All bullsh*t aside there is one glaring thing about this that can't be ignored.

HD's ABS system has had failures that result in the complete loss of braking capability for one of the wheels. Given the significant loss in stopping power, this is unacceptable. Other motorcycle manufacturers make ABS systems that retain ALL braking capacity except the anti lock feature. HD's design is poor at best.

Maintenance schedules and all the "it's your fault for not changing the fluid" posts are just helping Harley dance around something that lands right back where it should, poor engineering. Those that rely on statistics citing how few failures there are should think for a moment how the total loss of 50% or more braking capacity might affect them should it happen. As I said before, it's easy to be cavalier and dismissive about someone's problem when your bike only goes to the Dairy Queen and back between wash and polish jobs. If you really are a motorcycle rider and you truly care about others who ride, stop trying to help HD duck and dodge something that's their responsibility. Even if you don't care about anyone else's problem, think about what flaw might be considered acceptable or "owner attributable" the next time around that might affect you.

 

Have to ask. How is moisture getting into a closed system?

 

A braking system is not truly closed and the fluid is hygroscopic.

(it attracts water)

 

Man, all this nonsense.

HARLEY DAVIDSON ALONG WITH ALMOST EVERY MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER, METRIC BIKES INCLUDED (like yamaha, etc) REQUIRES TWO YEAR BRAKE FLUID CHANGES.

So easy to blame a company when one doesnt read the manual and do the required maintenance.
Its in your manual, read it.

 

Every bike manufacturer for time immemorial has required periodic brake fluid changes, on both ABS and pre-ABS brake systems. I've only been riding for 30 years now so maybe some of you fossils may be right on it not being required on on some jurassic era bikes. My old 07 F150 service manual and my wife's 08 GT service manual both have a brake flush interval in their listed schedule. I didn't even look at the service schedule for my f 250 I just flushed them when I bought the truck.

 

I agree. But heres the thing. I think given time it will be revealed that it is not the fluid. Ill spare the details .. but the Goldwing problem was also initially blamed on not changing the fluid. I changed my religiously and still had problems.

One thing that the MOCO can do is follow the lead of the ricers ... add a window so that one can see the condition of the fluid.

 

My 12 has a window on the MC, both including the clutch MC. But even without the window, normal pmi would include inspecting fluid levels and condition and you would have to remove the cover to do a visual.
Question for those folks that check the engine oil or trans level with the dipstick, do you all watch the color change of the fluid to determine how dirty it is becoming, or just look at level?

 

I've only been riding for 30 years now so maybe some of you fossils may be right on it not being required on on some Jurassic era bikes .... Exactly as I mentioned earlier. Now, about this Jurassic comment ... Just because they might find my footprint under a newly discovered pile of dinosaur dung doesn't mean that I'm decrepit! :>)

 

It used to be a common complaint about master cylinder problems after bleeding the system. The piston normally travels 1/2 to 1/3 of the stroke, and it is common for gook or even a ridge to accumulate in the cylinder bore. An old trick with regard to car and truck bleeding was to put a brick or similar under the pedal to keep from going full stroke when bleeding.
That adds to the beauty of the Mity Vac - no extended travel of the master cylinder piston when bleeding to encourage the problem.
Years ago, I have honed and rebuilt many master cylinders, as well as wheel cylinders, issues often encountered after "Full Stroke" bleeding.
Something to think about...

 

I keep waiting for someone to suggest we go back to cable/mechanical linkage actuated drum brakes, the original ABS! then we wouldn't have all these complicated hydraulic brake problems.