Best braking pads
- dukebadboy
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Best braking pads
Ferodo, EBC or OEM?
Interested in hearing people's experiences.
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Interested in hearing people's experiences.
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- 5150 Pops
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Re: Best braking pads
Best in what sense?
Feel, power, life, performance per dollar?
Any top line pad from almost any manufacturer is great, comes down to personal preference.
I've used EBC HH FA188, Galfer 1375 and currently Vesrah SRJL-XX, which is a track only pad variant of the RJL-XX.
There are a lot of people who swear by the carbon ceramic varieties, but it really comes down to what YOU are looking for in pads.
I'd replace the OEM rotors at the same time, otherwise you won't really see much improvement.
Either Galfer wave, Brembo HP, Brembo T-Drive, or Braketec rotors. Ebc makes great pads but their rotors, not so much.
Feel, power, life, performance per dollar?
Any top line pad from almost any manufacturer is great, comes down to personal preference.
I've used EBC HH FA188, Galfer 1375 and currently Vesrah SRJL-XX, which is a track only pad variant of the RJL-XX.
There are a lot of people who swear by the carbon ceramic varieties, but it really comes down to what YOU are looking for in pads.
I'd replace the OEM rotors at the same time, otherwise you won't really see much improvement.
Either Galfer wave, Brembo HP, Brembo T-Drive, or Braketec rotors. Ebc makes great pads but their rotors, not so much.
- Spiff
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Re: Best braking pads
I appreciate looking for the best pads, but is anyone not satisfied with the stock performance? For street use does anyone think upgrading the discs is needed?
- 5150 Pops
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Re: Best braking pads
Not satisfied - when for unknown definitive reasons, the standard rotors tend to warp on this bike.Spiff wrote:I appreciate looking for the best pads, but is anyone not satisfied with the stock performance? For street use does anyone think upgrading the discs is needed?
Aftermarket - or more specifically - NON OEM replacement parts are almost always better quality for less money.
EDIT... Forgot to mention, upgrading your pads to something more aggressive than the OEM pads, will undoubtedly wear those rotors down quicker, as well as the pads, unless your rotors are almost new, have little wear, or you've thoroughly refinished the surfaces. That's the only reason I suggested new rotors... assuming his oem rotors are worn, which if he's needing new pads due to wear, they should be quite well.
- Spiff
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Re: Best braking pads
Mine appear to be fine, but the warping rotors are not cool. Seems like a rookie mistake for KTM to have that issue.5150 Pops wrote:Not satisfied - when for unknown definitive reasons, the standard rotors tend to warp on this bike.Spiff wrote:I appreciate looking for the best pads, but is anyone not satisfied with the stock performance? For street use does anyone think upgrading the discs is needed?
Aftermarket - or more specifically - NON OEM replacement parts are almost always better quality for less money.
EDIT... Forgot to mention, upgrading your pads to something more aggressive than the OEM pads, will undoubtedly wear those rotors down quicker, as well as the pads, unless your rotors are almost new, have little wear, or you've thoroughly refinished the surfaces. That's the only reason I suggested new rotors... assuming his oem rotors are worn, which if he's needing new pads due to wear, they should be quite well.
- dukebadboy
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Re: RE: Re: Best braking pads
I switched to Braketech SS cobra rotors a while ago and has been running Ferodo ST pads. I think all in all it works great. The only thing I miss is the aggressive initial bite of EBC double HH pads. But someone told me to avoid EBC pads as they kill the rotors quickly.5150 Pops wrote:Best in what sense?
Feel, power, life, performance per dollar?
Any top line pad from almost any manufacturer is great, comes down to personal preference.
I've used EBC HH FA188, Galfer 1375 and currently Vesrah SRJL-XX, which is a track only pad variant of the RJL-XX.
There are a lot of people who swear by the carbon ceramic varieties, but it really comes down to what YOU are looking for in pads.
I'd replace the OEM rotors at the same time, otherwise you won't really see much improvement.
Either Galfer wave, Brembo HP, Brembo T-Drive, or Braketec rotors. Ebc makes great pads but their rotors, not so much.
I'm just looking at what else is there. Never tried Vesrah pads yet... Don't really care about the life or $$, I guess for ultimate performance on street.
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- 5150 Pops
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Re: RE: Re: Best braking pads
Gotcha...dukebadboy wrote:I switched to Braketech SS cobra rotors a while ago and has been running Ferodo ST pads. I think all in all it works great. The only thing I miss is the aggressive initial bite of EBC double HH pads. But someone told me to avoid EBC pads as they kill the rotors quickly.5150 Pops wrote:Best in what sense?
Feel, power, life, performance per dollar?
Any top line pad from almost any manufacturer is great, comes down to personal preference.
I've used EBC HH FA188, Galfer 1375 and currently Vesrah SRJL-XX, which is a track only pad variant of the RJL-XX.
There are a lot of people who swear by the carbon ceramic varieties, but it really comes down to what YOU are looking for in pads.
