Do some straight line "panic stop" braking drills from 30 mph in a parking lot. The OEM HD pad/caliper setup has a pretty gradual bite so the risk of a front wheel lockup seems pretty low - on clean pavement, anyway.

..Or buy a Roadster!

 

I live in the UK and started buying Harleys in the 70s. The owner's manual for my FX1200 actually recommended using the rear brake on its own during normal riding, something I have never ever done! How and why that ever got into biker lore I cannot imagine, but the sooner it is eradicated the better.

I agree about using better tyres, my preferred brand being Avon, although Metzelers get good reviews here on HDF. If the brakes really are less than perfect, braided hoses and alternative brand brake pads will improve performance, as also will bleeding the brakes to change the fluid at regular intervals!

Best of luck staying upright in future and get that braking with both brakes sorted!

 

A Sportster has a little bit of a rear bias weight-wise, but not enough to make the use of the rear brake a safe operation. Use the front brake.

 

Use your front brake harder, until the rear tire lifts.

Single disk can lock the front tire.

Seems the issue is pavement condidtion (water and antifreeze, temperature) and tires.
"Stickier" tires equal shorter braking distances. I for one do not enjoy a sliding front tire.

That is if you are sure your pads and rotor aren't glazed

Single is fine for the street yet if racing around then upgrades could be called for.

 

I've posted and promoted the name of the author and the book name I
quote most of this stuff from,,I also do not use any of this In Here
Untill I go out and actually use and see benefit from a given technique.

I damn shure don't tell others they are full of ****,
Senior member,,ok ok

Everything I post about skills, every single thing Is something that through
real practice has Improved my skills.

If you cannot handle braking In a corner thats a skill you should work on.
If your pride Is hurt because of things I talk about and believe In that
you do not,
then dissagree with me,,rebutt my statements with your obvious
experience so I can learn from it.

ONCE AGAIN for those who missed It::::

SPORT RIDING TECHNIQUES
by
NICK IENATSCH,,forword by Kenny Roberts

How to Develope real world skills for speed, safety and confidence
on the STRRET and the track..

ISBN#1-893618-07-02

I hope I never wind up thinking I'm a Know It All
and end up placing personal pride above helping another rider
learn something that just may save a life......

 

Ultimate HDF member,,,
Say the word In a PM and I will delete my acct just so you can be King ****.......

I'm waiting XD

 

Can't blame that on a bike even if it had 4 disk. Not a Harley out there with any correct brake system be it one/two or one/one that will not lock up the tires. The tires are the limit, not the brakes. Few tires are any better then Harley's soft Lops. You need to learn how to operate a bike and slow down before you kill yourself or harm someone else. You cannot not expect a bike to be able to outbreak a cager and that is what the lights/speed limits are based on.
Love MOM

 

Well I thought about it, and was having a hard time deciding.

But then I received this PM, and it helped me decide.......

 

I've been following this for the last couple of weeks or so and have thought the same thing for a long time. Glad to see some sane heads like Freebird and CHarley (two of the most experienced members on this forum) agree.

 

Poor Osco...

In reality, I think most people just skip over his post because it's too long and hard to read. An he posts one after another with his signature XD at the end of everything.

I'm sure he'll back on some other screen name but hopefully, he'll learn to type without the commas and the XD so we don't spot him right away