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[CTcvorider]

I've worn out my front pads with just under 20K miles.  The rears are still okay, but I'm primarily a 'front braker' and normally only use the rears lightly for stops and parking lot speed maneuvers.  Slowing for corners is all fronts.

At any rate, I'm curious as to what the 'normal' life expectancy is for brake pads on the touring bikes.

I know that riding style and conditions affect pad life, but any feedback/ideas appreciated. I'm using Original Equipment pads - I expect that Lyndalls et. al. might have higher life expectancies.

[DESERTBEAR54]

20k on front brakes is pretty good because if you even touch your rear ones at all they will wear out immediately!! I rarely ever use my rear brakes and it is sooo easy to change front pads out.

[ultrafxr]

It will vary quite a bit depending on the style of riding you do.  Lots of agressive riding in the twisties (and I do enjoy that when I can ride there) will certainly contribute to faster wear than long distances on the highway (preferably not the interstate but sometimes have to do that).  Just changed out my front pads when I replaced the front tire - had 58k on the oem pads and still had some wear if I'd wanted to push it.  Changed out the rear to Lyndall pads at about 20k just because I like them better and they are still good.

I always use both brakes - more in the front because that is what stops you when you need to haul it down quickly. 

[Boatman]

You guys ride fast enough to actually use brakes and not drag your feet?           

[CTcvorider]

I should have added that I tend to ride pretty aggressively about 40% of the time, so I'm on the front brakes a lot in those occasions.  I just returned from a 6-day 2400 mile trip through NC, TN, VA where I did the Dragon, Hellbender28, BRP, Skyline Drive, and a bunch of other twisty roads.  I think I took a lot out of the front pads in four days of hard riding.

[grc]

I've worn out my front pads with just under 20K miles.  The rears are still okay, but I'm primarily a 'front braker' and normally only use the rears lightly for stops and parking lot speed maneuvers.  Slowing for corners is all fronts.

At any rate, I'm curious as to what the 'normal' life expectancy is for brake pads on the touring bikes.

I know that riding style and conditions affect pad life, but any feedback/ideas appreciated. I'm using Original Equipment pads - I expect that Lyndalls et. al. might have higher life expectancies.

Actually the Lyndall's don't claim to have any advantage over the stock pads in terms of longevity.  They are much better in terms of brake feel and linearity as well as noise, and they don't produce all that black dust that Harley pads tend to leave all over your wheels.  I think I remember reading on the sheet that came with the Lyndall's that they figured about 18k miles would be the average life of the pads; as everyone has noted it can vary widely depending on how you ride.  If you do a lot of highway cruising, the brakes last a very long time.  Do a lot of stop and go, or screaming up and down mountains, and you might need to replace pads yearly.  Nice thing about disc brakes, it's really easy to check the pads every time you wash the bike or check your air pressure, and changing the fronts on a Harley is a piece of cake.

One other thing about the Lyndall Z pads, they are very rotor friendly.


Jerry

[ultrafxr]

While we are on the subject of easy to replace the front pads have any of you been successful in removing the caliper with the wheel still on the bike?  I simply could not finagle the darn thing enough to get it clear hence I did the pad change when I had the front wheel off for a new tire.

[DESERTBEAR54]

Ultrafxr, That has always been an issue even on my 08 SEUC but if you just keep working it and hold your mouth just a certain way it finally slips off. Very close tolerance but it will come off. It comes off easier if your pads are almost worn out.

[grc]

Ultrafxr, That has always been an issue even on my 08 SEUC but if you just keep working it and hold your mouth just a certain way it finally slips off. Very close tolerance but it will come off. It comes off easier if your pads are almost worn out.

Are you saying the pads are causing a problem getting the caliper off?  If that's what's hanging things up, just press the pads and pistons back into the caliper a bit.  I use a 1" thin putty knife.


Jerry

[DESERTBEAR54]

Good Point GRC!!! Ditto on that!!

[skreminegul07]

Put masking tape or duct tape on the fender for protection because it gets real close.  Spreading the pads gives you that last little bit to enable the calipers to pivot .