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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Brakes /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1136566058 Message started by Savage Librarian on 01/06/06 at 08:47:38 |
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Title: Brakes Post by Savage Librarian on 01/06/06 at 08:47:38 Out of curiosity, how long do all of y'all's brake pads and shoes last? For that matter, what ones do you recommend? I had about 4,000m on my front brakes when I replaced the pads, and at 7,000m even on my Savage, I still haven't touched the rear brakes, nor noticed that I should have. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by RadarORiley on 01/06/06 at 09:00:45 We had #2 daughter's brakes on the front replaced recently, mechanic scolded her about her style of riding, said they should have lasted longer (4000 mi.), rear ones ok, Haven't done mine yet. 3900 mi |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Digger on 01/06/06 at 09:32:57 RadarORiley wrote:
My front brake pads were toast at only 3500 miles. I'm not an aggressive rider, nor am I a heavyweight rider. IMO, the only riders who should be scolded about brake use are those who are wearing out rear brakes too fast....the front brake on a bike is much more effective than the rear brake and should be used accordingly. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by babbalou on 01/06/06 at 09:41:46 Mine were nearly all gone at 2,200 miles. Lots of stop & go riding until I get out of the city. I just replaced them with SBS 581 pads but I can't say yet how I'll like them 'cause I've only put a few "break-in" miles on them. They feel good so far & I hope I can get 5 or 6K miles out of them. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Reelthing on 01/06/06 at 10:03:13 babbalou wrote:
can you mic the rotor as you start with the ceramic pads? I never could tell if the ceramics were wearing on the stock rotor much or not. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by saabsaviur on 01/06/06 at 10:11:02 do motorcycle rotors ever really need replaced like a car? |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Reelthing on 01/06/06 at 10:18:35 you bet - the service manual will list the minimum thicknes for a rotor - do not have my books here can check it later if you'd like |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by saabsaviur on 01/06/06 at 10:28:26 just a curius quistion i have a manual at home thanks though kinda figured that |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by babbalou on 01/06/06 at 10:47:54 Reelthing wrote:
I'll do that. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by mornhm on 01/06/06 at 10:48:33 Mine were replace under 5,000 miles, but I don't remember exactly when. I was a little surprised, but one side wore out much before the other would have, so if they had worn evenly I think I would have gotten more mileage out of the pair. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Greg_650 on 01/06/06 at 10:50:43 Where's Clive on this one? He always has input about brake pads :P |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by BS37066 on 01/06/06 at 10:52:31 Great question! I just got through taking my front brakes apart and lubing them. I've got 1800 miles on my '05 Savage and the front brakes sounded like metal on metal. The stock pads are still in great shape; There is about a millimeter and a half left before the groove and another millmeter past it, so I'm not rubbing anything metal. The book says replace at 1mm and I have better than 2.5mm. The lube seems to be working, but There were snow flurries, so I only put in about 2 miles testing. The stock pads are not organic. I see lots of metal flakes embedded in the asbestos. That's probably where the noise was coming from. If so, the noise will be back. I try to keep in practice using my back brakes. I like to drag them a little as I enter corners, as well. The bike feels much more stable that way. But I still use the fronts for all my real braking. The point is, the rear brakes appear to be fine, so far. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Greg_650 on 01/06/06 at 10:56:09 Just a bit of thought... Always use both brakes at the same time.... Always (try to, anyway) do your braking before a curve, not in the curve. Then power through the curve.... |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by BS37066 on 01/06/06 at 11:11:05 I got my braking ideas from reading Nick Ienatsch and Lee Parks. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Greg_650 on 01/06/06 at 11:46:31 BS37066 wrote:
I've had braking ideas before too, but I became a firm believer in the MSF techniques after I took the course. They quickly dispelled a lot of my acquired bad habits....one of which, for me, was using the front brake too much. It is never safe to rely on just the rear brake, and it is even worse to plan your braking in a curve rather than before... The MSF technique is called "Slow, Look, Lean, Roll" which is what you'll see the pros do as they line up for a curve in a race. They Slow before the curve, Look where they want the bike to go, Lean into the curve, and Roll on the throttle to keep the forward power. Just remember that any braking puts more force on the front wheel and less on the rear. That "lightens" the rear and makes the wheel easier to lock up. When you are in a curve, the inertia of the bike is toward the outside, which is why you lean. Then when you Roll on the throttle you also counteract that inertia by putting forward force on the rear wheel to push you through the curve. If you are braking with the rear in a curve, the rear could lock up and that inertia will "low side" you off the road or across the other lane....and the physics is pretty much the same with the front brake, but a "high side" usually hurts more. Now, I know that we all do it. We aren't pros and everyone of us has used the brakes in a curve for one reason or another. All I'm saying is that it is not a good practice to rely on that technique. Both brakes are best used together, and never in a curve. BTW - ever watched any flat track races? Most of those bikes don't even have brakes. