I've looked, read, and had checkbook in hand to buy a 04- 650. While waiting for my salesman I picked up the 05 brochure, looked at the what is new for 05 blurb and noticed that they changed the brake system. The owner of the dealership who said he was at the a/c dealer meetings must have been in the cocktail lounge because he knew nothing about what the changes were. I regularly tow a 110 gallon spray rig, the fire road is very steep and brakes could be an issue. Has any one driven or towed with an 05 and noticed a braking improvement? The extra savings on the 04 vs 05 is not worth it to me if the brakes have been improved. The dealer does not have an 05 650 yet and driving an 05 500 vs. an 04 500 on level pavement is useless as a test to compare the two brake systems.
thanks in advance for any insight.

 

I could be wrong on this, but I heard the only change was to the foot break. I guess for 2005 it is now usefull.

 

LOL.Good one.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Supposedly, the master cylinder has been replaced with the same one that Harley uses in their new V-Rod motorcycle. This is what the dealer told me. I just drove an '05 today and thought the brakes were pretty good but the hill wasn't that steep.

 

The brake systems are the same on the two besides the foot brake. The foot brake now has a remote resovar that doesn't let it get a air bubble trapped in it. The foot brake isn't ment to be a primary brake on the cat and thats good because to be plain and simple they suck. With some adjustment and use it will slow you down but will never work great. They ran the hayes master cylinder on all the 04 models and they came out with the new hayes floating caliper on the 04 650 as a test and it must have passed because all 05s have the same brake system. The brakes still need to be broken in just like the brakes of the past- they will only get better with time. So in a nut shell there is no change in the primary brakeing system.

 

HEY!
If you do want an '04, I've got one for sale. 675 miles on it. Excellent shape except for a few scratches on the front bumper. It's the 650 LE. I plan to sand and repaint the bumper. Interested? Price is $5500.

 

I'v got an 05 500 auto and I have had NO problems with the brakes. I am really pleased with my bike, did not know how an automatic would larg body around :-) ... But it seens to have a lot of power and belt hasn't slipped.