brake pad fell off on the highway

[Jenya]

This is the second time it happened to me. I would drive and suddenly I see a brake pad shoot out in front of me and bounce on the pavement.

It seems that it is caused by the pad moving too far inward towards the rotor and sliding off the caliper guides.
The only way I can think of how it can move so far in is if my rotor is insanely worn and became very thin. Is it a possibility?
Did anything like that ever happen to anybody else?

Today I had to ride 120 miles knowing that I have no front brakes. No fun at all.

Jenya

[johnny ro]

30 years ago on a Norton commando. Front disc wore to zero. Then it just fell out. I rode next to it for a second or two at 40 mph before it went into the woods. Then I hit the brakes and ground up the disc. 

This usually happens with beater pickup trucks rather than people's hobby machines. I learned my lesson then.

[tt_four]

Yeah something doesn't sound normal. I'd be willing to bet that the brake pad cracked around the mounting points letting it just fall out. Changing pads is a pain enough with the caliper in your hand, I can't imagine the pad just falling out when the rotor is jammed in there two. Unfortunately you will never know now. I'd just put them on my monthly checklist, which I don't have, but if I did, and I were you, the condition of my brake pads would be on it.

[AccidentalF]

Yeah, check the thickness of the disc.  The minimum value should be stamped on there somewhere, or in the manual.  Also make sure the caliper is free to slide on its pins and that the pads (if you have the escapee) are/were wearing evenly.  Something isn't right...

[The Buddha]

I lost mine on my savage.
Yes thin and wore out disk, wore out pad and in my case it was a poorly spaced caliper. I put a dirt bike FE, raked triples and slapped it all togther. Pul the caliper carrier over 1/4 inch away from the disk. It is to be 1/16th or under.
Cool.
Buddha.

[black and silver twin]

This is the second time it happened to me. I would drive and suddenly I see a brake pad shoot out in front of me and bounce on the pavement.

so you didn't fix this very life threatening problem the first time it happened? 

if that happened to my bike I wouldn't even ride it down the driveway until I fixed it 100% 

[romulux]

This is the second time it happened to me. I would drive and suddenly I see a brake pad shoot out in front of me and bounce on the pavement.

so you didn't fix this very life threatening problem the first time it happened? 

if that happened to my bike I wouldn't even ride it down the driveway until I fixed it 100% 

Agreed, and if you're on the road, it's time to pull over and call a tow truck.  Front brake is the most important control on the motorcycle.

[tt_four]

I was on the highway for a while once and hadn't used my front brake. Later when I was getting closer to the exit and tried to slow down the brakes just weren't doing anything. That was less than pleasing. I assume it was an air bubble or something but who knows.