Re: Brake pads (cost, performance & rotor wear

Thanks Ron. No disrepect taken. You make good points as usual. While I have practiced some as well, I fear that in a real crisis, I might not have the composure needed to adhere to good technique.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

Vic


Land Rocket wrote:


On 10/22/06, vic5491@xxxxxx wrote: I need to install new brake pads and wanted to tap the WOTL on this. I have searched and read the archives but am still not clear on what would be best for me. The OEM pads seem fine in terms of braking power and feel to me but are a bit pricey IMO and I am sort of surprised the rears are virtually gone in slightly less than 17K miles. However, going to something like the EBC HH+ pads that have more braking power could actually be a liability for me in a panic situation where I might well grab too much brake with the stickier pads.

[Vic, with no disrespect, one shouldn't be in a 'panic situation'. If you're reluctant to put high performance pads on your bike for the reason indicated, perhaps you might want to do a whole bunch of "emergency stop" practicing. After reading Lee Parks (I think it was his book) I did a bunch of practicing with the EBC-HH's.
I even managed to get the opportunity to "hear" the front wheel "talking to me" via a "howling sound" made just before the front wheel stops or skids.
With much practice, I've even been able to do stoppies! NO this is not the thing to be practicing. I even goofed once and had to "let her down real gently" so as not to cause any scratching while being a wise guy.
The point is to not find one's self in a position of a panic situation.
I can only speak for myself, but all the practicing I've done has paid off so many times I've lost count. Knowing what your bike is capable of doing under "very heavy braking" is extremely important information.
For me, like the book said, first you squeeze just enough to load the front end and get a bunch of traction, then you continue a quick but smooooooth squeez-even-more! You'll be surprised at how much quicker you can stop if you need or want to.

One rider's opinion with a cash value of <$0.02.

Cheers,

Ron
LandRocket]

I also want to be kind to my rotors since Honda thinks so highly of them$.

[Have been using EBC-HH's front and rear for the last 30,000 miles and the only reason I ever had to change a rotor is because I messed it up during a tire change.]


So, what is the best balance when price, performance and rotor wear is balanced? Any recommendations on where to buy pads would also be appreciated.

Cheers,
Vic



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--
Ron - Southern NH - USA
2001 Interceptor VFR800Fi1 "Land Rocket" (tm)
(aka) "Rural Assault Vehicle" (tm)



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Vic typed in part: < While I have practiced some as well, I fear that in a real crisis, I might not have the composure needed to adhere to good technique.>

This is why, when you learn to fly, you deliberately practice stalls until recovery is an automatic response. So in a real crisis you react instead of having to think about it. And hopefully recognize the symptoms early enough to keep the stall from happening at all.

Track days are a great way to repeatedly practice hard braking. I know that practice saved my butt once for sure, when a lady ran a red light right in front of me. I immediately went to full track braking - instinct, didn't have to think about it. Unfortunately, the street generally doesn't have the traction a track has. Even so, I recognized the feedback of a front wheel locking, was able to let off the brakes, get the front end back, then go beck to hard braking. Missed her back bumper by less than a foot. It was a completely instinctive response - I was reacting, not thinking about it. Plus, with the track riding, a little front end slide didn't make me panic.

Unfortunately, now that I have a track bike, I don't practice hard braking on the VFR like I should. Fortunately, the VFR has better brakes - much more linear braking force with much better feedback.

Steve S
'00 VFR800
'94 600F2

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