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Brakes can be a problem area on older bikes , but they can often be sorted with the right pads . Transform your riding experience with a little know-how .
Words : Mel Falconer Photos : Ben Wilkins
What makes a good brake system ? Well maintained OE calipers ( where the pistons move freely ), using correct pads for the fitted discs and steel brake lines are the first step . AP Racing ’ s Ray Bailey , who first introduced carbon brakes in GP500 into Kenny Robert ’ s Lucky Strike Yamaha team over 30 years ago , once told us caliper stiffness is key . “ The stiffer a caliper is , the better it is as it improves overall stopping power and feel at the lever . Hot calipers move around more and under heavy braking conditions , less rigid calipers can produce unpredictable braking performance and less lever feel .” Good brake pads produce constant , even performance over a wide temperature range and varying weather conditions , last well with little performance tail-off , and feel stable under heavy braking .
What are the main road pad types ? Organic : Modern organic pads normally contain aramid fibre compounds ( to bind the pad together ), rubber and fillers . Older organic pads used to contain asbestos fibres as binder , but aren ’ t used now due to obvious health issues . They work well at low temperatures , not so well at very high temperatures as they can wear and fade . They have a longer bed-in time than sintered and can be prone to glazing when overheated . Sintered : These pads have a very high sintered metal content with not much binder . Plus points include a short bed-in time , quicker heat-up time , higher running temperature , longevity , less tendency to fade under heavy braking and a defined bite point .
How are pads made ? Organic : These mix the aramid fibre compounds , rubber , mineral filler materials and resins together . The resins act like a thermo-set plastic , holding everything together and creating a high-strength bond between the material and backplate , via vulcanisation ( a chemical process that cross-links the different
62 KIWI RIDER