What's the difference between the Z pad and the Gold pad? Which should a guy get?
Both versions are a carbon/Kevlar material which is easy on rotors and much cleaner and less noisy than the stock pads. Lyndall's website makes a case for the different versions, basically if you're running stock tires and chassis they recommend the Z pad, and if you've upgraded tires and suspension and tend to ride aggressively they recommend the G pad.
My personal recommendation for normal riding on a Harley would be the Z pad, and that's what I use. They are very easy on the rotors, very quiet, produce hardly any dust compared to the stock pads, and they have a nice linear feel that makes modulating the brakes much easier than with stock pads. This is something I found to be very important on my non-ABS bike, maybe folks with ABS won't think it's as important. The G pads are a little closer to their racing formula, and tend to have a little higher maximum braking capability. Like any "racing" product, there are tradeoffs. Face it, if there were no tradeoffs then they wouldn't sell the Z version. Other folks have reported that the G doesn't work as well cold, and I remember one person stating they were a little noisier than the Z.
Hopefully some of the guys who tried the Gold pads in the past will chime in. I know some didn't like them and went back to the Z version, but I'm also sure some will recommend them. Try giving the guys at Lyndall a call and ask them for their honest opinion based on your bike and riding style. They seem like some straight shooters.
Santa Ana, CA 800-400-9490
Jerry