Brake Pads

[FJRocket]

I was reading the infamous "other board" and there was a query about changing brake pads and that some had changed with the GB to the Spieglers and Carbon Lorraine pads, and reporting improved performance.

What I was wondering was: what would be the effect of better pads on an ABS controlled bike?

I'm thinking that better brakes are just going to get you closer to the point where the ABS kicks in faster. In other words, you can only stop "just so short"? I would guess that in between the pulses the bike might in deed stop shorter. However, could it be that there just ends up being that many more pulses to stop the bike in about the same amount of distance?

I'm obviously bored and don't have enough to do.

 

[radman]

Lock up is lock up. The impetus behind the pad/rotor/lines thing has to do mostly with feel, bling, longevity. The tendency in pad replacement is to go with high perf, hard, racing style pads. This is a mistake. Hard hi perf pads need heat to work-cruising along on the highway and needing full braking power now just doesn't happen with them. IMHO of course...

 

[smthng]

ABS only matters when you're real close to (or are) locking up the wheel. Everything else is dependant on the pads, lines and rotors. "Good" is a relative term, especially when it comes to something as subjective as brakes. Different pads will feel firmer or softer, slow you down faster or not, feel more controllable or not, run hotter or cooler, etc. All of that has nothing to do with the ABS.

ABS essentially should have no effect on a decision of what pads to use... If ABS was a deciding factor, you could just put the cheapest sorriest pads on every ABS vehicle and they'd all stop as quickly as possible. Not so. A "good" pad will stop you firmly and in control, but will still give feedback as to what it's doing. A good pad will also give you some feedback when you're just using a little bit of brakes and not actually stopping. A cheap pad might stop you, but it might take a lot more effort and you might have no idea how much traction you have left before the ABS kicks in. Of course, the same applies for any brake component... old and worn out brake lines or a thoroughly glazed rotor won't do squat for your feedback regardless of the pads you've got.

 

[dobias]

My encounter with a doe a few weeks ago left me wanting to stop quicker in the interval before the ABS kicks in. I replaced the pads with the group buy pads I had laying around awaiting the stock pads to wear out. With no other changes, I was impressed with the increased "bite" in the fronts. The rear pads showed no improvement at all.

I'm also determined to reduce my stopping time by learning to use the rear brakes better than I have been.

I lowered the pedal by one spline notch so I can keep my foot over it. I had been holding my foot along side the pedal.

I had a second chance to buy the Spiegler hoses and took it. They'll go on the bike this winter. Originally, I had the same opinion as radman about the hoses being mainly "bling". If I can improve my stops even a little, I've learned the difference stopping a little sooner can make.

IMHO, the only real additional Improvement I would lust for would be cast iron disks. They look like hell with rust but they really give the pads something to grab on to. Many years ago I had the opportunity to ride a Goldwing before and after iron disks were installed. I never forgot the improvement. I couldn't afford them at the time but that hasn't stopped me from wanting some. I understand Carbon/carbon is the latest way to go. I presume they need to be hot before they work well.

dobias <_<

 

[Windjammer]

My old Concours was a heavy bike with plain single piston calipers and stock pads with no brake mods at all. Even with a full load of luggage on the back, I could get the rear wheel in the air when braking, if the need arose. Luckily, that was only a couple of times!

I don't run ABS, but the FJR's brakes seem plenty powerful to me, almost too much. I've had to keep it down to two fingers on the brakes, otherwise the braking seems a bot over the top, but I'm getting used to it. I'm no body builder either, just an average joe. I've heard the ABS dampens braking to some extent, but for a non-ABS bike I can't fathom the need for stronger brakes than what stock components offer. Unless you wanna brake with your pinky fingernail. Each to his own I guess.