SBS, EBC, GOLDFREN & Compounds

Raf · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Karma :

Having had a more then useless rear brake on my 1991 CBR 600 Fm, i decided to purchase new pads and Hel braided hoses, much to my surprise its made almost no noticeable difference to the rear brake (Maybe a little). I still have to put my entire body weight on the brake pedal to get the back wheel to lock. Compared to my 1981 Xv 750 and 1985 XT 600 which will lock its back wheel if you even so much as breath on the back brake lever.

I know both these bikes use drums on the rear, but surly a bike 10 years ahead should have had more then enough time to have made vast improvements to braking performance.

Anyway, a few questions. First of all, does anyone have a CBR 600 F from the early 1990's and is the rear brake just as useless?

I've been looking at various brake pad manufacturers and compounds, im currently using GoldFren HH pads on the front (Very good Braking) and GoldFren HH Sintered Carbon on the rear (useless).

Now, im not sure if it is all down to the pads, im not sure what was on there before i replaced them but they were just as bad if not worse. I have looked around the forums at recommendations for pads and peoples views on various brands and can't seem to get a solid answer.

So my options are.

EBC

EBC HH

CARBONE LORRAINE

SBS Sintered

SBS Carbon

Has anyone used any of these brands before? If so what would you recommend in terms of brands and compounds? Im looking for something basic that will have bite from cold and to be use around town.

Should i not bother with new pads and just get a new master cylinder? As you can pick-up Brembos online for around £20 used, it will work out cheaper.

Regards
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CBR1100xx - BMW K1100 - BMW K100 - Triumph Sprint ST 955i - Suzuki GSX-R 600 - Suzuki DR 350 - Yamaha XV 750 - Honda CBR 600 FM - Yamaha XT 600 - Yamaha Rs 200 - Honda NSR 125

smegballs · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Karma :

Rear brakes, on sports bikes at least, are more of a fine tuner for your speed when entering a corner than a main stopper.

I use the back brake a lot but that's just my riding style, lots on engine braking way before the corner and a little bit of rear brake if need just to fine tune the speed.

Cooking you caliper won't have done any good and most likely will have killed the seals.

Raf · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Feb 2009 Karma :

UrbanRacer · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Karma :

SBS pads are good but they wear far too quickly and the amount of brake dust they generate is shocking, they turned my black wheels a deep red colour.

EBC HH pads were just as good, lasted longer and didn't generate as much brake dust.

thats my experiance of both brands of pads. (track and road)

Stelmer · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Dec 2006 Karma :

I've got SOK pads in the GSX. Sintered Gold Fren pads ate the old discs.

I know the SOK ones are cheap Taiwanese pads but so far, they surpassed the Gold Fren ones at the MOT last Friday.

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

I prefer organic pads all around, just prefer the feel. I tried some sintered pads once and they nearly wore the brake disc out??. You should be able to lock the back wheel up at any speed so something is awry. It's the fact that the rear get's used less that causes a lot of them to become seized. Have you replaced the fluid completely? If you take the caliper of the bike, can you see the pads move if you press the brake pedal, (gently), and are you able to push them back easily enough?