Up grade hog brakes to brenbo? - Harley Forum

NONUSER · #1 11-09-2008, 01:40 AM

I WAS UNDER THE INPRESSSION THAT HARLEY STARTED UPGRADEING ITS TOURING BIKES TO BREMBO BRAKES! SO IN MY INFANET WISDOM, I FELT JUST MAYBE ONE POSSIBLY WOULD BE TO UP GRADE MY 04 DYNA. SO I FELT I COULD JUST BUY NEW CALIPERS AND PADS AND UP GRADE MY FROUNT END AND GO RIDE REAL FAST! BUT NOW i'M FINDING OUT THIS IS NOT AS EASY AS IT SHOULD BE. HAS ANY 1 ELSE RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HAS ANY ONE FIGURED THIS OUT? ANY OTHER HELP WOULD B GREAT.\

PSS;; i'M LOOKING 4 BLACKED OUT PIPES 4 MY RIDE AND BLACKED OUT HARD SADDLE BAGS? ALSO BLACKED OUT FROUNT AND BACK BRAKE LINES, AND A CLUTCH CABLE, ALSO THROTTLE CABLES, I'M LOOKING 4 THE STAINLESS STEEL OR THE BLACKED OUT STEEL CABLES{DIAMOND CABLES}

THANKS
MIC

frisco-rigid · #2 11-10-2008, 01:59 PM

Hey non

What makes you think it's "NOT AS EASY AS IT SHOULD BE. "

All you must do is find the correct Brembo caliper and bracket for your model and install it..
Also be sure you have or obtain the correct size Master-Clyinder for the caliper..
Re-fasten the brake lines, bleed them and "GO RIDE REAL FAST!"
That's it..

Fitting virtually any front brake caliper to any model is fairly simple even if it isn't the correct model.. At most a fella only has to fab or modify a bracket to fit it up to the front Lower Legs and rotor..

I have fit up many diff calipers to my machines and found very little diff between them..
Is there something wrong with your HD brakes.? In my experience I've found HD brakes as good as any..

brembo.com or one of many catalogs and websites..

Have a ball

milindh · #3 11-10-2008, 04:12 PM

I'm with Frisco on this. The returns on investing big bucks on retrofitting front brakes on a Harley are pretty small. I think it's possible that Brembo has come up with a caliper/ pad material/disc combo that is somewhat better than what Harleys had in the past but I doubt it would be a day and night difference. You might be able to test ride one of the new baggers with the Brembos and see for yourself if it would be worth the extra bucks to switch over. Keep in mind some of the new baggers are coming in at over 900 lbs. I think it's totally possible HD went Brembo to add some name brand recognition to their new bikes. That strategy would go along with their "new" touring frame. I think they're trying to address people's perception of the older bikes' perceived weak points. You know, actually improve those areas somewhat but accompany those improvements with some hype and Brembo's name. That's a good business strategy with that one-two punch. It gives prospective buyers some new reasons to pull out their checkbooks.

rjrivero · #4 11-10-2008, 07:17 PM

Here's how the V-Rodders are doing it:

Buy the brembo calipers. Buy the Brembo Rotors. Take off the old ones, and put on the new ones. Bleed them and ride.

I know that the Brembo's come with DOT 4, and the older brakes come with DOT 5. Brembo Recommends using DOT 4 because of the compressability of the DOT 5 not being compatible with the ABS systems.

I know for sure that the master cylinders are the same volume, and you have the same brake feel between the older RoadKing Style calipers and the Brembos.

If you have an 11/16's master on your front brakes, running dual calipers, it's a straitforward swap. Just make sure that the calipers are new, and have never seen any DOT 4. Otherwise, you *should* rebuild them with new inards, and then re-use your DOT 5 lines with DOT 5 fluids. If you don't have ABS, then you don't have to worry about using DOT 4. (Dot 4 eats paint. Dot 5 does not.)

That's just one man's opinion.

