Safety note: To remove/fit motorcycle brake pads and to bleed/refill the hydraulics free of air requires technical know-how at professional level - GetGeared recommends that motorcycle brake pads are only exchanged by a competent mechanic!

THE BASICS ABOUT MOTORCYCLE BRAKE PADS

Motion into heat: A motorcycle stops by the brake system converting the kinetic energy (force of motion) of the vehicle through the brake disc to heat. The faster the heat build-up and the faster the cooling properties of the brake disc, the more efficient the brake system. And in real life, this has to work predictably across a whole range of situations including tapping the brakes lightly to descending the long road down from a mountain pass.

Speed matters: The kinetic energy, or heat generated, grows exponentially as speed increases. If you double your speed, the kinetic energy set free quadruples!

The key criteria for choosing motorcycle brake pads:

• Continued and controlled friction performance along the thermal continuum from cold to very hot and across different riding conditions from dry to wet
• Stability under high pressure conditions and good bonding of the friction compound onto the backing plate
• A thermal barrier between pad and hydraulics, preferably a ceramics underlayer
• A good life span under normal usage while delivering continuous friction when required
• Fine and evenly distributed metal particles for sinter or sintered pads