Harley Davidson Forums - Sintered brake pads or organic?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKMark23 (Post 18124708)

I've gone to organic and will never go back to sintered. This is based solely upon my personal preference as to the way my brakes feel when applied. Sintered feel, initially at least, more responsive and "grabby". Organic pads are less grabby requiring more initial hand pressure but then managing braking / stopping distance by modulating hand pressure seems easier with the organic pads installed. One type of pad will work as well as the other during emergency stops as the additional pressure required with the organic pads isn't by any means extreme. I just like the braking control organic pads seem to impart to day to day riding.

I've read claims that organic pads are less prone to "fade" under extreme use but can't attest to this. I don't ride extreme. :)

While I'm pretty much an organic pad user, I can see where sintered pads are an advantage. For instance I've got a bobber that has dual disk GMA calipers on it. I initially used organic pads and spent time swapping front master cylinders, tried 3/4, 5/8 and ended up with 11/16. Worked pretty good but did not have enough initial bite. Went semi-sintered and like it.. Rear will stay organic but had to go from 3/4 master to 5/8.

I plan on trying semi-sintered on my 07 egc as it has the Kelsey-Hays calipers and with the weight on the front end, a little more bite would be good. Same brakes on a 2000 FXDX don't need sintered. Stock or aftermarket organics work fine.. The Kelsey- Hays rears on both bike work fine with organics. In fact, on the 02 RK I had, the brakes were too touchy.

As far as possible uses, I think that some of the single disced front bikes would benefit. Also later Dynas have a mushy rear brake that don't seem to work all that well. Sintered would probably get rid of some of the mushiness.