Brake pad advice for the track- race only

[carsick]

I know this is a contentious topic, I'm looking for reviews from someone who has used EBC's GPFA or EPFA, and/or the Carbon Lorraine CL59? My pads are about done, and even though I had no complaints, I would like to try out a full race pad. Mostly interested in initial bite vs. heated up. Bonus points if you can work in mention of oil, tires, guns, politics, or the coming apocalypse.

[jcbell1007]

I always liked my EBC pads. I ran them on the hawk and the SV. They weren't grabby at the first pull but I had a good progressive feel once the lever was in.

I ran street HH compound pads though and never did more than sprint races so that's where my input stops.

[Tricky Mike]

I've run C59s, Vesrah RJLs and SRJL. I liked the C59s quite a bit, but if money were not a factor I'd just run SRJLs. I thought they had an edge in initial bite. Enough to justify the cost? Meh, probably not for a trackday guy like me.

[Rada]

The C59 has been replaced by the C60. I have the C60 on the SV and the SRJL on the Gixxa. They are both very aggressive pads. I would say that the C60 has a touch more initial bite. They are very close. I can one finger brake either pad with good results. I will likely put the C60 on the Gixxa next.

I've never used the EBC so I can't speak to those. I may have to try a set to see what they are all about some time.

Don't be afraid to try some different pads out to find the feel that makes you feel the best.

[timmyho414]

I know you did not ask about any of these pads but...I had DP sintered race pads, super initial bit, they felt like you were digging into your rotors and could stop the world. then ebc HH because they were the only things I could get my hands on and they were no where near as good in any category. I ended up swapping them for SBS dual carbons. Not as much bit, they take one (warm up lap) to work but man are they smooooooooooth and strong. So nice.

[Paul_E_D]

EBCs are an upgrade from stock, but not really in the same league as the other pads mentioned here. They are cooked with like half the pad material still left on them.

I've been running Performance Friction Carbons 07 compound. These pads require warm up, and in fact bite increases as they heat up in the braking zone itself. It's like the opposite of fade. I LOVE it, because the initial bite is smooth on the suspension, then you get all the stopping power you need later in the zone.

[csmutty]

Like paul I also run the performance friction 07 compound. It doesn't have an aggressive initial bite like the srjl which i felt allowed me more control. It all depends what you want out of a pad. Miles carries pf.

[OreoGaborio]

I ran the EBC HH's in my EX... they sucked but I'm pretty sure that's more because it was an EX.
I also ran them in the SV for a seaon... they grabbed smoothly and stopped well, but felt vague... but I'm pretty sure that's more because I had a squishy GSXR master cylinder.
Then I ran the Vesrah RJL's (SRJL's aren't available for SV calipers). They were an improvement... but I also switched to Galfer wave rotors, superbike lines and an Accossato master cylinder. (amaaaazing setup)
Then I switched to the Carbone Lorraine C59's and I think I like those more than the RJL's but I never had a back-to-back comparison.
Looking forward to trying out the C60's this year.





.... oil, tires, guns, politics, the coming apocalypse.

[csmutty]

It's also important to note that the ebc gpfa are nothing like the hh pad. Gpfa is a full race pad.

Also important to note is that you can't run another pad after you run pf pads unless you bead blast your rotors.

[The Snowman]

You have a PM.

[The Snowman]

Like Pete and Gino, I also run the CL60 pads. I was forced to use a different type of pads in round 6 when my CL59 set wore so badly, they couldn't be used and I hadn't purchased a backup set at the time. I will NEVER make that mistake again.

The CL60s are better than the 59s. Like Adam already said, the initial bite is is a little more, but they're confidence-inspiring and not scary.

[carsick]

EBCs are cooked with like half the pad material still left on them.

The street HH's or the EPFA/GPFA/GPFAX?

.... oil, tires, guns, politics, the coming apocalypse.

One point for each topic to Oreo.

Also important to note is that you can't run another pad after you run pf pads unless you bead blast your rotors.

Really? What are they leaving on the rotor?? Are you sure this isn't marketing by PF to keep you using their stuff? I'm curious about the reasoning behind this.

Thanks to everybody who mentioned the brands I had overlooked (Vesrah, PF, DP), now my decision is exponentially more complicated. These are not for SV calipers, '01 R6 and '01 F4i. Please keep up the suggestions and feedback, I like what I'm hearing.

[csmutty]

I think it's because they use a different material? Not quite sure. My friend who used to be a race bike wrench told me that. I googled it quickly and it says that you are supposed to beas blast whenever you switch brake pad materials. Organic to sintered for example.

[Paul_E_D]

Wirelessly posted

A good scuff with Emory paper is good enough for us mortals. Brakes only slow you down anyway

[theducman]

I love my DP pads, great company and people too. If you would like to know more about DP, shoot me a pm. I am sponsored by them.

[Imbeek]

01 f4i?
Da fuq

[carsick]

01 f4i?
Da fuq

Those are the calipers on my SV. No new additions to the stable here.

[Kurlon]

Brake hones are cheap and can be used easily with a battery operated drill...

[Pigman]

Brake hones are cheap and can be used easily with a battery operated drill...

These guys are the Bomb....and probably close to the cost of buying a hone.....


http://www.truedisk.net

[Kurlon]

True, but after I buy one hone, I can repeat the job whenever I want for no additional investment.

[Jim]

Track day - stock if Suzuki/Honda
club racer - Performance Friction, or EBC for contingency.
AMA - Vesrah

[CBR929RE]

get some HRC pads and let me know how they are. I've wanted to try a set but there's a couple compounds for my bike and I'm happy with the SRJLs I've been running.

and the brakes only got a shitton better after getting them back from Truedisk.

[pontifex]

Like Pete and Gino, I also run the CL60 pads. I was forced to use a different type of pads in round 6 when my CL59 set wore so badly, they couldn't be used and I hadn't purchased a backup set at the time. I will NEVER make that mistake again.

The CL60s are better than the 59s. Like Adam already said, the initial bite is is a little more, but they're confidence-inspiring and not scary.

Where are you guys buying these pads? I think I got my CL59s from STG but it looks like they don't carry Carbone Lorraine anymore. I also couldn't find a reference to the CL60 pads on CL's or Spiegler's web sites.

[marshdrummer]

I ran RJL's on my SV...strong initial bite, good stopping power. Then I ran the EPFA's...progressive initial bite, great stopping power. EPFA>RJL. I have CL60's on my R1. Not a fan....no confidence until warm. Even after a full season of trackdays (and weather conditions), I'm not sold. I'll be going back to EPFA's this season.

[soofle616]

Like Mike, I run and am sponsored by DP. Imo they feel exactly like vesrah rjl's (which were on the bike prior so I had same day back to back experience with the two). Unfortunately DP does not offer their race compound for stock SV calipers, only their "sport" HH pads. Pretty sure you've seen what they can do in terms of braking though The only time I've ever had fade issues with the pads was doing back to back races when it was already really hot out. One click of the lever adjustment prior to the second race took care of the extra travel and once things cooled a bit I was able to adjust the lever back to where it was.