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[MWalton]

Seriously, I've never owned a bike with ABS. Last one was an 06' Road Glide.
This one, which I've only ridden about 500 miles has a bit of a pulsing on the front brake. It doesn't always do it. Put it's definitely there sometimes.
Are my rotors screwed or is there something about ABS that does this ?

[phato1]

my 11.5 sometimes does the same thing at slow, as in parking lot, speeds. When I'm slowing from a cruise there is no pulsation felt until I'm almost at a complete stop. When the ABS does activate during a HARD stop, like when an other vehicle pulls out in front of you, you might think you notice the ABS cycling but this is more psychological than anything since I really don't think you will notice because it cycles quite rapidly. What you will notice is the bike STOPS without much drama.

I did have a problem with "glazed" rotors once when I changed pads - my mistake    I neglected to thoroughly clean the rotors when I did the change. I ended up "polishing" the rotors with a scotchbrite pad by hand and cleaning the pads up with some fine sandpaper that I laid over a piece of glass From an old picture frame - the glass assure a flat surface versus the top of the workbench. The "glazed" rotors/pads were causing a pulsation whenever the front brakes were used regardless of speed.

[mark]

Seriously, I've never owned a bike with ABS. Last one was an 06' Road Glide.
This one, which I've only ridden about 500 miles has a bit of a pulsing on the front brake. It doesn't always do it. Put it's definitely there sometimes.
Are my rotors screwed or is there something about ABS that does this ?

Having ridden in a vehicle with a warped rotor(s), I'd describe the feeling as a "shuttering."  Also, the harder the brakes were applied, the worse it shuttered. 

[MWalton]

I had them in my Sierra 1500. They were most noticeable when the brakes gently applied.

[garya1]

I would jack up the front wheel and put a dial indicator on the rotor.

Easily checked, spec is in the manual.

[MWalton]

Sounds simple. Don't exactly know how I'd do it, I'll need to find a dial indicator. I have an easy-up centerstand coming. I could put some plywood under it and get someone to sit on the back, I suppose you have to turn the steering full lock to one side or the other?
Maybe someone with a manual could tell me the specs?

[Skillet]

Second set of rotors replaced on my 08 Road King with 54,000 miles on it and one set on my 11 SESG at 33,000 miles.

[grc]

Under what conditions are you getting this pulsation?  There are many things that can cause this, including simple stuff like contamination on pads and rotors, pads that haven't been bedded in to the rotors (with only 500 miles on the bike, that's a possibility), etc..  Yes, Harley has had a lot of problems with rotor quality for many years now, but by the time the runout exceeds their ridiculous spec of .008" you won't have a minor pulsation, but rather a severe one.

As for the ABS, you don't have to be riding on a sheet of ice or an inch of water to activate it.  A little sand on the road, or a series of stutter bumps while stopping, can activate the system.  Thus my question about the conditions.  When the problem is intermittent, as opposed to all the time, there is usually more involved than just a bad rotor.

Jerry

[MWalton]

Jerry,
It's a 2011 CVO RGU. It's got 23,000 miles on it. i bought it in January. I've only been able to ride one week. Now it's back to rain and snow.
As far as the conditions, the roads are dirty. No question, it'll be a while before the sand and dust is off the roads.
Hopefully we'll have cleaner roads after this precipitation.

[grc]

Ah, I just assumed it was a new bike with only 500 miles on it.  Since it's a 2011 with over 20k miles on it, we can safely assume it isn't pads that haven't been broken in yet.

Once the monsoons clean the roads, you'll probably have a better chance to evaluate the brakes.  Assuming the monsoon isn't followed by another blizzard, that is.     

Jerry

[greglyon]

My rear brake rotor was warped.  Very noticeable at slow speeds.  Additional friction when pad hits the high spot each time around.  Replaced under warranty.