Heavy Cruisers & Brakes

[LordGT]

I've never had a bike as heavy as the V2K.

I'm wondering what to expect for brake life, front and back.

I assume it's worse for the big cruisers like the Nomad, V2K, 1600 and Meanie vs the Sport Bikes?

I'm curious since I have found out that tires don't last as long as I would've thought.

[2WheelFun]

It would depend on the rider due to speed...downshifting (or lack of) and how one approaches stops, etc. I can't say specifically as I am on my first V2K so don't have a gauge to give you but it does stand to reason that our brakes will wear faster then the lighter bikes. I just bought a set of tires on sale getting ready for that back tire change after reading how fast they seem to wear.

[trikebubble]

Not sure Mike,
I've got 12000km on my bike, and the brakes feel fine. I will say that the addition of the SS brake lines sure makes the braking more precise.
I'll have to check my pads here soon.

[likearock4x4]

Sorry, I can't help you. I've only got just over 11,000 miles on mine.

[LordGT]

Hey, so far at least I know I should make it past 11 or 12k on brake pads. I found out tires don't last long, I was starting to worry about brakes only lasting maybe 20k. Figured I'd ask and see what is average for the big bikes.

[G]

i havent had the brake pads changed on my V2K yet either , i only done 7300km on my V2K ..

[jiffyjam]

Originally Posted by LordGT

I've never had a bike as heavy as the V2K.

I'm wondering what to expect for brake life, front and back.

I assume it's worse for the big cruisers like the Nomad, V2K, 1600 and Meanie vs the Sport Bikes?

I'm curious since I have found out that tires don't last as long as I would've thought.

I have a good buddy that weighs about 325 lbs. He rides a HD Duece which has only 1 front brake...25,000 miles and the brakes are still good. My 1600 has over 13,000 and brakes are fine. My stock tires get about 11,000 so thats what I replaced them with, stock.

[Plato]

My Nomad is just over 14.5k and the pads look about 1/2 gone.

I do use the front brake much more than the rear. In fact I rarely use the rear for stopping at all (skidded the rear once and that sorta scared me off using it). So my rear pads look almost new, I only use em in slow speed turns.

My little Vulcan 500 only had the one rotor up front, and in spite of its size my Nomad is NOT twice the weight of the 500 (almost but not quite). So it may be that my Nomad's pad will actually wear slower than some bikes with just that one rotor.

[Lattimer]

I pulled the brakes off my meanie to inspect them when it had around 10,000 miles on it. Rear brakes were about 80% remaining, fronts were probably 65% remaining. I was surprised, I thought I would have to change them more often than that. I traded in that bike, but i would think the fronts would go 25-30k easily.

[jiffyjam]

Originally Posted by Plato

My Nomad is just over 14.5k and the pads look about 1/2 gone.

I do use the front brake much more than the rear. In fact I rarely use the rear for stopping at all (skidded the rear once and that sorta scared me off using it). So my rear pads look almost new, I only use em in slow speed turns.

My little Vulcan 500 only had the one rotor up front, and in spite of its size my Nomad is NOT twice the weight of the 500 (almost but not quite). So it may be that my Nomad's pad will actually wear slower than some bikes with just that one rotor.

Train yourself to use both brakes 99% of the time. Heavy use of the front will get you in trouble one day. If it skids ( on dirt, gravel or pavement ) you will go down MUCH faster. Just release the rear and the bike grabs and on you go, the front is not as forgiving.

[Spok]

27,500 on the 1500 and still on oem pads with lots-o-life left

v2k? dunno, only 2700 miles so far

[jaseman]

My ZX-10 goes thru rear tires at about 3000 miles and fronts at about 5000. I get about 10k out of the front breaks, and 15k from the rear.

My Meanie only has about 2500 on it, but I suspect that I'll get much better milage on both tires and breaks.

Just for referance, I ride really hard. My 10 weighs over 500 lbs, and hauling it down from 120+ takes considerably more than bringing the 700 lb Meanie down 75 or 85 mph. So riding style will play a realy big factor.

[BigJohn]

Just changed pads on my Nomad at abut 22,000. Still had about 30 to 40% left on the front. I've got rear pads but haven't done them yet. The rear are still at about 75%. Need to use them more.

Front tire lasted 15,500 miles, rear gave up at about 8,500. That was with Metzler 880s. Went with Dunlop 404s this time.

[petegtsv10]

Originally Posted by jaseman

My ZX-10 goes thru rear tires at about 3000 miles and fronts at about 5000. I get about 10k out of the front breaks, and 15k from the rear.

My Meanie only has about 2500 on it, but I suspect that I'll get much better milage on both tires and breaks.

Just for referance, I ride really hard. My 10 weighs over 500 lbs, and hauling it down from 120+ takes considerably more than bringing the 700 lb Meanie down 75 or 85 mph. So riding style will play a realy big factor.

Your ZX10 weighs less than 400 lbs, unless you've modded it with lead. I would bet that it takes more braking to slow a 700lb bike from 85mph than a sub 400 lb bike from 120. That's why Vipers consume brakes and S2000s don't!!

[jaseman]

Originally Posted by petegtsv10

Your ZX10 weighs less than 400 lbs, unless you've modded it with lead. I would bet that it takes more braking to slow a 700lb bike from 85mph than a sub 400 lb bike from 120. That's why Vipers consume brakes and S2000s don't!!

Actually, my 10 is a 1990, and weighs in at about 530 lbs. Think more olong the lines of a ZX-11, instead of a modern ZX-10r (common mistake though)

[petegtsv10]

ooops.......I was thinking about my son's 2007 zx10.

[Constrictor]

How many of you use your brakes entirely to stop your bike?

What I do is I let the engine slow me down and while I am slowing, I ever so slightly drag my rear brake...not to much for stopping power, but to illuminate my brake light. I see a lot of bikers slowing down for traffic lights and such and I dont see their brake light til they are almost totally stopped. I want the cagers to get as much advance notice as possible that I am slowing down, so I like to drag my rear brake when slowing.

Then when I get to the point where Im about ready to drop it into first, I'll just pull in the clutch and engage both the front and rear brakes to stop my the rest of the way. I feel using first gear to slow you down is too harsh on the bike and doesnt allow for a smooth stop.

This is of course during a normal, anticipated stop. If I need to use my brakes, I have no problem doing it...just I like to use all available resources when slowing down.

[Spok]

^^

i engine brake everytime.

[jaseman]

Originally Posted by petegtsv10

ooops.......I was thinking about my son's 2007 zx10.

Yeah, whole differant animal!

Sportbikes will still, generally eat through brakes and tires much faster though. Some of it is based on the compounds used, some based on shear riding style of the bikes. Most cruisers are not ridden nearly as hard as sportbikes.


I almost always engine brake and use the actual brakes.

[bikeaholic]

man,some of you guys are hard on brakes!

kawi - almost 30k original pads
sporty - 25k original pads
shadow - 48k on the 2nd set