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[MikeD]

I have seen an abundant amount of custom baggers going with a single front rotor when changing rims.  Most of the riders here have stuck with the dual discs, anyone had experience on a single rotor front wheel?   Curious about the braking, handling, etc.

[hd-dude]

I have seen an abundant amount of custom baggers going with a single front rotor when changing rims.  Most of the riders here have stuck with the dual discs, anyone had experience on a single rotor front wheel?   Curious about the braking, handling, etc.

I have done the single 13" rotor along with a 6- piston caliper for customers on a few occasions. While them look really good I would not do it to my bike. They do not stop as well as the dual discs.

[grc]

Mike, I remember this subject coming up quite a while back.  Something about 18" front wheels and single rotors to show off the wheels, just like all the customs you see on the magazine covers.  IMHO, if you just want to show your bike it might make sense, but if you plan to ride it I wouldn't consider it.  The Touring bikes come with twin disks for one reason, and it isn't because the MoCo likes to spend money for unnecessary parts.  The latest loaded baggers tip the scales at around 850-900 lbs. before you add rider, passenger, and luggage.  Stopping all that requires a certain amount of brake mass to dissipate energy (heat).  I personally would look to increase braking performance, not reduce it by eliminating half the front brake area and mass.  Looking cool isn't worth being scraped off the side of the truck that pulled across your path, or being hauled out of the canyon after your brakes faded to the point of uselessness on that long mountain downhill.

Jerry

[wizard master]

Mike, I remember this subject coming up quite a while back.  Something about 18" front wheels and single rotors to show off the wheels, just like all the customs you see on the magazine covers.  IMHO, if you just want to show your bike it might make sense, but if you plan to ride it I wouldn't consider it.  The Touring bikes come with twin disks for one reason, and it isn't because the MoCo likes to spend money for unnecessary parts.  The latest loaded baggers tip the scales at around 850-900 lbs. before you add rider, passenger, and luggage.  Stopping all that requires a certain amount of brake mass to dissipate energy (heat).  I personally would look to increase braking performance, not reduce it by eliminating half the front brake area and mass.  Looking cool isn't worth being scraped off the side of the truck that pulled across your path, or being hauled out of the canyon after your brakes faded to the point of uselessness on that long mountain downhill.

Jerry

Couldnt of said it better myself. 

Been there, done it and will not do it again on a bike I plan to ride.  The 6-piston single will stop you OK but no where near the capability of having a pair of calipers on the front.  As good as the single looked on my 07, my 09 will stay duals!

[mr_magoo]

Never have to much front brake.

[MikeD]

I totally agree on dual discs.  Just curious of what some people have done and if the handling affects, obviously a lot due to eliminating 50% of your braking hardware up front.

[Jbbrown73]

I like the looks of dual brakes better anyway.  Singles look like something's missing.

[hogasm]

I have done the single 13" rotor along with a 6- piston caliper for customers on a few occasions. While them look really good I would not do it to my bike. They do not stop as well as the dual discs. .

I have the 21" front with a 13" rotor and 6 piston caliper on the front of my 04. It does look good...doesn't stop as well as the stock set up.

When I can find an 18" front rim that resembles the detanator rim I am going back to the origional brake set up.

Now what is even worse than the single rotor is the 360 brake.......just hit the ass end of the truck stoped at the light and get it over with

[AXIL]

  i agree with all the above.   axil

[Dan_Lockwood]

Could be worse than a single rotor and a 4 or 6 piston caliper, see below.



This is my "other" bagger.  It weighs in at about the same weight as my new Brembo ABS system on the SERK, but with that single piston caliper, you have to yank on the lever so hard you feel like you'll break the lever off.  I've gotten used to allowing for things to happen and I guess I have good hand strength, worked on that all my life...     

I traded bikes with the guy I bought this from originally before the restore who now rides an '03 SE Deuce and on the first country road stop sign, he ran through the stop.  He asked me if the brakes were not working and I told they work fine, but he needs more piss in the pistons to make them work better.

Now I'll have to admit I have the cheap swapmeet pads installed and was actually thinking of trying the Lyndall (spelling) pads to see what help that would be.

Anyone have the old banana calipers like this with the new aggressive brake pads?

I have a friend with a fully restored '70 FLH and it has drum brakes on it.  He said you need to start to stop a block ahead of the intersection to make it all work.

On my new boardtrack bike I'm building, I have a 13" rotor and HHI 4-piston calipers front and rear, but it is a single front setup.  I think with a bike in the 400# range I'll be okay on that setup.  But on the '76 FLH I'm probably pushing 1,200# fully loaded two up and that single banana brake just doesn't do it very well.  So count your blessings with the new single 6-piston setups as they HAVE to be better than the old style brakes.