Tbone · #5 11-11-2008, 08:15 AM

It must be my mischievous mind, but everytime I see mention of Brembo brakes I automatically translate to "Bimbo" brakes. I'm not sure why and I'm not sure I could tolerate "Bimbo" brakes on my bike. I would probably chuckle everytime I used them. Oh well, thanks for tolerating this useless post. I just had to get that off my chest. There I go again.

milindh · #6 11-11-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjrivero

Here's how the V-Rodders are doing it:

Buy the brembo calipers. Buy the Brembo Rotors. Take off the old ones, and put on the new ones. Bleed them and ride.

I know that the Brembo's come with DOT 4, and the older brakes come with DOT 5. Brembo Recommends using DOT 4 because of the compressability of the DOT 5 not being compatible with the ABS systems.

I know for sure that the master cylinders are the same volume, and you have the same brake feel between the older RoadKing Style calipers and the Brembos.

If you have an 11/16's master on your front brakes, running dual calipers, it's a straitforward swap. Just make sure that the calipers are new, and have never seen any DOT 4. Otherwise, you *should* rebuild them with new inards, and then re-use your DOT 5 lines with DOT 5 fluids. If you don't have ABS, then you don't have to worry about using DOT 4. (Dot 4 eats paint. Dot 5 does not.)

That's just one man's opinion.

OK RJRivero, so what's the consensus opinion on whether the Brembos are better or not? It seems the V-rodders must think so. How about giving us a little more feedback that you might have heard? I always thought the front brakes on the V-rods looked a little anemic for such sporty bike.

Also, if they are significantly better what is it about them that made them better and is it worth the cost? I'm curious about this.

Thanks

rjrivero · #7 11-11-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milindh

OK RJRivero, so what's the consensus opinion on whether the Brembos are better or not? It seems the V-rodders must think so. How about giving us a little more feedback that you might have heard? I always thought the front brakes on the V-rods looked a little anemic for such sporty bike.

Also, if they are significantly better what is it about them that made them better and is it worth the cost? I'm curious about this.

Thanks

It's a bigger diameter brake surface, so it has more grip. That's really the long and short of it.

I hae a 2003 VRSCA that had the older brakes. I thought they worked fine. My GF got a 2006 NightRod with the brembo brakes. Those brakes are AWESOME!!

frisco-rigid · #8 11-12-2008, 02:25 AM

""It's a bigger diameter brake surface..........""
Do you mean the rotor or the pads are bigger diameter.?
The more pad surface on the rotor is good but Brembo isn't the only one to offer that..
They're good, not disputing that but gotta remember, a disc brake system is simply a hydraulic ram and ALL calipers work the same.. Whether it's a one piston floating single-action or solid mount dual-action with two pads or multi-pistons and pads-- no diff except maybe for proprietary measurements..
No dylithium crystals or Rube Goldberg double-back vacuum levers..

Pressurize fluid with a piston and move another piston to lower gear, raise a shovel, open jaws of life or press pads against a rotor.. They're all the same.. Five pounds of pressure in a PM, Brembo, Hurst/Airheart, or HD caliper is still only five pounds of pressure.. Brake calipers are perhaps the most simple piece of machinery on your sickles..
Over the years I've used many brake calipers, rotors, master-cylinders and countless pads..
My preference is master-cylinder size with rotor material and pad material 2nd and 3rd and caliper brand and type in last place..

I can only think of one second-rate caliper brand that falls into the catagory of dangerous in it's in-efficiency.. It's made in Ho Chi Minh City under the brand name Poontang, it won't stop ya but at least you can't wear it out.. Yeah baby..!!

Have a ball..

rjrivero · #9 11-12-2008, 11:05 AM

The rotor diameters are larger. The larger the diameter, the larger the area of friction.
It's true tha Brembo isn't the only one to offer them. If you want to keep a bar and shield on your brakes, then the newer stock Brembo Calipers are the way to go, with the larger diameter Brake Rotors. They do improve braking over the older style calipers.

frisco-rigid · #10 11-13-2008, 02:26 AM

What is the diameter of the rotor you speak of..?