Thoughts? Pads suitable for road riding. I like the bite of Brembos but not the price. CL just as good? And if Brembo SC or SA compound for my Streetfighter?
don't know about like for like compound but no hesitation in recommending Carbon Lorraine. Have used for last 4 or 5 changes on 748/996
EBC HH sintered are good value, provide plenty of bite and don't coat your wheels and calipers in nasty black brake dust. They can be hard on discs though.
CL pads for me every time - XBK5. Used to race on them and they are more than capable. The initial bite feels so much better than Brembo as well. And cheaper! I can recommend SPR Racing as they worked out at £55 for a front set (yes, two packs!) for my monoblocs. SPR Racing Hypermotard S Front brake pad set
Another vote for Carbon Lorraine here, in case you needed more persuading; much prefer them to Brembo.
Figure out which pads you need by pad number and order the equivalent pads from a different bike. I run monoblocs on my 748S, which are the same as the calipers on my Hypermotard, so order the same pads. CL Braking UK Sole Distributor of Carbone Lorraine Brake Pads...Paul Chance +44 (0)7974 153967
For the price I think its got to be a set of CL. They're less than half the price of Brembos. Ordering wise, I'm used to ordering parts for the 1098 SBK when the SF isn't listed. So many of them are the same. Its the same story with the KTM. Bit by bit I'm getting clued up.
It's a really difficult one... I'm probably like most people - buy a set of pads based on some recommendation and keep using em unless I don't like em. There are so many factors that have a subjective preference that it's really difficult to know what someone else expects to feel when they pull the lever. I guess if someone had a bunch of cash to experiment with the thing to do would be to take a few sets to a track day, once they've all been scrubbed in, and try a different set each session - same corners, same day, same bike, same rider etc. I've never done that but I guess it'd be as good a way as any of actually learning what onself thinks of each pad. As far as the answer to your question mate I've no effin idea. Last couple of years I've tried CL SBK pads and thought they were OK yet some people really like em, EBC HH and liked their initial bite better but thought they felt a bit wooden (lacked enough feel for me) when used hard although other people like the feel of em, and got some Brembos in now (would have to check which) but am trying out 4P/4P calipers (the pads came with the used calipers I got) so I can't compare em to the other two as I swapped both the calipers and an m/c to match... I saying it's a personal thing really and depends on what feels 'right' to you. Even cheapo pads will stop your bike, they'll ALL stop your bike whichever ones you get. Also depends on what you're using it for - a track day addict wouldn't mind sacrificing wear for feel etc whereas a dispatch rider would want decent longevity generally, most folks are somewhere in the middle. Edit: BTW the last time I spoke to HPS they were doing some money back if not satisfied with their Brembo pads dunno if that's still going?
Meant to add... For most of us, it's quite a long time between pad changes and we're replacing a worn out set of pads with a new, maybe different brand/compound pad - it's not really a fair comparison.
It amazes me that some make price a part of the buying equation. Brakes (with tyres) are the single most important part of your bike. Choose what works best for you and stick with it.
No harm in asking tho, as a £120 per caliper pads suitable for a track bike are not as suitable as the £50 per caliper ones on a road bike. Cost is no guarantee of suitability
I'd heard good things about Carbone Lorraine and would have been prepared to go for them on recommendation alone. I wasn't looking to save money. It was actually the fact that they were so much cheaper than Brembos that gave me pause and why I posted this thread: to make sure they really were as good as the originals. If they are and I can get the same performance for £50 less I'll take it and spend the £50 on petrol riding the thing.
