StereoHead wrote:... brakes are pretty important to me...
Why?????..............................they only slow you down...think how much faster you can go if you didn't use them!
Sorry, I don't know the answer to your question...I've gotta get some too so I'm interested to see what people here say.
Just by way of comment on brake pads...just to see what the status quo is like with bikes.....I used to buy race brake pads for my race car ($1600 set...they were Pagids to fit Brembo's)(i have one pair for sale btw...lol...if anyone is interested in a set of rear brembos (same as fitted to V8 supercars)..$1200 for the pair). The method used in the selection was temperature range (what temperature the disc got to when used) and type of racing (i.e. sprint 10 or 15 laps or endurance etc).
Basically, you either ran a pyrometer with a data logger to read disc temperatures or you used paint on the disc that changed colour when a temperature was reached. This gave you temperature range. BTW temperatures were affected by the type of track. Any circuit with long straights and high speeds and big braking into a slow corners generated huge temperatures eg Eastern Creek, Calder, Bathurst, Sandown. Other tracks generated high temps (Braking on the straights but not the same peak temps like the others do) but maintained temps around the track and didn't allow much cooling because of constant use eg Winton, Wakefield Park etc.
As far as compounds, selection was based on how long you had to make them last which then affected the coeffecient of friction (Mu). Mu (pronounced muooo) is the unit of measure of the coefficient of friction. Basically like tyres, the harder you get the longer it lasts but the less the Mu is and the less bite and ultimate braking power i.e. you have to brake earlier cause you won't stop.
So when you bought racing Pagids you selected them by choosing temperature range and Mu. This way you are sure to get the best brake performance. What is most interesting is Mu range...that is what the coefficient of friction is like when the pad is cold as to when its hot. If the pad has a bad Mu when cold the thing won't work but when it gets hot (or into it's operating temp range) it might throw you over the handle bars. Pretty crap sort of pad that would be but it would be rare to find something like that!
It is a waste of time (and money) to buy a set of race pads if you can't get them up to temp (like use them on the road unless you happen to be braking from 260km/h into roud abouts or something)......or on the other hand ...if you get a set that you overheat...
anyway, I think I've said enough...Neka will see this and tell me that I'm a wanker again and stop being sceintist or something and tell me to "just ride the friggin bike". I apologise in advance.
I live with fear everyday but on weekends she lets me ride.