So I was just thinking ... (I know I know)

[BnB Tom]

 
     How many miles should a standard get on a set of brakes?  ???
 
      Fronts - maybe 40K?

                                               Rears - 25K to 35K?

   Of course it depends a lot on how we slow down and stop.

Down shifting then braking?  Rear brakes til under 20mph then add fronts?

Rear brakes only from 70mph down?        Front brakes just to hold on a hill? 

   What's your style and how many miles do you get on a set of brakes? 

[Houdini]

Rear brakes til under 20mph then add fronts?

Rear brakes only from 70mph down?       Front brakes just to hold on a hill?  

Front and rear every time I stop.  Why don't you use your front brake?

BTW - I usually wear out my front pads faster than I wear out my rear ones.

[Red Diamond]

I'm a slow rider, believe in slowing down long before the brakes are needed, always apply front brakes first regardless of speed, usually change pads at about 15-18K front and rear at the same time. There is not a specified speed to apply front or rear brakes, it's just front first and then rear without locking the rear. Takes a lot of practice.

[Jess from VA]

Not only riding (slowing, stopping, and hot rodding) technique, but how much traffic/lights/signs you ride in on a regular basis.  Even though I go fast a lot, I am always watching the horizon, and I tend to slow early, and my brakes/pads always last a long time.

But here's the other thing.  With two bikes, I always have one or two complete sets of pads on hand.  Whenever I have occasion to have the bike apart for any reason (not that often), I look at my pads, and if they are anywhere past 1/2 - 3/4 gone I just replace them when I'm in there.  It's not like it's a big waste of money.  And this way, I almost never have to worry about metal on metal, and my rotors are original and have wear (with lips on the outer edges), and this also extends my rotor life.

I have no idea of miles per pad, but even changing early, I'm probably am only on my 4-5th set on 17yo bikes. (85K - 55K)

[RainMaker]

  HDs come with lifetime front brake pads.

I have no idea how long they would last on my Valk as I change them way before they are out of material.

[Pete]

Previous owner wore out a set of rear in 20,000.

Apparently he used the rear all the time, fronts are at 30,000 and doing fine.

[f-Stop]

Replaced front and rear at mid-40-something-thousand.  The fronts had plenty of pad left, but the rear was near metal.  Even though I apply both front and rear brakes while stopping, I must ride the rear a little longer for some reason.  I have consciously made the effort to change that habit.  (70% of your stopping power comes from your front brakes.)