We're getting spoiled with all the new brakes they have now.  Just think of some guy with a restored '55 Chevy running drums front/rear and then getting into a modified '55 with disc/disc setup.  Man that IS night and day.  I've done just that and you feel that the old drums aren't even working, but they drove with them for decades without power assist and then disc brakes and power assist. 

Technology is a blessing.  Think of all the lives it's saved over the many years; even in bikes.

I know that if I were in a panic situation with the '76 FLH that I could not stop as good as the SERK.  I can lock up the brakes on the FLH, but it does take mental and physical strength.

Rambling, I know, shut up... 

    

[FastHarley]

Could be worse than a single rotor and a 4 or 6 piston caliper, see below.



This is my "other" bagger.  It weighs in at about the same weight as my new Brembo ABS system on the SERK, but with that single piston caliper, you have to yank on the lever so hard you feel like you'll break the lever off.  I've gotten used to allowing for things to happen and I guess I have good hand strength, worked on that all my life...     

I traded bikes with the guy I bought this from originally before the restore who now rides an '03 SE Deuce and on the first country road stop sign, he ran through the stop.  He asked me if the brakes were not working and I told they work fine, but he needs more piss in the pistons to make them work better.

Now I'll have to admit I have the cheap swapmeet pads installed and was actually thinking of trying the Lyndall (spelling) pads to see what help that would be.

Anyone have the old banana calipers like this with the new aggressive brake pads?

I have a friend with a fully restored '70 FLH and it has drum brakes on it.  He said you need to start to stop a block ahead of the intersection to make it all work.

On my new boardtrack bike I'm building, I have a 13" rotor and HHI 4-piston calipers front and rear, but it is a single front setup.  I think with a bike in the 400# range I'll be okay on that setup.  But on the '76 FLH I'm probably pushing 1,200# fully loaded two up and that single banana brake just doesn't do it very well.  So count your blessings with the new single 6-piston setups as they HAVE to be better than the old style brakes.

We're getting spoiled with all the new brakes they have now.  Just think of some guy with a restored '55 Chevy running drums front/rear and then getting into a modified '55 with disc/disc setup.  Man that IS night and day.  I've done just that and you feel that the old drums aren't even working, but they drove with them for decades without power assist and then disc brakes and power assist. 

Technology is a blessing.  Think of all the lives it's saved over the many years; even in bikes.

I know that if I were in a panic situation with the '76 FLH that I could not stop as good as the SERK.  I can lock up the brakes on the FLH, but it does take mental and physical strength.

Rambling, I know, shut up... 

    

friend with the same problem on his 1967.  He rides his bike in the city of Fort Lauderdale where he needs braking over looks

[FastHarley]

We also did this to help with the handling and comfort while riding this bike:
*Carbon Fiber Wheels (F:4.2 & R: 4.6 lbs)
*320 mm front metal matrix ceramic rotors (2 lbs each)
*Radial Calipers
*Inverted front end w/26* rake/4" trail (36 lbs complete w/rotors & calipers)
*HD Street Sweeper front fender (> 1/2 lb complete w/mounts)
*Penske Shocks

[Hoist!]

We also did this to help with the handling and comfort while riding this bike:
*Carbon Fiber Wheels (F:4.2 & R: 4.6 lbs)
*320 mm front metal matrix ceramic rotors (2 lbs each)
*Radial Calipers
*Inverted front end w/26* rake/4" trail (36 lbs complete w/rotors & calipers)
*HD Street Sweeper front fender (> 1/2 lb complete w/mounts)
*Penske Shocks

That looks and sounds friggin awesome man! Great job on that front end! Actually, the whole bike looks like it's setup great!

Also sounds VERY expensive!!!

Hoist!

[IronButt]

90% of the riders on this site will never exceed or even get close experiencing any brake fade.
Of the other 10%..... 9% might get close to some minor fade every once in awhile and will be too busy cleaning out their shorts to ever get into too serious of a problem that compression braking wont pull them out of.
Now about the 1%, well that is why they are the 1%. You could put them on a Punch moped and they would be at the end of the run before you got through calculating your ETOA!

It is obvious if you have to ask this stupid of a question you have no business on that big of a bike in the first place! or even thinking about changing it.

[Fired00d]

90% of the riders on this site will never exceed or even get close experiencing any brake fade.
Of the other 10%..... 9% might get close to some minor fade every once in awhile and will be too busy cleaning out their shorts to ever get into too serious of a problem that compression braking wont pull them out of.
Now about the 1%, well that is why they are the 1%. You could put them on a Punch moped and they would be at the end of the run before you got through calculating your ETOA!

It is obvious if you have to ask this stupid of a question you have no business on that big of a bike in the first place! or even thinking about changing it.

Everyone has opinions, however it means a lot in how your present your opinion. Let's play nice and be respectful. Thanks.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d