Recommended brake pad for 2002 R1150R

[scdixon]

I'm looking to order rear brake pads for my '02 R1150R. I am looking at the beemerboneyard site and see they offer both organic and semi-sintered. Don't know what I currently have on the bike, but they tend to grab hard at low speeds, which I don't like. Any opinions on which pads are preferable, and why, would be appreciated!

 

[20774]

Welcome to the forum! One of the threads below in the Similar Thread pane has some recent comments about pads for an Oilhead.

 

[PGlaves]

I would just get EBC "HH" pads and install them.

 

[bikerfish1100]

I'd do what Paul says. In fact, I have. More than once.

 

[happy wanderer]

I'd do what Paul says. In fact, I have. More than once.

I think the EBC HH sintered pads are somewhat metallic and thus have slightly better wear characteristics and some claim they stop better. The stock pads are organic type material. I have not fact checked this though! Might have it backwards..

The tradeoff is with the rotors. Sintered pads will wear rotors faster and that's why BMW puts the organic ones on new I believe. After having to replace a rear rotor after using sintered pads on my RT I went back to organic. Frankly the stopping power was really not that noticeable and my new rotor shows almost no wear after 5 years.

Should also add that some riders are hard on brakes and some not at all. Older guys like me rode bikes that only had a rear brake way back when and many tend to use the rear as the go to brake even though most of your stopping power is on the front wheel. Over the years I've switched to favouring the front brakes for hard braking. Normal stopping from HWY speeds is to touch the rear wheel brake first and then get on the fronts. Seems to work well for me but when shaving excess speed off when I'm a bit hot getting into a corner I still use the rear. Old habits...