I just swapped out the front brake pads today. I have less than 5900 miles on the bike. When I got a new front tire the shop said the front pads were well worn.

Good folks... Check those pads!

I am what I consider a very mild rider... I ride to work ... I ride home. No horse play.. no zoom zoom. Not only that, but I tend to favor the rear brakes such that I am dragged to a stop.. with just a nice even brake to both during the last few feet.

Swapping front brake pads was about 30  minutes including hunting up and putting away all the tools.
Socket wrench and socket
two hex wrench
large C-clamp

I had just done a fluid change about 18 months ago, so I was not going to re-do that. I did just remove the cap fix the rubber gasket ( make sure forks are leaned over for flat level.
I used the c-clamp and old pad to return the piston (not over doing it).
Replace pads, and button her up.
EBC pads made in the UK... from Bikebandit... not sure I got the best deal... but I got them fast.

Per WD .. rear pads were fine.

Most of our braking power is from the front.... take care of what takes care of you!

Serowbot wrote on 08/10/13 at 09:37:59:


Actually.. I have been told that before.. and I am trying to "up" the front brake usage...
Unfortunately... the roads I travel are so bad... that comming to some stops you cant even down shift (which I dont do often anyway). We aren't talking a bump or a few bumps.. we are talking jolt your teeth out your head bumps... with the loss of traction to the front tire its very easy to get too aggressive and they you really have issues. The rear tire hits these bumps last and even if you do over apply the consequences are just a skid.  
When I can .. I like to see just how balanced I can brake using the front fork dip as guage. Sadly.. very few nice roads to do that on.


(bumps- ashalt placed over concrete.. instead of ripping up 50year old concrete) Seems to be worse at intersections. MOST times what lane I am in depend NOT on the traffic... but knowing what lane has the least bumps.) Ahhh - the joys of using a bike as transportation.

So if you can't use the front brake like you are supposed to, then find some smooth road somewhere and once a month or so, practice panic stops,... meaning using the front brake just short of locking it up.

Serowbot is correct.  Should the unthinkable happen you have to do an I'm-really-going-to-die-this-time panic stop, you have well less than a second to apply the front brake perfectly.

Folks that don't practice this stiff end up hitting something or someone because they didn't apply enough brake,.......or,......... they lock up the brake and get all horizontal and sparky in a hurry.

bumps- ashalt placed over concrete..


Ive seen rodas that did what youre saying, we call that Washboarding..
its shaped like corrugated metal layin in the road, with humps of asphalt stacked up, & those stupid humps can get 3 inches tall,,
Considering the hazard they create, you should whine to the city or county & explain it to them froma safety position, The power of petition can move mountains,, tiny mountains of asphalt,

Heck, Ive seen it so bad that my car dang near went sideways coming to a stop sign in Oklahoma.. I cant imagine how Ida managed on a bike,

Remember when doin pads, that caliper floats on pins that need cleaned & lubed occasionally,

I do this routinely...

As do I
Also, ride with low beam in daytime & use the high-low flash button if yours is so equipped any time you see someone setting up to turm left across you. Changing lane position makes us more visible, too.
Be aware that if youre in front of a long line of cars, that person may "hurry" across instead of waiting, focused on the CAR behind you, also, being the caboose on a long line may get you mashed, since theyve been sitting, looking at CARS &, seeing the last CAR, they go,, & run Smooth over yer butt,,

I wonder what's wrong with my brake light, I have tried doing the flash thing but my brakes are applied long before my light comes on.

I'm going to have to check and take a closer look at what I can adjust.