Morning, getting ready to walk out the door to work. Saw a bike online that was like my 98 FLHT that had been converted to a single front brake with a 21" wheel. Does anyone here konw of a kit thats avalible to do this? It really looks clan and shows off the rim nicely. Will do more searching after work. thanks for your replies!
Drew C.

 

Drew,

I'm one of those who has fitted 13" full-floating rotors and 6-pot calipers, to stop this lot when we are fully loaded. I reckon my wife, kitchen sink and I roll along at close to half a ton. So while I admit the single-sided brake looks great, unless you have the grip of a gorilla to stop with just one front disc....

 

i would NEVER purposely want LESS braking.........

but if youre dead set on it just remove the caliper and disk ...youll need a lower without the caliper mount and a new master cylinder.....

maybe a "hubcap" type of cover for that side of the wheel if you want to get fancy

 

+++1
I don't know if you ever had a panic stop with a big bike but I have to agree that I would not purposely lessen my chances for survival by going with less braking!

 

I couldn't agree more. If all you're doing is putting around town, it'd probably be ok. At highway speeds you're asking for trouble.

 

Well said! Guess I will shop for a dual disc wheel now. Thank you all!

 

i hate to go against the grain, but you guys act like the stock single piston calipers on that bike actually slowed it up...lol, if you want to do a single sided brake, theres a guy that sells chrome lowers with the calipers boss machined off, buy a nice performance machine four piston caliper and master cylinder and you will not have less braking than the factory, guaranteed.

 

im actually running a PAIR of 4-pot nissin calipers as well as 13" floating rotors on my FXR

as I said "i would NEVER purposely want LESS braking........."

 

Question ? Do you believe a single four piston or six piston aftermarket caliper with say a 13 rotor is LESS BRAKING than the factory own pieces that came on a 1998 flt? Just curious as to why you guys believe this is less braking ?

 

I'm even more curious why you should suggest the opposite may be the case. The only way of properly resolving the matter would be with a dyno-like machine on which we could measure actual brake effectiveness under controlled conditions, for the various alternative set-ups.

In the real world a single-rotor uses a smaller diameter master cylinder to a twin rotor set-up. That's one variable. It would be interesting to know how much additional effort a 4-pot caliper actually gives over a twin-pot, ditto for a 6-pot. It certainly ain't twice and three times respectively! Do you have any real world data you can share?

I also doubt if a 1998 FLT with its stock brakes would break any braking records. Certainly my 1990 FLHS wouldn't, which is why I was determined to seriously improve them. I also use top-notch tyres to give me the best grip I can get on the road. I should add that my concern is stopping a fully loaded Glide with me, my wfe and the kitchen sink on board, close to half a ton of rolling metal and flesh. Even if you offered me a Buell front wheel with 8-pot caliper I would need some convincing to drop twin front brakes!

Unless you can offer some competently measured data to prove otherwise I am quite happy with my entrenched opinion!