Brake Pads

I was wondering what brake pads people recommend? and are they compatible with the factory rotors?

Cheers Adam

EBC is a brand that I trust and use. 
Changing brake pads is such an infrequent exercise, unless you are racing, that paying for a quality product over a cheap knock off is a no brainer. 
Sintered metal pads have been recommended to me in the past. They provide a better initial bite than normal "Organic" pads, but some say at the expense of increased wear to the rotors. 
The variety of choice is huge and can be daunting. The best solution is to explain to your favorite and trusted motorbike parts shop, what bike you ride and how you ride it, whether you cruise, commute, track day, race etc and they can recommend the right compound for your bike.  
Don't go cheap and nasty! $70-$80 should get you a front set (two rotors) of quality pads.
Another $40-$50 for the rear. You may save $20-$30 buy buying "Ping Pang" brand but may pay dearly in the long run.

I put EBC Organic in before the Parkes ride. Honestly can't tell the difference from them to the OEMs

I got them from my local dealer, its all he stocks. he doesn't stock Suzuki pads. Read into that as you wish.

If your looking for better braking performance, try sintered pads EBC double HH, though as Bosco said in the long run its going to cost you in Rotors.
The best thing you can do is to change the master cylinder. A few guys on here have gone down that road, if you do a search you can read their story.

I run DP HH+ on my VTR. Stunning power. But yes they will go through rotors.

Don`t get "Sintered" pads if you want them compatible with your rotors.

They WILL kill your rotors, as NZspokes said, and squeal their head off.. In saying that, they work very well.

I've got sintered pads here. Ebc are good units. No squealing from mine. Make sure you clean your rotors with brake cleaner before installing new pads too.

reddog wrote:I've got sintered pads here. Ebc are good units. No squealing from mine. Make sure you clean your rotors with brake cleaner before installing new pads too.

Good tip, that, Reddog.

I have EBC in my red not a Bandit. Fantastic

mtbeerwah wrote:Don`t get "Sintered" pads if you want them compatible with your rotors.

They WILL kill your rotors, as NZspokes said, and squeal their head off.. In saying that, they work very well.

AFAIK the standard pads are sintered HH,

I put the Ferodo HH pads (as sold by Dale Walker) and didn't notice any substantial improvement.

Dekenai wrote:

mtbeerwah wrote:Don`t get "Sintered" pads if you want them compatible with your rotors.

They WILL kill your rotors, as NZspokes said, and squeal their head off.. In saying that, they work very well.

AFAIK the standard pads are sintered HH,

I put the Ferodo HH pads (as sold by Dale Walker) and didn't notice any substantial improvement.

If they are i didn't notice any difference going from the OEM standard pad to EBC organic

I use to use ferodo HH sintered pads , and my discs were stuffed after 50 000kms, but found they worked very well, and squealed to the point of annoyance.

I now use OEM, pads, and I think they`re fantastic.

  But to clarify, the pads I now use, are from the 01-02 GSXR 1000, as my oil cooled, shares the same caliper as it, the busa, and SV.

After doing a bit of research with my local dealer, found they all have a slightly different compound, but are all interchangeable, so opted to try the GIXER pads with new discs 70 000kms ago, and my discs are still very good, and it has a better bite. The down side is OEM pads are expensive, but I`m very happy with the ones I use.

I don`t know if you water boys have the option to choose as I do ?

I have been contemplating, trying Brembo pads, and spoke to a supplier about them, as for the ratios of material used in them, so as not to chew out my discs. Obviously, he`s biased towards his/their product, and was pitching the EBC`s were of poor quality, and had a high level of metallic material, which is what chews your disc, but they do have their name behind it, so I will give them ago. Once again, they're not cheap either, but if they work well, and don`t destroy my disc, I`ll use them.

mtbeerwah wrote:
I don`t know if you water boys have the option to choose as I do ?

Just did a quick check to see if other Suzies used the same brakes and maybe find different OEM pads like mentioned by MT, however it appears only the 650/1250 water Bandits used these calipers:

I had a search for the information on brake master cylinders and there was enough information there to justify the change. I will probably install braided brake lines to start of with and see how that improves the braking.

I had a mate do that on his 1250 with ABS.. He reckons the braided lines made next to no difference and were a bitch to fit. May as well fit a new Master cylinder such as a Brembo RCS

All good guys, my bandit is non abs.