jscobey

i hope this isnt like asking "which tires should i run" or "which oil is the best" but im wondering what pads you run or what you recommend. so many different types, carbon, ceramic, sintered, organic, semi-metallic etc...

So whats the best way to go? im looking for stopping power, not so much longevity. although i dont need full race pads or anything. just something that will preform well in the canyons and provide ample bite for future track days?

also im doing my first track day this sunday at buttonwillow and one thing i wanted to ask was what tire pressure should i run? again i know this is a huge matter of a opinion but im talking ballpark. ive been experimenting buy raising and lowering it a psi or two before canyon rides to see whats comfortable but im not sure about the track. id rather have your opinions as you guys know the bike and what works well. im 150lbs so maybe 170? with all my gear and i just slapped on a set of Q3's for the track.

im thinking of paying to have my suspension setup for the day trackside as its only $40 by dave moss tuning and they adjust and readjust all day. i know a little but not enough to get eveything dialed in for optimum performance.

also welcome is any other advise, stories, sarcasm, and tips for the trackday this sunday

mikstr

Your current caliper set-up will surely have an effect on your pad options. Vesrah RJL work well and are reasonably affordable. The SRJLs are better yet but more expensive. If they offer them for your calipers, I would suggest you give Zcoo pads a go.... incredible power, very easy to modulate...best I have tried so far (and that includes the famous HRC hard bites). The newest EBC (not the run-of-the-mill HH) track pads are getting good reviews too....

jscobey

also i read in a thread its bad to have your headlight unplugged because its really hard on our R/R's. is this true? id rather have some tape glue cooked on then a fried R/R...

superbeater

I've done a couple track days. 2001 US spec 26K on bike. I always disconnect all lights. Hasn't bothered the R/R.
I was advised to run 32psi at both ends. Your tires get a lot hotter on the track due to the speed being higher.
Don't look at your speedometer and don't race anyone. Just ride your bike.

nnjhawk02

Vesrah are the way to go on the track - so I'm told. And its always good to get the suspenders dialed in. And with your weight the stock suspension should work fine.

jscobey

I have an RC51 front end and and ohlins rear shock

mikstr

Assuming you have RC calipers, Vesrah RJL are probably the cheapest decent pads you can get...... (work well on the street too, plus they wear well and are not hard on rotors). If you want the best though.... Zcoo.........

jscobey

I couldn't even find anywhere that sells Zcoo pads. I could only find people talking about them on forums when I searched google

mikstr

I got mine from a chap named simonkobe on the Speedzilla forum (same chap who sourced my HRC ignition box; very reputable seller and great guy), or you can find them on eBay..... well worth the effort.....

I don't think anyone sells them here in North America, which is a real shame as they are the cat's meow......

mikstr

Here you go:
Set Completo 2 Coppie Pastiglie Freno Zcoo N004 Honda CBR900 1998 2003 SP1 SP2 | eBay

thedeatons

$$154!!!!!

SkokieVTR told me about a set of pads he uses that he really likes. Maybe he will chime in.

James

mikstr

The best costs money...... FWIW, they are priced the same as Vesrah SRJLs...... not to mention they will outlast cheaper pads.....

if it's too rich for your blood, try Vesrah RJLs (about half the price) or go to eBay and have your pick among the thousands of cheap pads.....

I like to think my life is worth the extra money, but to each his own....... you could also take up chess, a much less expensive hobby.......

thedeatons

LOL... Stock pads cost $33 per pair, and those work just fine, especially considering the OP said he didn't need full on race pads.

What is the activating temperate of those $150 pads? Are they safer on the street than OEM pads?

Honda places a lot of emphasis on good brakes for one reason - Liability. Are the OEMs the best? No, but they certainly work fine, and magazines consistently rate OEM pads as one of the better values, and in reviews they are often hard to beat.

In all my years of riding I have tried quite a few different pads, and most pads don't work as well as OEM for a good, all around, occasional track day pad.

Now consider you can save $90 by going OEM, that will just about pay for a new tire, or tune up, or fork seals, or a rear shock rebuild....

Money is precious to me (simply because I don't have a lot of it), so I don't typically throw it around on any random thing, without some actual test results, and a weighing of the cost. -In fact, in the grand scheme of things for $154 I could buy new OEM pads, and use the extra money to take my family out to dinner... So, I guess it's all perspective....

Didn't mean to rant, but as Americans there are times when we simply throw a lot of money around on crazy stuff... Myself included.


James

mikstr

There are many good pads for reasonable money (the Vesrah RJL being a stalwart option according to many, many riders) , but when you want the best, you pay the price. As for the Zcoo pads, they work when cold, in the wet, they are stunningly strong yet have a soft touch and are easy to modulate. I decided to take the plunge after trying other high-end pads and reading that these were in a league of their own. So far, the critics seem to be right. I can truly say they have no weaknesses of any kind (none that I have come across yet anyhow). Expensive, yes, but they are said to last forever and be easy on rotors. I never thought that pads could work this well, now I know they can.

FWIW, I have tried: OEM Honda, EBC HH, Vesrah RJL, Vesrah SRJL, HRC hard bite and Carbone Lorraine CL-60 to date. In terms of value, the RJLs are hard to beat, but for overall performance, I would rank the Zcoo, HRC and SRJL.

thedeatons

Good review! You've tried a lot of pads!

Any idea of a cost breakdown on all those pads (or at least the ones you recommended)?

James

ChipWheel

Ordered a 2 sets of Vesrah VD-154/2 JL's (front) and VD-163 JL (rear) for 1999 Superhawk stock calipers. KurvyGirl does not carry the fronts and was out of stock on the rears, but was helpful in confirming part numbers. Found them at repairmanual.com for under $30/set and the Haynes Manual for $32.

Anyone compare the JLs to the RJLs?

red02vtr

Second this.

I removed all the turn signals completely. Unplugged the headlight/running light/brake light and put painters tape all over them. (just beware the residue after taking it off)

I ran higher tire pressures than normal, can't remember what exactly. Second lap a ducati 848 lost the front end on turn 1A at NHIS because he switched a track day wheel on his bike and forgot to air up the tire.

To me it helped trying to keep an eye on the tach. Once you get used to the track it helped me get faster by keeping the hawk in the sweet spot higher in the revs. I ran brand newish pilot powers with brand new ebc HH pads. One track day didn't hurt either and I was more than satisfied with the performance of both. If I was going to do more track days I might look to other products, but I'm not made of money.

jerryh

Yeah any of you hardcore guys have old oem pads for cheap I'd be interested. They do fine on Cheraholla

VTRDarren