(nxr)(nklr)(nxrl) vote for my kid in the cycle gear photo contest!

[Jud]

My local accessory house stocks EBC, so that's what I use. I am always shocked at the price, but it's nowhere $40/wheel. I have tried Galfers. On the one hand, the don't stop very well. On the other, they don't last very long. But they do cost a lot. I was not impressed. They are the Metzeler tire of brake pads.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "david.r.nichols@..." wrote: > > I'd like suggestions for the best brake pads for my 1997 KLR650. I have seen them for as low as $6 on Ebay for nameless pads and as high as $40 for Galfer pads (per wheel prices). My questions are: Are the cheap Ebay ones really bad? What's the best value pad? >

[RobertWichert]

Everybody says that OEM brakes are too expensive. What's up with that? They came with the bike, people! All the testing in all the magazines was done with stock brakes. Less is less. I agree with Fred. I would pay MORE for BETTER BRAKES that's for sure. But even Galfer seems to be "value oriented" and not any better than stock. Fred, if I wanted to pay MORE to get better performance, what should I buy? Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 1/5/2012 7:45 AM, Fred Hink wrote: > > What s your neck worth? I tend to believe that money saved on cheap > brakes is money wasted. I m sure the cheap brakepads will stop you but > heck so will your feet. It s the last 5 ft. of stopping distance that > is most critical. Good brakes could save your life. > > Fred > http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > From: david.r.nichols@... > > Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 7:04 AM > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? > > I'd like suggestions for the best brake pads for my 1997 KLR650. I > have seen them for as low as $6 on Ebay for nameless pads and as high > as $40 for Galfer pads (per wheel prices). My questions are: Are the > cheap Ebay ones really bad? What's the best value pad? > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Fred Hink]

The OEM brakes are more expensive just because of supply and demand. They are good brakes and because Kawasaki sells less of those than say EBC does, that could cause the price to be higher. Lots of reasons why OEM parts costs more than aftermarket parts. There are many options for aftermarket brakepads. I believe Galfer makes some good pads and gives you a choice on the brakepad material to use. The Galfer black compound tends to be softer and works better on the rear brake where you don t need the stopping power. The green compound stops better and is recommended for the front brakes. Of course you could put black compound on the front and green on the rear, it is all up to what you want. Dunlopad makes two different brakepads as well. The standard brakepads are GG rated like the OEM and is a fine OEM replacement. The Dunlopad MX series is an HH rated brakepad and will stop better and resist heat fading better than the GG rated or OEM brakepads. They may require more heat for them to work properly but once they are warmed up should stop better. I like EBC brakepads since they make a good brakepad that fits the caliper like the OEM and also gives you a choice between R compound (long life) or the X compound (better stopping/shorter life). So if you want the best stopping power, I d go with the Dunlopad MX. If you want a good brakepad with a long life, I d choose the EBC R pads. But just like picking tires, there is no perfect tire or brakepad for all situations..... Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: RobertWichert Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 9:26 AM To: Fred Hink Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com ; david.r.nichols@... Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? Everybody says that OEM brakes are too expensive. What's up with that? They came with the bike, people! All the testing in all the magazines was done with stock brakes. Less is less. I agree with Fred. I would pay MORE for BETTER BRAKES that's for sure. But even Galfer seems to be "value oriented" and not any better than stock. Fred, if I wanted to pay MORE to get better performance, what should I buy? Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 1/5/2012 7:45 AM, Fred Hink wrote: What s your neck worth? I tend to believe that money saved on cheap brakes is money wasted. I m sure the cheap brakepads will stop you but heck so will your feet. It s the last 5 ft. of stopping distance that is most critical. Good brakes could save your life. Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: mailto:david.r.nichols%40sbcglobal.net Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 7:04 AM To: mailto:DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? I'd like suggestions for the best brake pads for my 1997 KLR650. I have seen them for as low as $6 on Ebay for nameless pads and as high as $40 for Galfer pads (per wheel prices). My questions are: Are the cheap Ebay ones really bad? What's the best value pad? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeffrey]

On the pre-08 KLRs, expensive brake pads are just to try and compensate for small swept braking area and single piston calipers. EBC and Galfer and some others make so many different grade/composition pads, you can surely find decent cheap aftermarket pads for even your pre08 KLR. Once I upgraded with the oversized front rotor kit, I found that I can run any decent generic (usually) sintered pad. I bought a shitload of cheap generics that I like...ended up costing me about 13 dollars per axle. Soft generic pads are esp. fine with me now because I upgraded even more: EBC front countour oversized rotor SS front brake line Galfer rear wave rotor. The soft pads are easy on the rotors. Watch out though...SOME OF THE OFF BRANDS HAVE VERY LITTLE MEAT TO START WITH AND WON'T LAST LONG. j#3

