Which Brake Pads?

[RTNewbie]

I want to replace front and rear brake pads on my 1996 R1100RT ABS. I will mostly be commuting but plan to take several two-up and loaded trips mostly on secondary roads.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good set of pads and where to buy them?

[Belquar]

I just purchased the OEM pads from Hammersly for my 99 GS and the total cost for pads shipped to my house was 152 and change.

They seem to work fine. I know a lot of folks use the aftermarket stuff.

[dmaust01]

I have a '96 R1100GS and have replaced pads a number of times. I don't usually use OEM pads as non-oem are substantially cheaper. You can probably find them at a number of online sources. You might just call Bob's BMW, or another larger BMW dealer, and order aftermarket pads from them. If you want aftermarket, you may have to tell them when you order. I have had no problems using aftermarket pads. I also replaced the rear rotor with an aftermarket product (less than 50% of the OEM price) and have had no problems.

Mark

[BubbaZanetti]

EBC makes fine aftermarket brake pads and many dealerships carry them. last time i replaced the front pads on my bike i think the total was 53 dollars for both sets of front pads, about 15 bucks less than i paid for a single set of OEM pads for the rear. the organic pads are a bit dusty, the sintered pads are probably overkill for everyday riding. i'd rather just have a slightly dusty front wheel.

[bikerfish1100]

a good choice from a good source...
http://cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=GAL_012HH_G
(clik the "applications and info" to find the ones you need)

[wmubrown]

EBC makes fine aftermarket brake pads and many dealerships carry them. last time i replaced the front pads on my bike i think the total was 53 dollars for both sets of front pads, about 15 bucks less than i paid for a single set of OEM pads for the rear. the organic pads are a bit dusty, the sintered pads are probably overkill for everyday riding. i'd rather just have a slightly dusty front wheel.

+1 on the EBC pads. I've been using them for years.

-1,000,000 on the Galfer GREEN pads. They came highly recommend on the IBMWR list a couple years ago so I bought them. They almost killed me... in dry weather they are really good, in wet conditions they have ZERO braking ability until they heat up! Ask me how I know... scariest damn riding experience I've ever had...

[bikerfish1100]

don't know about the green galfer's- i'm using the blacks. worked fine last summer, and i caught the WORST rain i have ever been in.

[wmubrown]

don't know about the green galfer's- i'm using the blacks. worked fine last summer, and i caught the WORST rain i have ever been in.

The blues were pretty good (I had green on the front, blue on the rear) and never tried the black. When I returned home from said trip, I removed them all and put brand new EBC's on.