Uh.. so I locked up my rear about 10 times tonight, just riding around Vancouver... I rode out here from Toronto, my bike had 5500 km on it then, it now has 11,000 km (I've been riding around vancouver and BC) ... I've also noticed that my front brakes aren't what they used to be. What's normal life span for tires and brakes on stock GS500s?

Brake pads 8-10K if you lucky, and rotors 20-30K depending on the pad material.
Tires, well stock tires go at 5K or less for the rear and 10K front.
Cool.
Srinath.

How do you know if the rotors are bad, what signs do they show?

i pretty sure that it's like cars, if there are grooves in the rotor, then it needs to be replaced.

Quote from: seshadri_srinathBrake pads 8-10K if you lucky, and rotors 20-30K depending on the pad material.
Tires, well stock tires go at 5K or less for the rear and 10K front.
Cool.
Srinath.

Seriously? Kilometers?
I'm at 11,000 km now.. you're saying that my stock tire, and brake pads are all done for?
How does one inspect the pads anyways?

I can't just adjust the play on the front brake lever? My friend (who used to ride, maybe not the best adviser mechanically) looked at the front pads and said they are down to half an inch.. he just looked through the calipers or something.
Am I not safe riding the bike as is back to Toronto (5000 km)

edit: oh yeah, and if anyone cares, here's a link to a few pics of the trip.

Quote from: JasonBWere from a real country here, America, that uses miles not that dinky kilometers that makes it seem like your going faster with the higher numbers....

That's really helpfull, thanks.

For those not so math inclined. And I thought the american school system sucked..  

http://www.sirius.on.ca/running/km_miles.html

I posed the question in KM .. he answered without specifying.
Where the hell do you come into the equation?

Srinath, miles or kilometres? I'm unclear.
Thank you.

Well that is a loaded question???

Since it sounds like you use your rear brake all of the time I would have to guess you will wear out your rear pads and tire at a higher rate than others due to locking up your tires.

Your riding style will also become a factor in the milage you will be able to get out of a set of tire or brake pads.

Also it depends on what brand and model of tire you are using and if you keep the correct amount of air in the tires at all times.

I would say you should get about 8000 to 10000 miles out of a set of quality tires under normal conditions.  Your brake pads should last twice the stated mileage above.

Quote from: tkm433Well that is a loaded question???

Since it sounds like you use your rear brake all of the time I would have to guess you will wear out your rear pads and tire at a higher rate than others due to locking up your tires.

Your riding style will also become a factor in the milage you will be able to get out of a set of tire or brake pads.

Also it depends on what brand and model of tire you are using and if you keep the correct amount of air in the tires at all times.

I would say you should get about 8000 to 10000 miles out of a set of quality tires under normal conditions.  Your brake pads should last twice the stated mileage above.

Thank you, sorry for getting irate earlier on..
I think I ride fairly conservative. I've done like 3 burn outs and I don't lean it right over (for lack of skill) ... I started riding 2 months ago, and the bike had 2500 km on it then. I don't normally lock up the rear, just started happening last night. I use the rear a bit more when i ride two up, which I've been doing since getting to vancouver. The front brakes feel softer than they used to be, that's why I'm asking about them. The rear never felt really strong, they don't feel much different now, just stronger as compared to the fading front.
Stock tires, stock everything.
I was locking up under slightly heavy breaking at stop signs and what not, using both front and rear. I don't always use the rear, just when I need a quick stop to aid the front, otherwise I use mostly front.

Quote from: JasonBWere from a real country here, America, that uses miles not that dinky kilometers that makes it seem like your going faster with the higher numbers....

Last I checked Canada was in America too  

Oh my. Whaaat a turd this good question spawned.

Wear bars on the tires will tell you that your tires are shot. If you have a .5" on your pads they are Maxi Pads and you don't have to worry.

If they sqeek, ditch them. If they are thin consider it.

Are we all here to bash people or what? The guy asked for help and what does he get. :guns:  Im sure srinath ment thousands of miles, k meaning thousand.

smp:  I can't speak for siranth completely, but based on the numbers he gave I think he was quoting miles.

JasonB:  You're really terrible at geography and logic.  First off, America is not a country it is one of two continents (North America or South America).  Second, the country is called the United States of America (which is why we abbreviate it USA or just US).  Third, not everyone on this board is from the US (or "America" as you put it).  There are people from Canada, Europe, and probably many other places.  And last, even if we were all from the US, some of us could have seen that he was asking in km and answered him in km (just a possiblity), just because I live in "America" doesn't mean I can't figure out the numbers in kilometers and respond to smp's question accordingly.

That's all folks......Thanks for coming out.

John L.

Instead of being such a prick to people, try putting that energy into learning about other cultures and countries. Dicks like you give the USA a bad name, and its too bad, because 95% of americans I know are some of the most decent people around.
Ignorance like yours spawns hate, which spawns war, which adds to your bad rapoure.  :nana:

Oh yah, my rear tire lasted 6000km, but i had a little too much fun with smokey burnouts, so I replaced it with a Bridgestone BT45 150/70.
I would really recomend that tire. Once you replace the tire, you will wonder how you ever rode with the stock junk, especially worn stock junk.

My rotor is marked with a minium thickness. I remember the front as being 4 MM, can't remember the rear but it was thicker. I check the thickness in several places on the rotor with a micrometer.

If you have a repair manual the thicknesses and what to look for in condition are listed for both the pads and the rotors.

As already mentioned the tires have wear indicators.

Sheesh some people cant take a joke.

Ah well if ya didnt catch the witty humor then your twisted up too tight and need to go pick up a woman/man with your GS and get bent.

Taking this a little off topic...I hear so much about the Bridgestone BT45's, and all of it good.  I wonder how much better a radial like the Metz setup (Z2's and Z4's) would be over a good bias ply like the BT's?  I would call my riding style average to mildly aggressive, and I'm waiting til the end of this riding season, then will replace my stockers with one of the above choices...just not sure which way to go..BT's or Metz??

My brakes last about 20.000km and my tyres.....well, that differs. My bridgestone BT45 lasted about 20.000km. My Dunlop D207 Sportmax went  on for about 10.000km. and the tyre I have now, a Bridgestone BT010R will last about 5000km. according to the dealer. Most of the times they will last a bit longer so the BT010R will last about 8000km, I think.
It depends on the type of tyre and your driving.