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Hey ya’ll so its time to replace my rear brake pads on my 24 RG that sits just shy of 16K miles, curious if anyone has any recommendations for a solid pair of pads rather than replacing them with the OEM pads.
For fun I asked the Perplexity AI platform to write a conclusion for the best brake pads. Very interesting results:
The best aftermarket brake pads for Harley Davidson touring motorcycles are generally considered to be EBC Double-H Sintered, Lyndall Brakes (especially Gold Plus and Z+ compounds), and Galfer—all praised for stopping power, durability, and rotor protection.
Top Aftermarket Brake Pad Brands
EBC Double-H Sintered: Known as the “overall best pick” with strong stopping power in all conditions, outstanding wear resistance, and broad use among touring riders.
Lyndall Brakes: Noted for a variety of compounds; Z+ is soft, clean, and gentle on rotors, while Gold Plus offers superior overall street performance, high feedback, and protection. Lyndall also makes high-torque pads for heavy loads or spirited riding.
Galfer: Praised for solid stopping ability and low brake dust, making them a favorite among some touring owners. Organic and semi-metallic options are available.
DP Brakes (HH+): Known for powerful stopping and minimal pad dust or rotor wear in reviews of touring-class bikes, with ceramic backing to minimize heat-induced fade.
Brake Pad Types for Touring
Sintered Pads: Made from metallic compounds, they deliver the highest stopping power and durability. They are ideal for touring bikes that carry more weight and tackle long, hot rides. Drawbacks include minor increase in noise over organic pads.
Organic Pads: Softer, quieter, and more rotor-friendly, but typically wear faster and are suited for lighter loads or riders prioritizing comfort.
Semi-Sintered Pads: Blend the best features of metallic and organic pads—offering solid bite, smoothness, and longevity.
The OEM Harley-branded brake pads are typically sintered, strike a balance between performance and comfort, and cost slightly more than many top aftermarket brands.
User Recommendations and Community Experience
Riders often mention that EBC and Lyndall consistently outperform stock pads and are easy to source.
Some prefer Galfer and DP Brakes for their “bite,” low dust, and fade resistance, especially in mountain or two-up riding.
Hawk pads get high marks for performance but are reportedly harder to find.
The rotors seem pretty expensive compared to car ones. The EBC pads might be half the cost but could end up being very expensive if the rotors get worn out at double the rate regardless of the improved stopping power high vs med-high
With no quantitive measures though the AI answer is quite meaningless, IMO.
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Brake Pads
