Motorcycles

[97Dyna]

Im not saying you dont maintain your shit

Yeah, my guess was a grimed up piston

Y'all were right. I never once cleaned the pistons on the brakes. This problem isn't recent; I've asked around, and none of the mechanics or riders around here suggested cleaning pistons to me. Don't have any brake cleaner on hand right now, but I bled the line and replaced the fluid this morning, which was already filthy in less than 100 miles, and in the span of 20 miles I've felt the brakes deteriorate in real time. I'm going to put a few more miles on her and then check the fluid again, and my guess is it's going to be dirty. I'm thinking the pistons are so dirty that every fresh fluid change is picking up some grime before the fluid is so contaminated it stops functioning on an acceptable level. Thanks for the help you guys.

[ArtiIntel]

Before i knew of the piston issue i bled new fluid for days, even bought a master cylender rebuild kit (that i didnt use).

Its not really a dirty fluid problem, its a piston travel problem. Altho dirty fluid certainly would exaggerate it id guess.

I had to research the shit out of it before i found one utube video on it. Cleaned up the pistons and have had no issues since.

Its super easy like bijuz said, remove the caliper, stick a putty knife or something else thin and strong between the pads, pump the brake lever untill they grab the putty knife then hose down the portion of the pistons that you can see. Put the shit back together and dont forget to pump up your brakes before you ride.

Youll see that the piston will be all black, itll be nice and shiny stainless steel when your done.

[97Dyna]

My brakes are different. When the caliper is removed, the pads stay mounted near the rotor, and are held in place by a clip. There is a large ring, my piston, on the caliper that applies pressure on one side to squeeze the pads together. I assume when the piston retracts, vibration or whatever pushes the pads away. I priced some rebuild kits and noticed that the kits, and hence the brake system, changes on models '00 and up. Furthermore, there were a set of shims or something in between the pads and the metal they seat on that I removed from the system.
I mention this because when I first got it in mind to clean my piston, the tutorial I stumbled upon read exactly as @ArtiIntel said, but when I got in, well- read above. If anyone else encounters an unexpected scenario equal to mine, don't let confusion get a hold of you because it's just as easy if not more so to fix.

I have shittier HD brakes than you guys do. Let that sink in for a second!

[ArtiIntel]

If you buy new pads those shims should come with them. In more than a few brake systems ive had to grind down the ears on the pads so they would move freely inside that pad frame. This is on cars though where whole brake systems where rusted to shit. I had no idea that tech was ever used on any modern bike.

So does your bike stop now?

[RVW]

you need to pull the lever untill it hits your knucles

i was surprised when trying your typical honda cruiser that tpo get some serious braking i needed to slam the lever completly... quite counter intuitive and scary to me as i had always been very carefull not to lock the front wheel...but with cruisers no doseage or feel at all just bottom out the lever and here is your braking haha

[ArtiIntel]

Yeah some cruisers have very very terrible brakes.

Fun story. A buddy of mine was riding my moms 2010 sportster 883 with single front disc. My sporty has dual front discs so youd imagine it would stop way better. Hell no!! Lol
He grabbed a handful at a yellow light, i was behind him and was forced to pass. diff pads and maybe rotor material i guess but that bike stops in 1/3 the distance mine will with less contact material.

[RVW]

youd imagine it would stop way bette

i would have lost a wager rigth there. but you know its ok brake if you ride it as its supposed to be ride i guess

but i guess for sporty urban ride it may get scary

[ArtiIntel]

I was suprised. At first obviuosly i thought he probably just got on the brakes well before me. I tested it out and from 60 mph that bike stops 15' before mine. It is almost a decade newer with very few miles. Good fork oil, a lot better spring rate and a few pounds lighter of a bike is all i can think makes the difference.

[RVW]

,aybe you have a 2 gallipers but if the piston in them very small it really dont give you much of an advantage, in fact you would do better with those 2 set of piston on a single disc....but double dics look so much more sporty

its only a guess but i will say that the culprit is all in the galliper, yours simply have no power in it

[ArtiIntel]

I agree. I would imagine a single disc set up should have a bigger rotor and caliper at least big enough to stop the same bike as fast as a dual set up. That and the age difference although HD really isnt good about upgrading parts on newer bikes. Haha

[97Dyna]

Pads are showing signs of even wear now. Travel and feel of the lever are much improved, and as an additional bonus, my launch and 6th gear feel much better.
It definitely stops now, and it stops when I want it to, not when it's done sliding!

[ArtiIntel]

You done good then brother!

Id get new pads asap though. Those thin backer shims imo can be left off the front (ive done it on cars with no probs) they apparently are there to dissipate heat in extreme braking conditions. New front pads for 97 dyna models dont come with them and 99% of the time ppl just toss the old ones in the trash.

The thin metal parts for the rear pads are "sliders" though, or whatever the fuck HD guys call them. They let the pad ears float and need to be replaced, new pads come with new sliders.

I had to research that shit. Lol.
I recomend EBC pads, they are great but pricey at $45 compared to cheapo pads at $25.

And again, good job man!

[OttovonShitpost]

I ride a Victory. Sucks that they're out of business, I liked them.

[ArtiIntel]

Ive wanted a vegas for the past five or six years just havent found one in the price range i alotted.

If its an early Vic You may have a Modern Indian prototype. Imo Victory is/was just a test mule for the re release of Indian.

[OttovonShitpost]

It's an 07. Great bike. 100 inch engine

[Flynn]

[Rattlesnake]

My father had a 1200 sporty. I used to ride 1st-3rd wheelies all the way down the street on it. It was a fast little bike around town but on long rides, where I like to cruise 85, the sporty was wound pretty tight. It did not like cruising those speeds so when riding with him, I always had to come down to around 75 to keep dads bike in one piece.

[ArtiIntel]

Yeah they rly dont like high revs for long periods of time, even keeping a low gear for engine braking in the twisties for long enough and youll probly lift a head, or two lol.

I havent the balls to try and wheelie that thing, the front suspention is just too soft. The honda is a totally different story tho.

[Rattlesnake]

About the wheelies, if you come down gradually under power it was nice, if you cut the throttle fast, or tap the brake, it slams down really hard. Like not fun hard.

[kerrang]

have both of his CDs. great musician