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[hunter]

I was going home from work yesterday around 3:30 pm.  I was riding my older bike (05 RK classic).  The Front brake felt kind of funny.  It usually is fairly low grab, but yesterday felt a bit stiffer and higher grab.
As I was going on route 1 (very busy road) at about 70-75 mph in the left lane, suddenly it felt like the engine was dying.  First thing came to my mind was I"I don't want to get stock in left lane with a dead bike since there is no emergency lane"  I grab the clutch to coast to right side emergency lane,  but the bike kept slowing down at a very rapid rate.  Almost to the point of slipping. 
I just put signal and cut to the right hard.  The middle lane was clear behind me but in the right lane I actually cut off a car and Finlay made it to the right side of the road.  The front lever was locked.  So was the front wheel.   
Needless to say it scared the chit out of me.   
All I could see was being in the left lane of a hight speed road with concrete barriers and no emergency lane with a dead bike or laying on the ground.

I had no tools in the bag, so I had to call the tow truck, which took me and the bike to Brian's H-D in Langhorn, PA.  Luckily, Tuesday noon they called me from Brian's to say that the SERK was ready (they changed the head G. and front jug).  So I dropped the old bike off at their place and picked up the new one.  Told the service guy "this is why they say: if you want to ride Harley every day, buy two".  He just laughed.

By the time we got to dealer, the front wheel was turning but a bit hard.  It probably just need a master cylinder rebuilding kit which is not much and I could have done it myself rather than paying them $85/hour.

[FLYNDYNA]

Just glad you came out of it all right...

[miker]

Not crashing, good...Money spent, oh well, spend it now before the gubbernmint takes it...

Oooo, I am only out 800 on bac today...

[hunter]

The whole thing happened too fast.  I was just talking to my coworker and he reminded me that that portion of the road is only 2 lanes on north direction.  So when I look at the right side briefly didn't see any cars, it was actually clear and the car might have been behind me and when the bike started to slow down fast, he was trying to pass from the right side.
I don't know, that's what I think.  It only took about .2 second.  I was glad to get home and check my seat (no change required).

[TN]

it's good the almost was there.

timing is everything, and keeping a backup at the shop is one i never thought of.



glad you didn't go down

TN

[MIKEYTEE]

Glad it was an almost and not the real deal. Scarry chit!
Mike
 

[sadunbar]

Seems like that chit always happens in traffic...  Got to go with instint - cause there is never enough time to think about it.  I had the rear brake stick lever once - locked up the rear tire.  Slower I got, the harder it was to control.  I realized what happened and kept stabbing at the brake lever to try and unstick it.  About the time I was going to have to bail, it finally broke free.  Fortunately the cager behind me was keeping up with what was going on and slowed down instead of plowing into me.  The whole thing probably didn't last 10 seconds...  Felt plenty lucky when it was over...   

[Buy early]

Scary story! Glad it turned out ok!

[Ride n Shine]

All's well that end's well and thank goodness your story did.

[MUFFMAN]

You're lucky. It could have been a lot worse. THE MUFFMAN

[hunter]

Thanks everyone.  It was scary.

Just talked to dealer.  The tech took my bike for test and this time the front wheel locked up on him.  They checked it out.  It needs a master cy. rebuild ( as I thought) new brakes and new brake lines (??).  They say it is because the system contains two different type of brake fluid mixed and one is not compatible.    (estimate: $350)

Now, the bike has 16k miles.  The first service was done by Trenton H-D where I bought the bike and they changed my lines to braided and put a chrome master cy. back in 2005.  Since then, they replaced 9 out of 10 staff over there and it must have happened at that time.
All other services were done by dealers at different locations.

Since I don't have extended W..ty, I'm going to find a trailer and take her home and do the work myself.  Tired of paying $85/hr. for someone who knows less than me.

[miker]

Oy! at least it'll be done right.

[amigo Jorge]

Thanks to God you are fine mi amigo........

[cowboy7123]

Route 1 is very busy around that time, I'm glad everything work out and you didnt have to lay her down.

[Ride n Shine]

I'm a little unsure why you would need to replace the lines as once you rekit the master cyl and maybe the calipers just flush the lines then theres only the one fluid, the one you've just put in.