rear brake pad question: 1999 VFR

I have a 1999 VFR. A few years ago I upgraded to all stainless Galfer brake lines. Just this past season I put on Galfer wave rotors on the front. There was a "special" at the time and the rotors came with Galfer sintered pads. I prefer EBC pads and run them on my other bikes, but the Galfers on the front are fine. The rear pads now need replacing, and I never liked organic pads as I can't seem to modulate them as well as the sintered pads. Galfer and others recommend organic pads for the rear, but I would prefer to run sintered like on my other bikes. However, due to the linked system, is this going to be a problem? Has anyone run sintered pads on the rear and what is your experience? The wave rotors, stainless lines, and sintered front pads have completely transformed the bike.

 

I can't speak for experience with my bike, but as an automotive technician I recommend that the same pads be installed front and rear to maintain the balance in braking designed in the vehicle. However, cars rely on a proportioning valve to handle front to rear brake bias, not the control of the rider. On many sport oriented bikes, the rear brake is easy to lock due to the short wheelbase design. This would be the reason Galfer recommends organic pads for the rear, as they will have a softer bite. Goes along with the idea of use the rear brake, don't abuse it. Unless you feel like your rear brake is seriously lacking in performance I would stick with an organic or semi metallic pad to keep the rear brake from locking too easily.

 

Well, I just figured I'd give it a try. Put the sinter pads in the back (stock rotor) and they work like a dream. The back wheel does NOT lock-up. Nothing of the sort. It must be an old wives tale or something.

 

I find the rear on mine to be very hard to lock up as well, could be in part due to the linked braking system. My buddies R6 will skid the rear on downshifts like clockwork if your using hardly any rear brake at all.

 

Reason to use the same pads front and rear..

The reason it is wise to use the same pad compound on both ends is that different compounds gather heat differently. They also have different effective temperatures for their best effectiveness. So, in a race situation or really at the limit riding where you are using your brakes right to the max.....if you have a soft quick heating pad set up front and harder at the rear....your braking 'balance' will be changing constantly....When you first go out, your fronts will be working great..your rear...not at all....then when the fronts get too hot, your rears will be working right because they are hot....so you back off to recover your fronts and the rears will lose heat and stop working so well....You will get inconsistent brake feel...because the pads gain and lose heat at different rates.... really quite frustrating...don't ask me how I discovered this...

 

With linked brakes, it is possible to "tune" the effect by differing the compound of the front and rear pads. This can be beneficial.


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With my 4th gen, any moderate amount of rear brake during down shifts will give out little chirps from the rear tire.

(Thats with OE pads)