my hawk needs new rear brake pads wondering if I should go OEM or aftermarket any suggestions

 

I believe that the recommended ones are EBC HH pads for both front and rear.. though rear is not so important.

 

How much? and Where can I find them?

 

Buy Vesrah pads, you will not be disappointed. Your local dealer can order them.

Zero break-in require, put them on and go full tilt racing or just put them on and ride.

Fantastic pads.......

 

I think I have a set of OEM rear pads you can have for the shipping cost. I will never wear out the set I have now, so you're welcome to them if you're interested. I'll check tomorrow to make sure I still have them.

 

You don't want anything too powerful for the rear, so hit up killer5280 or buy stock.

 

I found 'em, so let me know.

 

What is the difference between HH pads and GG? And why don't people use their rear brake more (Ducks to avoid wrench being thrown at my head)? I know it is an open ended rhetorical questions. But really, with the Hawk being such a great street bike and the smoothness in decelerating being critical with engine braking and all, I would think it would be better to LEARN how to use the rear properly, thatn totally abandon it. That being said, I don't think I have used the rear brake on my Hawk since I bought it in February, but on my Seca2 I use it religiously. I attribute the new riding position and completely different power band to my desire to simplify my on bike operations. Once I am super comfortable with everything, I will add the rear brake back into (no pun intended) the equation.

 

I use the rear brake only when slowing gently for red lights and stuff like that. When I'm riding aggressively on a curvy road I never touch it because it does so little when really braking hard and can cause more problems than it solves. Some (very fast) racers use the rear brake and others never touch it, so it's not like using it is necessary for going fast.

 

I don't think anyone said to abandon it. Since on braking weight transfer occurs towards the front, the rear of the bike lightens, thus less traction is available. A grabby or powerful rear brake pad will cause a rear wheel skid which you should keep locked until the bike has come to a stop to avoid a highside possibility. Personally I like to have both wheels rolling when I ride. I use the rear brake all the time in town. When riding aggressively I stay away from it.

 

It's been awhile since this was active. I stopped by my local Cyclegear and we talked pads. I was going to go sintered but thay said that if all you are doing is riding on the street, the stocks are more than enough and not to bother. Besides dissipating heat better, are the sintered overkill of the street and the weekend twisties?

Thanks

 

The stock pads are sintered. Sintered pads are the only pads I will use and are definitely not overkill for the street. Years ago, aftermarket pads weren't made of sintered compounds and were always vastly inferior to stock pads. Thankfully that's not the case these days, and the aftermarket abounds with sintered pads. The EBC HH get near universal praise. I currently have Vesrahs and they work good too, but not really any better than the stock pads (I have a 954 front end).

 

overkill, not in my opinion.

the EBC HH are good pads - great bite to them but if you run them hard they have a tendency to fade. imo

i wanted to try versa but they are no longer available...

the SBS pads i currently have... have a good bite & don't fade but i don't feel they're as good of a pad as the EBC when their not having heat issues.

if you want a good pad maybe the EBC GG's ?

i'm currently thinking about upgrading the calipers just to try the Vesra's

i'd run nothing but stock in the rear - it locks up easy enough.

tim

 

only one real choice

Vesrah

 

And where would one get Vesrahs? First I ever heard of em