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

In my experience, any sintered pad will do. I generally use DP or SBS. Mark

[RobertWichert]

Thanks Fred, Since I only use my rear brakes on loose surfaces, I only need "smooth" not strong for the rear brakes. Grabby brakes are bad for loose surfaces. The OEM brakes are fine for that. Since most of my "gotta stop NOW" is from just riding, not racing, I don't want something that "needs to heat up" to work good, because it won't be hot when I need it. I would like something that fades less on a long downhill or a series of corners, but again, I'm not racing. I rarely feel my front fade at all - usually on twisty roads. So I use OEM brake pads. If I could get something that costs MORE but fades less and DOESN'T need to heat up to work good, I'd buy it for the fronts. Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 1/5/2012 8:51 AM, Fred Hink wrote: > The OEM brakes are more expensive just because of supply and demand. > They are good brakes and because Kawasaki sells less of those than say > EBC does, that could cause the price to be higher. Lots of reasons > why OEM parts costs more than aftermarket parts. There are many > options for aftermarket brakepads. I believe Galfer makes some good > pads and gives you a choice on the brakepad material to use. The > Galfer black compound tends to be softer and works better on the rear > brake where you don t need the stopping power. The green compound > stops better and is recommended for the front brakes. Of course you > could put black compound on the front and green on the rear, it is all > up to what you want. > Dunlopad makes two different brakepads as well. The standard > brakepads are GG rated like the OEM and is a fine OEM replacement. > The Dunlopad MX series is an HH rated brakepad and will stop better > and resist heat fading better than the GG rated or OEM brakepads. > They may require more heat for them to work properly but once they are > warmed up should stop better. > I like EBC brakepads since they make a good brakepad that fits the > caliper like the OEM and also gives you a choice between R compound > (long life) or the X compound (better stopping/shorter life). > So if you want the best stopping power, I d go with the Dunlopad MX. > If you want a good brakepad with a long life, I d choose the EBC R > pads. But just like picking tires, there is no perfect tire or > brakepad for all situations..... > Fred > http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > > *From:* RobertWichert > *Sent:* Thursday, January 05, 2012 9:26 AM > *To:* Fred Hink > *Cc:* DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> ; > david.r.nichols@... > *Subject:* Re: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? > Everybody says that OEM brakes are too expensive. What's up with > that? They came with the bike, people! All the testing in all the > magazines was done with stock brakes. Less is less. I agree with Fred. > > I would pay MORE for BETTER BRAKES that's for sure. But even Galfer > seems to be "value oriented" and not any better than stock. > > Fred, if I wanted to pay MORE to get better performance, what should I > buy? > > > > Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP > +1 916 966 9060 > FAX +1 916 966 9068 > > > > > > > > =============================================== > > On 1/5/2012 7:45 AM, Fred Hink wrote: >> >> What s your neck worth? I tend to believe that money saved on cheap >> brakes is money wasted. I m sure the cheap brakepads will stop you >> but heck so will your feet. It s the last 5 ft. of stopping distance >> that is most critical. Good brakes could save your life. >> >> Fred >> http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com >> >> From: mailto:david.r.nichols%40sbcglobal.net >> Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 7:04 AM >> To: mailto:DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com >> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? >> >> I'd like suggestions for the best brake pads for my 1997 KLR650. I >> have seen them for as low as $6 on Ebay for nameless pads and as high >> as $40 for Galfer pads (per wheel prices). My questions are: Are the >> cheap Ebay ones really bad? What's the best value pad? >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[David Nichols]

Thanks Fred, your analysis is just what I was looking for. I'm thinking of buying the EBC R compound. ________________________________ From: Fred Hink To: RobertWichert Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com; david.r.nichols@... Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2012 10:51 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? The OEM brakes are more expensive just because of supply and demand. They are good brakes and because Kawasaki sells less of those than say EBC does, that could cause the price to be higher. Lots of reasons why OEM parts costs more than aftermarket parts. There are many options for aftermarket brakepads. I believe Galfer makes some good pads and gives you a choice on the brakepad material to use. The Galfer black compound tends to be softer and works better on the rear brake where you don t need the stopping power. The green compound stops better and is recommended for the front brakes. Of course you could put black compound on the front and green on the rear, it is all up to what you want. Dunlopad makes two different brakepads as well. The standard brakepads are GG rated like the OEM and is a fine OEM replacement. The Dunlopad MX series is an HH rated brakepad and will stop better and resist heat fading better than the GG rated or OEM brakepads. They may require more heat for them to work properly but once they are warmed up should stop better. I like EBC brakepads since they make a good brakepad that fits the caliper like the OEM and also gives you a choice between R compound (long life) or the X compound (better stopping/shorter life). So if you want the best stopping power, I d go with the Dunlopad MX. If you want a good brakepad with a long life, I d choose the EBC R pads. But just like picking tires, there is no perfect tire or brakepad for all situations..... Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: RobertWichert Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 9:26 AM To: Fred Hink Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com ; david.r.nichols@... Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? Everybody says that OEM brakes are too expensive. What's up with that? They came with the bike, people! All the testing in all the magazines was done with stock brakes. Less is less. I agree with Fred. I would pay MORE for BETTER BRAKES that's for sure. But even Galfer seems to be "value oriented" and not any better than stock. Fred, if I wanted to pay MORE to get better performance, what should I buy? Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 1/5/2012 7:45 AM, Fred Hink wrote: >What s your neck worth? I tend to believe that money saved on cheap brakes is money wasted. I m sure the cheap brakepads will stop you but heck so will your feet. It s the last 5 ft. of stopping distance that is most critical. Good brakes could save your life. > >Fred >http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > >From: mailto:david.r.nichols%40sbcglobal.net >Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 7:04 AM >To: mailto:DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? > >I'd like suggestions for the best brake pads for my 1997 KLR650. I have seen them for as low as $6 on Ebay for nameless pads and as high as $40 for Galfer pads (per wheel prices). My questions are: Are the cheap Ebay ones really bad? What's the best value pad? > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[David Nichols]

