[Hot Rod]

Is it common for the front brakes to rub slightly on V-rods? My bike only has 600 miles on it, and the front brake makes a rubbing noise unless the lever is pulled in a tad. I rented a V-rod in Hawaii last month and it did the same thing. Is my bike normal, or should I get it fixed before I glaze over my pads?

 

[Harleyvrodguy]

normal Mason as far as I know, if I'm mistaken I know someone will point out that fact......................haha

 

[Max]

It is a normal condition, it might be a little louder then most since it is a double brake system and you get twice as much noise. While the brakes use hydraulics to push the pads out they don't have anything to push them back in so a slight rubbing effect can be heard when they are released.

Max

 

[IndianaSteve]

Max, I've wondered about this issue too. Would it have been that hard to have some sort of return spring so the pads wouldn't contact the disks unless they were being applied? I'm surprised someone hasn't made an after-market fix for this. Or is there one?

Just wondering,
Steve

 

[Hot Rod]

Thanks all, and you're the man, Max. When it comes to my cycle, I am a complete hypochondriac, always thinking that something is wrong.

 

[kerryw]

I'm going to bet that the reason there is no return spring on a hydraulic disc brake system is to allow fast, positive brake response. You don't actually get a lot of movement of the brake pads when you push on the hydraulic fluid with the small piston in the master cylinder, and I would think there is no real pad travel to spare. My bike was up on the lift yesterday and you can definitely hear and feel the drag, but since they don't heat up, I doubt it amounts to much. Just a thought.

 

[Rico]

BRAKES?? WHAT THE HELL ARE THOSE?

Just kidding Mase, Glad you found the right lever!

 

[Motown_VROD]

Mine did it for the first 1000 miles and not a sound from them since...

Oh guess it might have something to do with the V-Mod exhaust on the bike!

 

[sospolice]

Mine do it with about 15oo miles. I really notice it when I coast into the driveway. I hope it stops but it is as loud now as it was when I bought it.

 

[Hot Rod]

My rental in Hawaii had 5K miles on it, and still made the noise. So, it's either live with it or buy loud pipes.

 

[Leon]

I spoke to my dealer about this too. Not only is it normal... but other Harleys do it too.

 

[VrodRick74]

I got rid of the noise by changing to a kevlar pad. The brakes work much better too. :moped:

 

[Greg687]

Rick, what brand of pads??? Been looking for a better pad...seems like the stockers are grabby.

 

[VrodRick74]

Rick, what brand of pads??? Been looking for a better pad...seems like the stockers are grabby.

I used Drag Specialties, EBC makes some too. Check out V-Mod.com he has them.

 

[morey000]

interesting

I got rid of the noise by changing to a kevlar pad. The brakes work much better too. :moped:

Describe, if you would "works much better."
I'm pretty happy with the stock brakes... but perhaps I don't know any better.

I'm ready to be enlightened...

 

[Karlos]

I thought it was normal for floating rotors - or thats whay I got told when I asked a while back on this very forum. I think ALL our bikes do it.

 

[McKay]

Mine surely does it, sometimes pretty loud, (only can hear it when not on the throttle) it gets annoying.

 

[VrodRick74]

Describe, if you would "works much better."
I'm pretty happy with the stock brakes... but perhaps I don't know any better.

I'm ready to be enlightened...

Brake lever is more firm, stops much faster and harder. The noise comes from the pad being too hard. The kevlar is a softer compound and thus will brake better and get rid of the noise.

 

[DungeonWorks]

Glad to have seen this thread as I was wondering the same thing. I have 360 miles on my 03 VRSSCA and it does it. My old Sporty did it from the time I got it and it had 12,500 miles with the single disc so i assume it is okay. I think HD makes some long lasting brakes as I had 12,500 miles on my Sporty as I said, it rubbed the whole time and was noticable at slow speeds under say 15 mph, and I still had lots of pad left with smooth rotors. My brothers Honda Shadow has 10k miles and he is metal on metal with some nice "groovy" rotors.

Gary...GOD I LOVE THIS BIKE!

 

[Z16monte]

Mine were'nt too bad till I came back from my 1k servisce in the rain then put on my windvest. Now its irritating as hell. May have to take thee widshield off to see if thats why I hear it more now, probably is though,can't imagine the rain affecting the pads.