My OEM brakes lasted 17000km, then I got pads from Galfer, FA129, that are semi-metallic, lasted only 4000km, and then I got the cheapest pads I could find around and I have already gone through two pairs, each one lasting around 2500km. I know this numbers are strangely low, but I'm sure the pads are not having any kind of unusual drag on the rotor.
So I'm tired of getting cheap ones that last so little and I'm wondering if it's worth to get a pair sintered FA231HH pads.

I'd think the ones that are wearing out fast are easier on the rotors. I dunno, maybe your rotors will last a lot longer. I'd venture to guess 20-25k on a rotor with a 8-10k pad. So 3 pads for each rotor ... but you may get more out of the rotor even if you go through pads faster. BTW all numbers are in miles, not KM.
Cool.
Buddha.

I got 12,000 KM out of the rear (organic) pads...now on my third set  EBC "organic"...

Rear rotor is badly grooved...got that way quite early in the game.....but too cheap to change

The factory fronts lasted 64,000 km...replaced with EBC HH

I do long rides and don't stop much!


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Quote from: Yuri. on October 09, 2014, 11:44:30 PM
My OEM brakes lasted 17000km, then I got pads from Galfer, FA129, that are semi-metallic, lasted only 4000km, and then I got the cheapest pads I could find around and I have already gone through two pairs, each one lasting around 2500km. I know this numbers are strangely low, but I'm sure the pads are not having any kind of unusual drag on the rotor.
So I'm tired of getting cheap ones that last so little and I'm wondering if it's worth to get a pair sintered FA231HH pads.

I used mostly EBC regular replacements on my 97 and some of them on my 02 and also some EBC HH on my 02.  The OEM pads lasted longer but not by that  much.  The HH did not last as long.

BUT!  I was using the EBC regular 10-12 years ago when making regular trips to the mountains and turned the front rotor blue twice on long spirited downhill runs on my 97 and the front completely faded out once.  Later model GSs came from factory with HH fronts and FF rears, not sure about earlier models since that was before pad makers were required to mark friction grade on pads.

I wouldn't recommend less than FF front on a GS if you do much spirited riding regardless of pad life.  Put 80k miles on my 97 GS and never replaced the front rotor and did replace front rotor on my current 02 at 93k miles, probably should have been done earlier.

Here's my complete 180,000 MILE brake log:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GSbrakechainlog_zps1b8c96a9.jpg

I strongly recommend the EPFA pads on the GS500. I had a major problem with pad and rotor wear while I was racing the bike. The EPFA provided improved braking performance, and reduced component wear over conventional stintered pads. They are designed for endurance racing, and are much more heat tolerant than conventional pads.

I currently run them on my BMWK1300GT. I have 35000 miles on the pads, and 50,000 miles on the rotor, and they are finly ready for replacement. This is on a 640lb bike that makes 160 horsepower and sees lots of sporty riding.

The EPFA pads are more expensive up front, but much cheaper in the long run.

You got about 15k miles from the rotor ? A bit low, but if you have heavy brake use, its possible. And yea metal pads will destroy them of course.
Actually they are not much thicker than that to start with, so you may not be in danger territory yet. Below 3.5 definitely change em.

Cool.
Buddha.

Bought my 1994 with 7900 miles on it. 

Changed the EBC FA231HH  (To the same thing) at around 8200 miles. 

(Just wanted fresh pads when I gave the bike a "once over" since it didn't have a lot of miles when I bought it).

Looking at the amount of pad left on the ones I removed, I could have gotten possibly another 2000+ miles or so out of them. 

lol, i think the buddha instead of clicking on quote clicked on modify and edited my post

Quote from: GS4me on October 14, 2014, 08:45:37 PM
Bought my 1994 with 7900 miles on it. 

Changed the EBC FA231HH  (To the same thing) at around 8200 miles. 

(Just wanted fresh pads when I gave the bike a "once over" since it didn't have a lot of miles when I bought it).

Looking at the amount of pad left on the ones I removed, I could have gotten possibly another 2000+ miles or so out of them.

But did the previous owner changed to the FA231HH when the bike was brand new? They are not equipped with these pads from the factory