Replacing Front Brales on 1980 FXS

[scooper321]

Rebuilding a 1980 Low Rider, 80" (with the SHOWA front forks). I'm looking for options for different front brake calipers abd discs. Besides NOS or VTwin Mfg, and without spending a million dollars (sorry PM) what are my options? Am I limited to the 10" disc? I'm open to options that require different caliper brackets, so long as I can buy them. I'm not a metal worker so fabbing my own isn't an option. And I'd prefer to not have to change my hub. Recommendations?

[Tattooo]

Your best option for the money is keep what you have... Other than that it's going to cost you a lot of time and money...

[TriNortchopz]

Here is a discussion thread for FXR brake upgrades - 1985 (similar?), which may have a few options or things to consider: "Check the history of this site regarding the FXR brake upgrades. This subject has been previously discussed, and there are some helpful threads",
http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/ha...-upgrades.html

[Tattooo]

Here is a discussion thread for FXR brake upgrades - 1985 (similar?), which may have a few options or things to consider: "Check the history of this site regarding the FXR brake upgrades. This subject has been previously discussed, and there are some helpful threads",
http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/ha...-upgrades.html

That's a great read but a very costly swap... It is different but it is an option...

[humancertainty]

The cheapest option would likely be a front end swap. 39mm front ends come up for reasonable prices and there’s a lot of options for adaptors to rub Japanese calipers or the 2000+ Harley calipers.
If you have your heart set on a 35mm front end, the 84-87 ones used the same calipers as the 88-99 39mm front ends and have the same adaptors available. Fab Kevin makes some, there’s some fandoms on eBay and there’s the Still Kickin’ Moto one’s.
If you find a 2000+ front end, those calipers are already pretty good.

[scooper321]

Here is a discussion thread for FXR brake upgrades - 1985 (similar?), which may have a few options or things to consider: "Check the history of this site regarding the FXR brake upgrades. This subject has been previously discussed, and there are some helpful threads",
http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/ha...-upgrades.html

Thanks. But this is an FXS. Not an FXR. Do they have the same forks and over use the same stock calipers?

[scooper321]

The cheapest option would likely be a front end swap. 39mm front ends come up for reasonable prices and there’s a lot of options for adaptors to rub Japanese calipers or the 2000+ Harley calipers.
If you have your heart set on a 35mm front end, the 84-87 ones used the same calipers as the 88-99 39mm front ends and have the same adaptors available. Fab Kevin makes some, there’s some fandoms on eBay and there’s the Still Kickin’ Moto one’s.
If you find a 2000+ front end, those calipers are already pretty good.

Are you saying that 84-87 and 88-99 calipers fit on a 35mm 80?

[humancertainty]

No. As far as I’ve ever found, the 77-83 calipers are it. Or very expensive replacements. I’m saying that the 84-87 calipers are the same as the 88-99 calipers. The difference is 84-87 is 35 mm like your current front end and the 88-99 is 39 mm. I know some people prefer the 35 mm forks for aesthetics or whatever, so I mentioned the option. The 39 mm forks are better but look newer because they are.

[scooper321]

No. As far as I’ve ever found, the 77-83 calipers are it. Or very expensive replacements. I’m saying that the 84-87 calipers are the same as the 88-99 calipers. The difference is 84-87 is 35 mm like your current front end and the 88-99 is 39 mm. I know some people prefer the 35 mm forks for aesthetics or whatever, so I mentioned the option. The 39 mm forks are better but look newer because they are.

Gotcha. So if I went thiis route, it would require swapping my forks. That’s something I’m trying to not take on right now. I’ve got a lot more to do on this rebuild and the forks work well and don’t leak. So I’m just cleaning them up, popping in Progessive springs, changing the oil and moving on to other parts of the bike that really do NEED rebuilding. I may swap forks down the road, but I’d like to avoid it for right now.

[Tattooo]

Gotcha. So if I went thiis route, it would require swapping my forks. That’s something I’m trying to not take on right now. I’ve got a lot more to do on this rebuild and the forks work well and don’t leak. So I’m just cleaning them up, popping in Progessive springs, changing the oil and moving on to other parts of the bike that really do NEED rebuilding. I may swap forks down the road, but I’d like to avoid it for right now.

