Brakes

[BIG--T]

I'm just curious why the OEM rear brake pads for an I/S are cheaper than OEM STD and Tourer? I don't know much about a Valk yet but would have thought the brake pads would be the same.

STD/Tourer= $34.95

I/S= $21.80 !!   Both from DL    

[Hoser]

I don't know either, but they have worked well for years on my Tourer.  Hoser 

[BIG--T]

I don't know either, but they have worked well for years on my Tourer.  Hoser 

Do you know how long rear OEM pads are good for? I've got 9,800 and don't think they've been changed.

Thanks

[John U.]

It all depends on your riding style and preference for rear brake use. I would expect them to last longer than 9,000 miles. Never hurts to check.

[roboto65]

I almost never use my rear brake so it may last awhile  the rear does not stop as good as the front. Have 20000 miles on the rear so far well thats how many miles I put on them. Like john said though depends on the style

[Michvalk]

I changed my rear pads at 25000 miles and still had about half left. YMMV

[BIG--T]

Yes it does depend on your riding style. I've only put 1500 miles on it since I bought her. That guy must have rode his brakes or something. I've always got great mileage out of pads. When I see I'm going to stop I slow down and start gearing down if I have to, but that doesn't always work but I practice it when I can. I believe I read that the front brakes are 70% of your stopping power.

[X Ring]

It all depends on your riding style and preference for rear brake use. I would expect them to last longer than 9,000 miles. Never hurts to check.

It's like John U says.  It depends on your riding style.  If you use your rear brake for stability at parking lot speeds and making tight turns, like u turns, you're going to need to change the pads more often than someone who only uses the rear brakes when they stop.

Marty

[BigMac (SoCal)]

The Interstate pads are just a bit thinner. I don't know why but I think the rotor might be a little thicker. Maybe for the added weight of the bike. You can use Interstate pads on a standard but not Standard pads on a Interstate.

Dave

[98valk]

Yes it does depend on your riding style. I've only put 1500 miles on it since I bought her. That guy must have rode his brakes or something. I've always got great mileage out of pads. When I see I'm going to stop I slow down and start gearing down if I have to, but that doesn't always work but I practice it when I can. I believe I read that the front brakes are 70% of your stopping power.

gearing down wears out your clutch. which is easier to change, brake pads or your clutch?
just sayin'

[PhredValk]

Do you have any documentation on that CA? Not wanting to start anything, but long ago a mechanic told me downshifting in my car makes the clutch last longer as it 'refreshes' the surface. I know a lot of truckers, and they always gear down to help stop, and they're a bunch of cheap SOBs...
Fred.

[98valk]

Do you have any documentation on that CA? Not wanting to start anything, but long ago a mechanic told me downshifting in my car makes the clutch last longer as it 'refreshes' the surface. I know a lot of truckers, and they always gear down to help stop, and they're a bunch of cheap SOBs...
Fred.

wear is wear. refreshes the surface equates to wear, your mechanic wants to make money from u by changing your clutch, find a new mechanic.
truckers, my dad did, his dad did, my friends do it, etc. downshifting to stop/slow down, goes back to the 40s, 50s early 60s when the brake material and design of the brakes would overheat and couldn't stop the vehicle.
truckers fully loaded or family vehicle w/camper etc, going down a mountain grade is a whole different situation which needs down shifting.
I suggest google for more info or search here this was addressed about 1-2 yrs ago

[olddog1946]

Down shifting will indeed hasten the wear on tires, clutch and possibly the motor...I seldom down shift my bike to slow it down, that's what the brakes where designed to do..

[Ricky-D]

CA writes:

gearing down wears out your clutch. which is easier to change, brake pads or your clutch?
just sayin'

Not to mention unnecessary stressing of all the drive train parts, such as the u-joint and drive splines!

***

[BIG--T]

Yes it does depend on your riding style. I've only put 1500 miles on it since I bought her. That guy must have rode his brakes or something. I've always got great mileage out of pads. When I see I'm going to stop I slow down and start gearing down if I have to, but that doesn't always work but I practice it when I can. I believe I read that the front brakes are 70% of your stopping power.

gearing down wears out your clutch. which is easier to change, brake pads or your clutch?
just sayin'

Haven't worn one out yet with 68,000! 

[Ricky-D]

Don't think you could in only 1500 miles!

***

[BIG--T]

Don't think you could in only 1500 miles!

***

The 1500 is the mileage I put on my valk since I've had her. I don't know how the OP rode it.

[Willow]

CA writes:

gearing down wears out your clutch. which is easier to change, brake pads or your clutch?
just sayin'

Not to mention unnecessary stressing of all the drive train parts, such as the u-joint and drive splines!

What CA and Ricky say is correct.  The question is not whether engine braking results in wear and stress; but how much?

I gear down using the engine to brake for almost every anticipated stop.  I gear down often even when I'm not stopping.  It's normal for mee to drop from top gear to third rolling off a four lane onto a clover leaf type exit.  I've occasionally geared down enough to chirp the rear tire.

I regularly slip the clutch coming off a stop and I often drag the rear brake through low speed turns.

As of now, I have 162,000 miles on my original clutch.  I get 22 to 24 thousand miles from a rear Avon or E3.  I only got 14,000 from the OEM Dunlop.  I'm still on my original U-joint, but honestly, I think it's beginning to fade.

That's just my personal experience with a single sample and not the results of a real scientific study.

I guess the real question is how long do you want your clutch to last and what are you willing to do to achieve it?