Fuel for the Harley hate

[KrustyKruser]

Things I see on a regular basis while working, not Harley specific stuff but in general people amaze me. I guess this guy knows how to ride or just believes the stigma associated with old bikers lore. I knew something was wrong (other than being a Harley) but took a second to figure out what was wrong with this picture.

 

[DanvilleDSRider]

I assume your referencing the lack of a front brake.

 

[nine_inch_rear]

I was thinking the pogo seat

 

[jumph4x]

jfc...

 

[Aware]

Brakes are for sissies.

 

[Rob]

What's mounted on the downtube?

 

[augustiron]

I had a chopper with no front brake. Went from here to vancouver, around the Canadian rockies for a summer and back. No problem, except for an exhaust pipe breaking and getting fixed with hose clamps and a can of dog food.
Ride your ride.

 

[louemc]

Brakes are for sissies.

Brakes are also for riders with functioning brains.

 

[EastBayDave]

Brakes are also for riders with functioning brains.

a lack of front brakes is for flat-track racing...."The Mile" etc...

 

[louemc]

a lack of front brakes is for flat-track racing...."The Mile" etc...

OK, but the pictured bike Isn't One Of Them. :laughing

On the public road, it's a life and death issue to be able to stop before the collision.

 

[Loki1000R]

yeah, but, when you, ride, your ride, you know, you ride, those roads...:rolleyes

 

[louemc]

^^^ Umm, not sure of what you're sayin, but... There is something Unknown on known roads...
It's vehicles that can squash you like a beverage can, and deer that never got taught on how to cross a road...

 

[FreeRyde]

I've ridden bikes without front brakes.
It's not really an issue, you just ride within the limits of the bike.

Travel out to the east coast, you'll see sportbiles with no front brakes, lowered and stretched all day.

 

[KrustyKruser]

Ok, I give in. Apparently there is nothing wrong with no front brake. I understood that the front brake was approximately 80-90% of the braking power, why remove that ability. I guess I was jealous dude was riding and I wasn't.

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

^^^ Umm, not sure of what you're sayin, but... There is something Unknown on known roads...
It's vehicles that can squash you like a beverage can, and deer that never got taught on how to cross a road...

I've ridden bikes with a single rear drum in the rain. I've also driven trucks at damn near 20k lbs with 4 wheel 9" drums on the truck and no trailer brakes.

You preach the "be a better rider" mantra, but learning to operate less than ideal equipment is part of that. When you have diminished stopping power you slow down, use engine braking, look farther ahead, and keep more escape routes planned. When stopping is not an option, you use other methods to solve problems. I'm not advocating people remove their front brakes, but it's not a crime against humanity, and it doesn't make them an inferior rider to you.

Sorry for the thread jack, just over the BS.

The generator shovel itself is the new street cred bike these days. The time will come when cone shovels (AMF) bikes actually have value. That is what's really scary here.

 

[Aware]

Ok, I give in. Apparently there is nothing wrong with no front brake. I understood that the front brake was approximately 80-90% of the braking power, why remove that ability. I guess I was jealous dude was riding and I wasn't.

The chassis layout and weight distribution on many Harleys actually makes the rear much more effective than the front, especially when compared to modern sports bikes. If you've only ever ridden sports bikes, there's a high likelihood you only use the front in any situation.

 

[Aware]

I've ridden bikes with a single rear drum in the rain. I've also driven trucks at damn near 20k lbs with 4 wheel 9" drums on the truck and no trailer brakes.

Drum brakes don't really lack stopping power. Modern disc brakes are probably more powerful but go back a decade or two and drums were considered more powerful. However they have a number of issues - including heat dissipation and ultimately fade or failure - that make disc brakes more desirable. Remember when disc brakes used to be scary in the wet...? Will they work or won't they ... ?

 

[Jalopyshoppe]

Drums have great stopping power.... ONCE. I am aware of the increased surface area they have. Drums are also harder to modulate and typically even less likely to work in the rain, because it's even harder for water to get out once it gets in. Still, a 9"x2" drum brake is not very effective in general. Even full size cars ran 12"X 2.5" or 3" drums.

I hear what you're saying about cruiser brake effectiveness. The reality is that a front is incredibly effective, but the rear can be sufficient if you ride thoughtfully.

 

[Kestrel]

I've ridden bikes without front brakes.
It's not really an issue, you just ride within the limits of the bike.

Travel out to the east coast, you'll see sportbiles with no front brakes, lowered and stretched all day.

Ehh.. Lots of cruisers, and typical squid stuff... but the super stretch no brake stuff has kinda gone away, thankfully.

Ok, I give in. Apparently there is nothing wrong with no front brake. I understood that the front brake was approximately 80-90% of the braking power, why remove that ability. I guess I was jealous dude was riding and I wasn't.

The chassis layout and weight distribution on many Harleys actually makes the rear much more effective than the front, especially when compared to modern sports bikes. If you've only ever ridden sports bikes, there's a high likelihood you only use the front in any situation.

^ Yes. Geometry changes everything, and the rear is way, way more effective on a cruiser.

 

[louemc]

Screw the rear, it isn't effective enough.