This is one of the best descriptions of the various types of brake pads available for motorcycles I've come across, taken from BikeBandit:
"So that brings us to the types of pads there are out there. Basically there are three types of pads out there: Organic, Sintered (also known as metallic), and Ceramic. However, there are also a few Semi-sintered or Semi-metallic pads out there that combine elements of both organic and sintered pads, in order to create a kind of middle ground between the two.
Sintered pads are made of metallic particles (primarily copper) fused together under heat and pressure. They are long lasting and perform well under hard use. Most brake pads, OEM and aftermarket, are sintered. Organic pads, however, also have a huge following, especially among certain riding segments, due to their unique “feel”, which is more progressive. Instead of metallic particles, organic pads use materials like aramid, carbon or Kevlar, bonded with a resin.
Organic and sintered pads both have their benefits and drawbacks. Because organic pads are softer, they have a smoother feel and are not as abrasive to expensive rotors, but they wear much faster. Sintered pads are more abrasive, wear rotors faster, and have more aggressive bite. For most riding styles, however, organic and sintered pads will perform on par with each other (except for track/racing use, where sintered pads dominate.) Overall, which one is the “right” choice will mainly come down to the rider’s preference of braking feel, and longevity.
The middle-ground option is the semi-sintered pad. Just as it sounds, these pads have characteristics of both organic and sintered pads, by adding metallic particles into their organic compound to give them a little more bite. These are a good way to try out a pad with more progressive feel, without jumping all the way over to a full organic pad.
Finally, the newest variation in the world of brake pads is the ceramic pad, which uses ceramic compounds in place of the sintered pad’s full metal compound. This allows them to handle high brake temperatures with less brake fade and to cool more quickly, and they also generate less dust and wear on both pads and rotors. However, they have less “bite” than sintered pads and less stopping power, an effect which is more noticeable in cold temperatures."
BTW, EBC is probably the largest motorcycle brake pad company in the world, and they offer pretty much every type and sub-type known to man. You can't go wrong with their pads. Give them a call if you would like their opinion on what's best for your bike and your riding style.
JMHO - Jerry