Floorboards and rear brake

[Dickl]

I'm a new owner. I find the rear brake pedal difficult to put good braking pressure to. I suppose I need to reposition my right foot farther forward.


Do you guys find that floorboards allow for better brake application?

Thanks for responding.

DICK

[The emperor has no clothes]

You are never going to get great braking from the rear in my opinion. Some have reported good success cleaning and greasing the pivot point. I don't notice any difference between my Interstate with boards and my Standard with pegs.

[Fazer]

I added a brake pedal cover that makes it somewhat larger pad to hit with boot.  Not sure where I got mine, as I have had it for a while, but here is one from Motorcycle Superstore.

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/8087/i/kuryakyn-iso-brake-pedal-pad

[Lyle Laun]

As Meathead & Fazer said, grease the pivot and consider adding a brake pedal cover. You can also adjust the brake pedal higher at the brake pivot.
Floorboards generally make things worse, some have installed a peg lowering kit such as what BigM has listed on the classified board. These kits work with either floorboards or pegs.

Lyle...

[..]

Make sure you are mainly using front brake to reduce speed 

[longrider]

I have had boards on my valk since before I can remember. Can't even imagine riding without them.  I also added on the brake pedal cover and greased the pivot. Even after all that it still just didn't do it.  So I removed the arm and gently increased the bend outward near the pivot and added more bend gently near the pedal without cracking the chrome so it would be square with the board. This brought the pedal out about 3/4 ".   Now it's just right.

[Gryphon Rider]

You are never going to get great braking from the rear in my opinion. Some have reported good success cleaning and greasing the pivot point. I don't notice any difference between my Interstate with boards and my Standard with pegs.

I disagree that you'll never get great braking in the rear.  A weak rear brake is a maintenance issue.  Perhaps the lever pivot needs to be disassembled, cleaned, and re-greased.  Perhaps the caliper needs rebuilding.  Perhaps non-OEM pads were installed or the pads are contaminated.  Perhaps the hydraulics are gummed up.  The rear brake was excellent for a cruiser when these bikes were new.

[The emperor has no clothes]

You are never going to get great braking from the rear in my opinion. Some have reported good success cleaning and greasing the pivot point. I don't notice any difference between my Interstate with boards and my Standard with pegs.

I disagree that you'll never get great braking in the rear.  A weak rear brake is a maintenance issue.  Perhaps the lever pivot needs to be disassembled, cleaned, and re-greased.  Perhaps the caliper needs rebuilding.  Perhaps non-OEM pads were installed or the pads are contaminated.  Perhaps the hydraulics are gummed up.  The rear brake was excellent for a cruiser when these bikes were new.

Well maybe. I've never got good stopping power with just the rear brake. I have used predominately front brakes for stopping power. I wouldn't say it's a weak brake issue, it's just that the front is much more effective in stopping these heavy bikes. At least that has been my experience. I could be mistaken.

[Gryphon Rider]

You are never going to get great braking from the rear in my opinion. Some have reported good success cleaning and greasing the pivot point. I don't notice any difference between my Interstate with boards and my Standard with pegs.

I disagree that you'll never get great braking in the rear.  A weak rear brake is a maintenance issue.  Perhaps the lever pivot needs to be disassembled, cleaned, and re-greased.  Perhaps the caliper needs rebuilding.  Perhaps non-OEM pads were installed or the pads are contaminated.  Perhaps the hydraulics are gummed up.  The rear brake was excellent for a cruiser when these bikes were new.

Well maybe. I've never got good stopping power with just the rear brake. I have used predominately front brakes for stopping power. I wouldn't say it's a weak brake issue, it's just that the front is much more effective in stopping these heavy bikes. At least that has been my experience. I could be mistaken.

I was referring to the brake system's ability to slow the rear wheel relative to pedal effort.  Front vs. rear brake effectiveness in slowing the motorcycle is a whole other discussion.

[The emperor has no clothes]

You are never going to get great braking from the rear in my opinion. Some have reported good success cleaning and greasing the pivot point. I don't notice any difference between my Interstate with boards and my Standard with pegs.

I disagree that you'll never get great braking in the rear.  A weak rear brake is a maintenance issue.  Perhaps the lever pivot needs to be disassembled, cleaned, and re-greased.  Perhaps the caliper needs rebuilding.  Perhaps non-OEM pads were installed or the pads are contaminated.  Perhaps the hydraulics are gummed up.  The rear brake was excellent for a cruiser when these bikes were new.

Well maybe. I've never got good stopping power with just the rear brake. I have used predominately front brakes for stopping power. I wouldn't say it's a weak brake issue, it's just that the front is much more effective in stopping these heavy bikes. At least that has been my experience. I could be mistaken.

I was referring to the brake system's ability to slow the rear wheel relative to pedal effort.  Front vs. rear brake effectiveness in slowing the motorcycle is a whole other discussion.