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.

RadarORiley wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


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.

babbalou wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


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.

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

Reelthing wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

I'll do that.

Where's Clive on this one?  He always has input about brake pads

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....

BS37066 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:


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.