Yes sir like I said above...

Your best option for the money is keep what you have... Other than that it's going to cost you a lot of time and money...

[scooper321]

Still worth the exercise to ask the question, do the research and learn! Here’s hoping I can successfully remove one of them without destroying it (both bolts are stuck and stripped). And that I can successfully rebuild them. They were not behaving well when I started the project...

[Tattooo]

Still worth the exercise to ask the question, do the research and learn! Here’s hoping I can successfully remove one of them without destroying it (both bolts are stuck and stripped). And that I can successfully rebuild them. They were not behaving well when I started the project...

I never said it wasn't and yes you have to ask questions to learn.....

Here is my Original paint 16,000 mile 79 FXS that I totally restored in 2012, Took it totally apart split the cases and all..

[TriNortchopz]

Thanks. But this is an FXS. Not an FXR. Do they have the same forks and over use the same stock calipers?

The Harley Company and their new alfabit 'o bikes...FXRSTC..W..G...I get confused, its hard to keep up with them.

[Tattooo]

its hard to keep up with them.

Well kinda.... LOL

Now all the new shit.... I agree........

[humancertainty]

Gotcha. So if I went thiis route, it would require swapping my forks. That’s something I’m trying to not take on right now. I’ve got a lot more to do on this rebuild and the forks work well and don’t leak. So I’m just cleaning them up, popping in Progessive springs, changing the oil and moving on to other parts of the bike that really do NEED rebuilding. I may swap forks down the road, but I’d like to avoid it for right now.

Then sounds like you should keep the calipers that you have. Plenty of people ride bikes with those old calipers. They’re not as good as the newer ones but they’re not gonna be a problem unless you treat them like they’re as good.

[scooper321]

I never said it wasn't and yes you have to ask questions to learn.....

Here is my Original paint 16,000 mile 79 FXS that I totally restored in 2012, Took it totally apart split the cases and all..

Hey - I hope I didn't seem snarky. I didn't mean it that way. I appreciate the comments. So, thanks!

And wow. Nice bike. I see mine in there ... sort of. It's not stock paint, but that's OK. The paint on it is actually in really nice shape so that saves me a few grand $ on the rebuild. And the engine seems to run well. The speedo says 29k, but the speedo cable was broken when I bought it (ha ha). The engine leaks a little, so that's one of the goals of the rebuild. And I hope to God that I don't have to split the cases. That's well outside my comfort level! But I'm optimistic. My bike just needs a little TLC, so I'm going through it, piece by piece, replacing every gasket and anything rubber, cleaning everything, repacking or replacing all races and bearings and making her run safe and well. I'll get into the engine and inspect/replace whatever's needed. I don't plan on putting her back to stock, but she'll look sort of stock when I'm done. Here's what I started with:

[scooper321]

I never said it wasn't and yes you have to ask questions to learn.....

Here is my Original paint 16,000 mile 79 FXS that I totally restored in 2012, Took it totally apart split the cases and all..

By the way, I love that exhaust. I've got my eye out for one. I'd love to go back to the original 2-into-1 on this baby.

[farmall]

Fab Kevin makes mounting brackets for plentiful Tokico calipers to replace the stockers. I have a pair but haven't gotten around to installing them.

[humancertainty]

Fab Kevin makes mounting brackets for plentiful Tokico calipers to replace the stockers. I have a pair but haven't gotten around to installing them.

I didn’t know he made them for the 77-83 forks. He isn’t afraid of odd jobs, though. He made me brackets to run Tokicos on a 39mm dual disc setup with a 70s Ironhead wheel with 10” rotors.

[Tattooo]

Here's what I started with:

That's a damn nice looking bike... I'd just go through it the best you can and enjoy riding it like it is...

The only reason I went through my bike like I did was when I bought it it had been sitting on a dirt floor in shed taken apart for 25 years.. It was a mess but all in all it was all there and still stock... The brake calipers looked like new inside but needed painting... Everything needed painting except the skins they were hanging on the wall...