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by BS37066 on 01/06/06 at 12:01:37 You will, sooner or later, have to brake in a turn. The MSF course reminds me of my years in the military. Their way was not the best way, either. Everyone in front of you is an idiot. Everyone in back of you is an a$$hole. We all think we're better than average riders and drivers. Some of us must be wrong. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Savage_Rob on 01/06/06 at 12:06:26 Some of you are. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Savage Librarian on 01/06/06 at 12:34:15 I've gone down in turns before (offroad!), and each occasion had something in common. I was using my rear brake in the curve. I've gone faster, on slicker surfaces, with the same bike and tires, but never slid out on a curve...except when using the brake. The only time I slid out on a curve when not using the brake, it was because the groud I was riding on fell away form under me, and I went down the hill. You don't ride on soft dirt too often on the road though. In any case, I've become a firm believer of the MSF method...and have the scars to show why. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Greg_650 on 01/06/06 at 13:03:39 BS37066 wrote:
Hmmm. What did I say in my next to last paragraph? The MSF is like the military? Not sure that I understand. I was in the Navy for 6 years, and I didn't think it was that bad, unless it's an issue of the structure, education and discipline aspects. I do know that joining the Navy was free, whereas taking the MSF course was expensive. Is that the problem? Maybe you just don't know too much about the MSF course. The MSF teaches you with a bike and not by just reading a book. We did have some homework assignments, but it was a lot of fun and not even too intimidating. Here is an old photo of my trainer. A mild mannered Yamaha. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/MSF_GMD.jpg Here is a photo of my spouse's trainer. A nice gentle little Honda. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/MSF_JMD.jpg Personally, I just try to help. Maybe I made a mistake this time and should have kept my mouth shut. Either way, I don't really care if you want to drag your feet through a curve. You just better hope you can walk on them if you ever go down. |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by BS37066 on 01/06/06 at 13:11:42 Quite possibly. When I'm in front of or behind you. But never you. You're the moderator. :) Savage_Rob wrote:
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by Greg_650 on 01/06/06 at 14:11:30 Savage Librarian wrote:
There you go. I taught myself how to ride starting at age 16. Due to my subborn, trial by fire techniques, I fell quite a few times over the years, too. Sometimes it was due to speed or braking or both, but I somehow survived to become an "expert". Then a few years ago, I bought my Savage and talked my spouse into her first bike, as well. And then the "expert" began her training. I trained her hard, too. The first 15 miles were in a packed sand lot area for horses. She went around and around, doing figure 8s, and through all the obstacles and cones, that I could arrange, for hours. I even had my car in there too. Here she is on her brand new GZ250, and she learned control before she ever got on pavement...and everyone knows that sand ain't easy. http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/gmdinusa/250JMD3.jpg However, when I got her on the road, she worried the "expert". I kept seeing my own training in action and began to think that maybe she needed more. I remembered all my own past spills and just knew that if she pulled one of my stupid mistakes, that our biking partnership might come to an end. Couldn't have that... So, as soon as an opening was available with the MSF, we both enrolled....and the next 2 1/2 days were a blast. We had different bikes, and we sort of had our own little "competition thing" going too. After all, she knew that she was riding with the "expert" of 30+ years, and she liked that challenge. Bottom line? We both graduated with the same score of - 2 points. I don't know if she lost points for my bad influences or her inexperience, but I know that I lost points for my over-confidence. She lost her points for not doing the stopping test well enough. I lost points for doing the "slow, look, lean, roll" technique in the curve test....they use a stop watch for that test and said I was going too fast.....the "expert" was humbled. ....What can I say? Might be long winded, but it is still on topic 8) |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by BS37066 on 01/06/06 at 16:54:39 Oh shoot, I said dragging the rear brakes, as opposed to applying the rear brakes, going into a corner. Like the real pro's do. And I only mentioned it to say that my back brakes show no signs of wear, though I do try to use them. But I will try dragging my feet, next time, like greg suggested. He11, I'm open to new ideas. Peace :) |
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Title: Re: Brakes Post by torque on 01/06/06 at 18:12:59 BS37066 wrote:
sounds like fun,i'll give it a try :D |
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