Front Brake rotor

[K2-K6]

Constituency seems to encompass copper and iron in "metallic" description pads.

For a rough and ready guide of heat, I find they need to be well into "wet your fingers and touch" making a good healthy sizzle to get anything close to purging anything used to clean them.

If you can smell the pad material, then you're probably there or thereabouts 

[Mikep328]

It was exactly as you indicated!  The Brembo Ceramic pads had less initial bite than the Vesrah pads with the same pressure (lever squeeze) applied to both.  Both pads could howl the tire (just short of lockup) but the Brembo required more pressure to do it.  That being said, the increased lever pressure required was well within my capability to squeeze but I prefer the higher initial bite of the Versahs.  OTOH, the ceramics seem to have a more linear feel, if that makes any sense, and I think they would be a better pad for track or really aggressive riding.  But I think the Vesrahs are better balanced for my 400 and the way I ride.

That being said, I'm not unhappy with the Brembos and am not reinstalling the Vesrahs for our back road 75 mile ride tomorrow.  I'll do it when I get in the mood...or maybe I'll just get used to squeezing a little harder!

One point I should have mentioned earlier - the DSS Rotor had a couple of small burrs that put some serious grooves in the one of the Vesrah pads that were on the bike.  I hadn't noticed the burrs when I installed/cleaned the rotor, but when I saw the pad when changing I carefully felt the rotor surface/found the two burrs on the same side.

I was not pleased to see that but 5 minutes with some 320/400 wet or dry sandpaper took care of it.

[Mikep328]

Did a 50 mile ride to the Cheddar Gorge yesterday; have now decided to put the Vesrah pads back in. 

Somewhat related: I've done 4 pad changes in the last couple of weeks and I can't figure out the purpose of the split pin (cotter pin) in the passive side of the caliper ("Caliper B" in the parts list).  Only thing I can see that it does is hold the pad in place if you turn caliper B face down while installing.  But you don't need to do that to install it.  The pad will stay in position just fine as you fit it against the rotor/bolt it in place.  So why bother with the pin?  Enquiring minds want to know!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Although I've only managed 20 miles on the last  500 ride I did intentionally do a lot of accelerating and firm braking when there was no one following. Without really noticing whilst riding  as I turned into my driveway to a full stop in front of our gates they felt they were more effective.

Might be they just work better when hot or they might be starting to bed in - early days for sure.

[Mikep328]

I'd bet they are breaking in.  Doing the break-in procedure really made an amazing difference on my 400 last year. 

re brake pads...a surprising thing to me is that the same EBC FA 013 brake pad fits the 400, 500, 550, and one of the 750 models - at least according to the EBC  listing.   So the brake assembly was the same on all of them?  I would think the heavier bikes would have had "bigger" brakes. 

[Bryanj]

750 has bigger diameter rotor, all others are same

[Mikep328]

Couldn't resist - bought another set of pads to try...EBC organic.  Wife thinks I'm crazy and since she's always right, I guess I am.

[Bryanj]

Never ever argue with the boss, i am sat in a premier inn in esher whilst my boss is on a day course at Royal College of Needlework Hampton Court Pallace and cant even tour the palace as it is closed for a "private function"   Somebody got a lot to spare!!!!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

The only issue I see here is just how reliable is this brake pad testing without the use of an Mot car style brake test machine or a more reliable way of testing other than the feel at the lever ( pulling force) and perceived deceleration rate.

I guess that's a long winded way of saying it's subjective if you know what pads have been fitted - would a blind test be more accurate? What deposits on the disc surface remain just after changing pads affecting the next test?

Still very interesting to read so keep posting. I'm sticking with my Brembro Carbon Ceramics unless I catch the bug you have. 

How about getting your Missus to mark the rear of the brake pads with a random letter then when your fitting the pads into the caliper she slots them in. You could even fit the same pads twice then draw a graph with the data based on the pad letter - then when you have decided on the winner the Missus reveals the identity of the winning letter!

I'll get my coat..................

[K2-K6]

Never ever argue with the boss, i am sat in a premier inn in esher whilst my boss is on a day course at Royal College of Needlework Hampton Court Pallace and cant even tour the palace as it is closed for a "private function"   Somebody got a lot to spare!!!!

Just around the corner from my location  its quite a good walk along the river over there from Hampton Court with a fair amount going on  and nice stretch of the river.

Bikes though, Newlands corner or Box Hill are within 20 miles of Esher. I'm not out and about today else we could have had a SOHC committee meeting at Newlands