably superior stopping power than the prior calipers (Nissins I think).  HD just went with the name, IMO.  The calipers don't appear to have more pistons from the casual glances I've seen.

The '08s do stop considerably better. The stock tires remain a weak link. It's *easy* to lock up the front tire with the stockers.

[mnb]

The '08s do stop considerably better. The stock tires remain a weak link. It's *easy* to lock up the front tire with the stockers.

On what are you basing that assessment?  3rd party source?  ButtDyno?  Field Tests?

I've never locked the front tire on the stock Dunlops or the new Michelin replacements.  And I've certainly been demanding on the brakes on my 07 FLHR.

[chornbe]

On what are you basing that assessment?  3rd party source?  ButtDyno?  Field Tests?

I've never locked the front tire on the stock Dunlops or the new Michelin replacements.  And I've certainly been demanding on the brakes on my 07 FLHR.

Well, it happened quite a few times on the Dunlops, including twice during the ARC class, but not at all since I switched to the Metzelers. I don't do 3rd party info without stating so.

[mnb]

They don't make Metzelers for the Road King I don't think (what I ride).  What model are you talking about?  The brakes are possibly quite different.  I was surprised to notice a friend's recent (06 or 07) Heritage had only a single front disc.  That made me wonder about the comments people have made saying Harley brakes were weak that I always thought were dumbfounding because my dual front discs work great.

[chornbe]

They don't make Metzelers for the Road King I don't think (what I ride).  What model are you talking about?  The brakes are possibly quite different.  I was surprised to notice a friend's recent (06 or 07) Heritage had only a single front disc.  That made me wonder about the comments people have made saying Harley brakes were weak that I always thought were dumbfounding because my dual front discs work great.

Yes, Metzeler makes tires for the whole Touring line in their ME880 series. Mine is a 2008 Street Glide (with the Brembos, non-ABS). One does not grab a fist full of these. One modulates these as expertly as any sport bike in order reap the full benes. This bike STOPS.

[mnb]

Yes, Metzeler makes tires for the whole Touring line in their ME880 series. Mine is a 2008 Street Glide (with the Brembos, non-ABS). One does not grab a fist full of these. One modulates these as expertly as any sport bike in order reap the full benes. This bike STOPS.

Aren't you a bit young to be riding motorcycles?     j/k

I tried the ME880 on my bmw a while back and didn't really like it, although there are better options available.  I may have to give it a shot on the Road King.  So far I've only tried the stock Dunlops and the new Michelins and I think I prefer the Michelins.  The tread pattern seems almost identical, but I think the rubber compound is slightly stickier.

I need to switch to non-spoked rims, though.  That was a big oversight in my purchasing plan.  Going tubed is the wrong way to go.  You can plug a tubeless in the middle of nowhere, but patching a tubed tire pretty much isn't a field job.

Thanks for the info and perspective.  If you're ever in the SF Bay Area in California and want to ride, lemme know!

[chornbe]

Dude, I'll be there in.... (carry one, subtract 8, add temperature), like 6 or 7 or 8 days. You get to buy me a beer

See this: http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,25013.0.html

[fritzcoinc]

I am glad you guys finally approved my project!
Besides Metzlers, what tires y'all like on a " Bagger".
I have been using the Dunlop Cop tires, and they have been good.
Does anyone else make tires that wrap around the rim like the Cop Dunlops?

[chornbe]

I am glad you guys finally approved my project!
Besides Metzlers, what tires y'all like on a " Bagger".
I have been using the Dunlop Cop tires, and they have been good.
Does anyone else make tires that wrap around the rim like the Cop Dunlops?

Several makers have tires, but Metz's are the only ones I have any real experience with, so since I couldn't find a set of thick-carcass radials for it, I kinda "ran home to mommy" on this one and stuck with what I know: ME880s.

The odd-for-the-rest-of-the-industry tire size is a real limitation. Something a little more standardized and I could have used radials like on the 'Wing or the Stratoliner. Poo Poo, Mr. Harley!  

[lilwing]

I'd love to find me a set of bolt on Brembos for my '02 Road King, they were great on my Guzzi.

[fritzcoinc]

Just two words...E Bay

[fritzcoinc]

Well all done. The 08 Brembo brakes fit right on my old 03. Harley was just a little slow getting all the parts to me but no big deal. This mod. included steering head bearing rebuild, " Swing By" adjustment of steering head bearings, new lower sliders, Screaming Eagle Heavy fork oil at spec. fill height, 08 Harley Brembo calp., rotors, 08 master cyl., 08 clutch lever and Continental tires front and rear. All this for about $1,000. The brakes have that great Brembo bite. Two fingers is all you need to haul down to stop quickly and I am still in the break in phase. Pads are a lot easier to change than the old Harley brakes. Conti. tires handle good, proably better than the chassis can stand. But at $50 less PER TIRE than Dunlops I will be careful and keep trying different pressures to see just how well they might just be! Thanks to everyone who gave input and suggestions.

[atadaskew]

Y' know what they say...... If it don't go - check your R/R  

Fixed that for ya!