Brake me off some?

Question

why do so many indy shops and other MC parts stores try to sell me brakes? i have the original single caliper fronts on the bike. they tell me " you dont have brakes" and want me to upgrade to 700.00 + quad calipers. i modulate and stop fine with my OEM brakes. do you really think i need to upgrade???

Answer 1

If you are happy driving within the limits of your OEM brakes then don't upgrade to costly brakes.

Answer 2

No , I don't. I've been buyings HDs since 1959 and I can honestly say I have never replaced brakes on any of them. All of them were at least 4yrs old when I got rid of them. The last one was a 99 FLHR. I just traded it this year.

Answer 3

Maybe its because you look like a sucker, or maybe because you have a bunch of add ons on it already. Maybe the bike you ride has a reputation for brakes going bad, or falling off.

Got me beat, since we do not know what the dealers are seeing!

Answer 4

They may just be trying to get you an upgrade if you have moded the bike all ready in other areas they may think the next logical upgrade would be breaks.  Your harley is heavy and probably could use some extra stopping power.  I have never ridden on a cruiser and left with the impression that the bike had good brakes, although the breaks on sportbikes have much better bite and feel, on top of all of that the bikes are half the weight.  Most (all I think) sportbikes have four caliper breaks and some even go out and get aftermarket calipers, four and six caliper.

Answer 5

When in the selling business, you sell. Or go on a diet.

I don't think you need to upgrade, because I don't think I need to. I run single piston calipers on a single disc. Works just fine. One bike in the past had a double disc (OEM). I also believe that the old rear drum brakes are sufficient. I actually like them better than the single disc rear I'm running now.

"Bigger is better" - a common belief, often proved wrong.

The way it works for me is I can stop, and do it quickly.

That extra foot is NOT going to save my bacon. That's up to me.

Answer 6

Why?? Stopping is no fun!!

Answer 7

They see the word "SUCKER" on your fore head!  I wouldn't fall for their trap, motorcycle engineer spend countless of time engineering your motorcycle to the safest specification.