Your bike may be equipped with the best master cylinder, hoses, and calipers, but it all ultimately comes down to the brake pads to slow your bike down. This is the component that provides the friction when it grips the brake disc, and converting kinetic energy (movement) to thermal energy (heat).
Brake pad friction ratings
HH-rated pads are the strongest brake pads one can buy, but do you have any idea what those two Hs stand for? The letters indicate the friction rating and specifically pertain to the puck’s coefficient of friction, with the first letter quantifying the CoF at a normal operating temperature and the second letter listing the pad’s CoF at an extremely high temperature of 340° Celsius. G and H ratings are common for motorcycle brakes, with a G-rating offering a CoF between 0.45 and 0.55. H is the highest rating available and corresponds to a CoF of 0.55 or greater.
Brake pad material
ORGANIC
These pads are devoid of metal content (and asbestos) and instead blend rubber, glass, or Kevlar materials into a heat-resistant binding resin. Organic pads are the softest and thus the quietest option available and are exceptionally easy on rotors. They’re also easy on your wallet. Downsides include shorter service life (compared to semi-metallic or sintered pads) and fading with aggressive use. Organic pads are most commonly found on older (pre-1990s) bikes, smaller modern bikes, and for rear applications on some larger modern machines.
SEMI-METALLIC
These pads incorporate some metallic material (usually 20 to 40 percent by volume) into the friction material to increase the pads’ friction level and durability and to improve fade-resistance under heavy use. These pads were invented as cars and bikes became faster, requiring stronger, more resilient brake systems. Semi-metallic pads are still fairly quiet, don’t score rotors as much as all-metal sintered pads, and are a popular option for a variety of bikes.
SINTERED
The name refers to the production process, which uses extreme heat and pressure to cement powdered metal (usually bronze) to the backing plate. Sintered brakes have a very high coefficient of friction and excellent heat transfer, making them ideal for aggressive use and racing. The downsides are price, increased rotor wear, and the fact that they usually require some heat to perform their best.