I'd replace the OEM rotors at the same time, otherwise you won't really see much improvement.
Either Galfer wave, Brembo HP, Brembo T-Drive, or Braketec rotors. Ebc makes great pads but their rotors, not so much.
I'm just looking at what else is there. Never tried Vesrah pads yet... Don't really care about the life or $$, I guess for ultimate performance on street.
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If u prefer the initial hard bite, you will want a sintered pad in HH, that is specifically NOT a track only pad formula.
The good news is these are always cheaper than the track only pads, which are more linear, and ultimately more powerful, less prone to fade.
Vesrah RJL-XX would be a good choice, or the ebc hh pads.
The Galfer 1375 are in the same price range as the other two, but IMO don't provide the hard initial bite you are wanting, but I do like them as an all around value.
Sintered pads ARE hard on rotors, comes with the territory, but as long as you don't have the rotors (I think they're Brembo Series Oro -cheapo) that came standard, I doubt you'll find yourself shopping for new rotors soon.
I know guys who ride their s1000rr's on trackdays only, with Galfer rotors which are the same width as the 5.0 of stock but they're still going strong, 5 years on with same rotors and simply replacing worn sintered pads.
The Galfer spec rotors for the sd1290r are the same spec, and had I not got a smoking deal on a set of Brembo T-Drive, (5.5mm) I would have bought those, even though they are same 5mm as standard rotors. The material used on the Galfer rotors are obviously superior. S1000rr's also suffer from inferior rotors much like the sd1290r when they are regularly asked for their best, they fail to deliver.
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- 250cc
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Re: RE: Re: Best braking pads
I'll call bollocks to that. I've been using EBC HH pads for the last 22,000km and measured wear is between .03mm - .04mm. With a wear limit of .5mm, that should give me an approximate 275,000km from my rotors.dukebadboy wrote:5150 Pops wrote:But someone told me to avoid EBC pads as they kill the rotors quickly.

- 5150 Pops
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Re: RE: Re: Best braking pads
I wish people would learn how to edit quotes correctly or simply not at all.Joe1290 wrote:I'll call bollocks to that. I've been using EBC HH pads for the last 22,000km and measured wear is between .03mm - .04mm. With a wear limit of .5mm, that should give me an approximate 275,000km from my rotors.dukebadboy wrote:5150 Pops wrote:But someone told me to avoid EBC pads as they kill the rotors quickly.
I did NOT make that assertion.
- 5150 Pops
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Re: RE: Re: Best braking pads
dukebadboy wrote:I switched to Braketech SS cobra rotors a while ago and has been running Ferodo ST pads. I think all in all it works great. The only thing I miss is the aggressive initial bite of EBC double HH pads. But someone told me to avoid EBC pads as they kill the rotors quickly.5150 Pops wrote:Best in what sense?
Feel, power, life, performance per dollar?
Any top line pad from almost any manufacturer is great, comes down to personal preference.
I've used EBC HH FA188, Galfer 1375 and currently Vesrah SRJL-XX, which is a track only pad variant of the RJL-XX.
There are a lot of people who swear by the carbon ceramic varieties, but it really comes down to what YOU are looking for in pads.
I'd replace the OEM rotors at the same time, otherwise you won't really see much improvement.
Either Galfer wave, Brembo HP, Brembo T-Drive, or Braketec rotors. Ebc makes great pads but their rotors, not so much.
I'm just looking at what else is there. Never tried Vesrah pads yet... Don't really care about the life or $$, I guess for ultimate performance on street.
Sent from my MIX using Tapatalk
The only caution, I threw in, was the potential for the OEM non powerparts rotors, could be worn sooner, going with tougher than stock pads.
Last edited by 5150 Pops on Wed Aug 16, 2017 1:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- 250cc
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Re: RE: Re: Best braking pads
True you didn't. My apologies.5150 Pops wrote:I wish people would learn how to edit quotes correctly or simply not at all.
I did NOT make that assertion.
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Re: Best braking pads
My 5 Cents = Unless you're constantly riding super aggressively or doing track days, I'd suggest a semi-metallic (semi-sintered) pad from a brand name like Ferodo or EBC. They might not have the initial 'grab' of a sintered pad, but they do the job and are easier on your rotors and wallet. I'm prob 290lbs geared up and never had any issues stopping with my other bikes. My SD will be getting a set once the stock pads are toast.
- dukebadboy
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Re: Best braking pads
I'm actually only using the bike in the mountains where I tend to ride aggressively, I would say at least 70% of the time.big tall dave wrote:My 5 Cents = Unless you're constantly riding super aggressively or doing track days, I'd suggest a semi-metallic (semi-sintered) pad from a brand name like Ferodo or EBC. They might not have the initial 'grab' of a sintered pad, but they do the job and are easier on your rotors and wallet. I'm prob 290lbs geared up and never had any issues stopping with my other bikes. My SD will be getting a set once the stock pads are toast.
I guess I should just try more brands and see for myself. Earlier people suggested Versah pads, I will try them.
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