Fred, While we are talking brakes, how much brake fluid should I buy to completely replace all the brake fluid on my 1997 KLR650? -David ________________________________ From: Fred Hink To: RobertWichert Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com; david.r.nichols@... Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2012 10:51 AM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? The OEM brakes are more expensive just because of supply and demand. They are good brakes and because Kawasaki sells less of those than say EBC does, that could cause the price to be higher. Lots of reasons why OEM parts costs more than aftermarket parts. There are many options for aftermarket brakepads. I believe Galfer makes some good pads and gives you a choice on the brakepad material to use. The Galfer black compound tends to be softer and works better on the rear brake where you don t need the stopping power. The green compound stops better and is recommended for the front brakes. Of course you could put black compound on the front and green on the rear, it is all up to what you want. Dunlopad makes two different brakepads as well. The standard brakepads are GG rated like the OEM and is a fine OEM replacement. The Dunlopad MX series is an HH rated brakepad and will stop better and resist heat fading better than the GG rated or OEM brakepads. They may require more heat for them to work properly but once they are warmed up should stop better. I like EBC brakepads since they make a good brakepad that fits the caliper like the OEM and also gives you a choice between R compound (long life) or the X compound (better stopping/shorter life). So if you want the best stopping power, I d go with the Dunlopad MX. If you want a good brakepad with a long life, I d choose the EBC R pads. But just like picking tires, there is no perfect tire or brakepad for all situations..... Fred http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com From: RobertWichert Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 9:26 AM To: Fred Hink Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com ; david.r.nichols@... Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? Everybody says that OEM brakes are too expensive. What's up with that? They came with the bike, people! All the testing in all the magazines was done with stock brakes. Less is less. I agree with Fred. I would pay MORE for BETTER BRAKES that's for sure. But even Galfer seems to be "value oriented" and not any better than stock. Fred, if I wanted to pay MORE to get better performance, what should I buy? Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 1/5/2012 7:45 AM, Fred Hink wrote: >What s your neck worth? I tend to believe that money saved on cheap brakes is money wasted. I m sure the cheap brakepads will stop you but heck so will your feet. It s the last 5 ft. of stopping distance that is most critical. Good brakes could save your life. > >Fred >http://www.arrowheadmotorsports.com > >From: mailto:david.r.nichols%40sbcglobal.net >Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2012 7:04 AM >To: mailto:DSN_KLR650%40yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? > >I'd like suggestions for the best brake pads for my 1997 KLR650. I have seen them for as low as $6 on Ebay for nameless pads and as high as $40 for Galfer pads (per wheel prices). My questions are: Are the cheap Ebay ones really bad? What's the best value pad? > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeffrey]

A pint...the reservoirs are small. Get a quart if you are changing types/flushing ie moving up to synthetic. Though Dot 4 conventional is fine and rec'd. I would get a quart just so you can have it around to bleed/flush the brakes again within 2 years. Re: [DSN_KLR650] Brake pads? Fred, While we are talking brakes, how much brake fluid should I buy to completely replace all the brake fluid on my 1997 KLR650? -David

[Eric J Foster]

Howdy all, gloves are off in the Cycle Gear off-road photo contest on FaceBook. The attached photo is also in their off-road contest album. PLEASE go there and vote for it. You will have to "Like" the Cycle Gear site, then go to the photo posted by Angie Foster and "Like" that also. The first link is their FB page, the second MAY take you right to the album. http://www.facebook.com/cyclegear http://www.facebook.com/cyclegear#!/media/set/?set=a.10150460104961301.364554.10010181300&type=1 Austin and I thank you! E [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]