It's time to replace my rear pads so I went online to look but got a bit confused.

Can someone advise on what the difference is between kevlar, semi-sintered and organic? Prices range from �15 to almost �40 on sportsbikeshop.co.uk. Is there a noticeable difference between them? Also, do they have different effect on brake disk ware?

Does anybody know what the stock is on an XTX?

Thanks

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2013 XT660X White | LeoVince X3 | Snorkel removed | Kev's fuel mod and O2 controller | Throttle grip mod

Essentially there are only two main types of pad: sintered and resin (otherwise known as organic). The sintered pads have different degrees of metal particle sintering to provide the friction, and the resin/organic ones have either carbon granules, Kevlar/aramid fibres, or a mixture of both to provide the friction. Heavily sintered pads are only for off-road/race use and will chew up your rotors/discs in no time.

There is a third type, which is a hybrid of the two above: semi-sintered. It is essentially a organic/resin pad, but with some metal sintering impregnated into it. Their performance (unsurprisingly) falls somewhere between sintered and organic. They are often marketed as “touring” pads.

Sintered Pros:

Better in the wet/mud, last longer, greater friction coefficient and less brake fade due to the heat being transferred into the caliper rather than the rotor (rotor stays cooler).

Sintered Cons:

Noisier, relatively long bedding in time, initial bite/delay - gentle then they grip harder so can be “grabby”, can cause brake fluid to boil more easily due to the heat transfer to caliper, eat rotors if heavily sintered.

Organic Pros:

Quieter, cooler running pads/caliper, more progressive after good initial bite, prevent heat build-up, warm-up quicker, quick to bed in, more gentle on rotors.

Organic Cons:

Less friction, wear quicker, not so good in the wet.

Personally (and it is very much down to personal taste), I prefer sintered on the front and organic on the rear, seems to give a good balance and makes the back brake particularly easier to control. I found with sintered rear pads the rear was too easy to lock up, often involuntarily as the initial bite is weak with sintered, and then the pads grip rapidly increases.

At the end of the day though, you need to try different pads (and combinations) to work out what you prefer. People’s preferences for feel, bite, wear and cost etc. are often very very different.

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Some great info here guys, thanks very much

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2013 XT660X White | LeoVince X3 | Snorkel removed | Kev's fuel mod and O2 controller | Throttle grip mod

I agree with Pleiades, sintered front and organic rear.