Brake pads only have 100 miles left?

[beaver]

Last year when my new engine was run in, I took the bike to AJ's to have an oil change, filter etc. At the time, they told me the rear pads only have 100 miles left and to take care on my the way home! i bough a set and have just got around to fitting them today after maybe 250 miles since the service. I did my shaft, rear oil etc at the same time.
But are these pads that bad they are about to kill you? Against the new ones they look about 1/2 worn as you don't get much meat on them anyway.
Why do places try put the shit's up you like this??

 

[bosnjo]

The pads on the photo are not 100 miles pades. No way. I'd give them at least 1000 miles and if they were on my bike I'd run them for 2-3000 miles for sure.
But that's just me.

 

[beaver]

agreed... I had new ones so I've put them in.. but miles left on these yet??..

 

[Fenboy]

I would change them if I was " doing my shaft oil " as you did or if I was about to go on a long trip, say 800 plus miles. The garage was just covering his arse, they all do it.

 

[JJH]

I would change them if I was " doing my shaft oil " as you did or if I was about to go on a long trip, say 800 plus miles. The garage was just covering his arse, they all do it.

The rule of thumb we used was would the pads make it to the next scheduled service? If the answer is no then replace after explaining to the customer. But to suggest that there is any immediate urgency in replacing those pads is wrong. JJH

 

[jefformston]

Back in the days before I serviced my bike myself I used to take it to AJ for servicing and was surprised when they said the bike needed new rear pads after 12,000 miles as back then I hardly ever used the rear brake, it also didn’t have linked brakes or ABS. When I questioned it they said I probably used the rear without knowing for slow speed manoeuvres etc, so I paid up and had them fitted, wanting to be safe. Funny since self servicing I’ve only ever fitted 2 sets of rear pads in 100,000 miles, I also use the rear brake now a lot more as well. Whilst I’m sure they were just being cautious, new pads every 12,000 gets expensive when you are doing 600 miles pw and a nice little earner for them. Makes you think! That was on my R1150GS. On the R1200GSA I’m still on the second set of rear pads at 48,000 miles, which I’ll replace at the next service in March.

 

[fatbaldbob]

I was told the same last time my bike was serviced by a main dealer and asked if I wanted them to change them, I told them to leave it and I would do it myself. like yours mine were barely half warn, so I left them in, the new pads are still sat on the shelf more than a thousand miles later.

I can only guess it's in their service bulletin that if pads are approaching half wear then advise they are changed, may be an arse covering thing for them or a money maker or both, who knows

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Back in the days before I serviced my bike myself I used to take it to AJ for servicing and was surprised when they said the bike needed new rear pads after 12,000 miles as back then I hardly ever used the rear brake, it also didn’t have linked brakes or ABS. When I questioned it they said I probably used the rear without knowing for slow speed manoeuvres etc, so I paid up and had them fitted, wanting to be safe. Funny since self servicing I’ve only ever fitted 2 sets of rear pads in 100,000 miles, I also use the rear brake now a lot more as well. Whilst I’m sure they were just being cautious, new pads every 12,000 gets expensive when you are doing 600 miles pw and a nice little earner for them. Makes you think! That was on my R1150GS. On the R1200GSA I’m still on the second set of rear pads at 48,000 miles, which I’ll replace at the next service in March.

Easy money for them

 

[GSian]

AJ's are a bit like that. When I accidentally broke my key blade they wanted £200 for a complete key and fob, supposedly there was no other option. Barrie Robson sorted me out with a replacement blade for £12 and told me how to do it. My business goes to Best Regards from now on.

 

[beaver]

Back in the days before I serviced my bike myself I used to take it to AJ for servicing and was surprised when they said the bike needed new rear pads after 12,000 miles as back then I hardly ever used the rear brake, it also didn’t have linked brakes or ABS. When I questioned it they said I probably used the rear without knowing for slow speed manoeuvres etc, so I paid up and had them fitted, wanting to be safe. Funny since self servicing I’ve only ever fitted 2 sets of rear pads in 100,000 miles, I also use the rear brake now a lot more as well. Whilst I’m sure they were just being cautious, new pads every 12,000 gets expensive when you are doing 600 miles pw and a nice little earner for them. Makes you think! That was on my R1150GS. On the R1200GSA I’m still on the second set of rear pads at 48,000 miles, which I’ll replace at the next service in March.

Mmm.. I have just got 12K on the clock.... They did appear a bit upset when I said I'll do them mysef. In fact the little Irish girl who works there threw the keys at me say 'it's finished', to the point where the bloke sat by me said' what have you done to upset her!'...

I do tend to use the back a bit going into the Dales and gravel on roads etc, it's how I've always used the brakes going back to when you had zero driving aids just shoes front and back LOL. guess old habits die hard.
Seeing people post they only use the front sounds strange. you'd be off quite often as the front end slid away if you'd done that back then... you can lose the back and regain it without a problem..it is hard to trust all this new techno but it must work fine, but 40 years of biking I guess you just do what you know works

Mind you, back then when discs did come in, the pads were 1/2" thick and lasted the lifetime of the bike

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

AJ's are a bit like that. When I accidentally broke my key blade they wanted £200 for a complete key and fob, supposedly there was no other option. Barrie Robson sorted me out with a replacement blade for £12 and told me how to do it. My business goes to Best Regards from now on.

I find Robson’s excellent too

 

[Zed Zed]

I was told two mots ago, still going strong again new pads on the shelf..

 

[clutchspring]

Not just bike dealership , car dealerships just as bad if not worse for drumming up extra revenue
��
Ian.

 

[jefformston]

Mmm.. I have just got 12K on the clock.... They did appear a bit upset when I said I'll do them mysef. In fact the little Irish girl who works there threw the keys at me say 'it's finished', to the point where the bloke sat by me said' what have you done to upset her!'...

I do tend to use the back a bit going into the Dales and gravel on roads etc, it's how I've always used the brakes going back to when you had zero driving aids just shoes front and back LOL. guess old habits die hard.
Seeing people post they only use the front sounds strange. you'd be off quite often as the front end slid away if you'd done that back then... you can lose the back and regain it without a problem..it is hard to trust all this new techno but it must work fine, but 40 years of biking I guess you just do what you know works

Mind you, back then when discs did come in, the pads were 1/2" thick and lasted the lifetime of the bike

Back then you had to use both front & rear if you wanted to have any chance of stopping. It’s due to riding back then that I find I only needed to use the front on modern bikes, although now a days I consciously use both. Boxer engines have a lot of engine braking to help out as well meaning much shorter stopping distances than 40 years ago.

 

[GSian]

AJ's are a bit like that. When I accidentally broke my key blade they wanted £200 for a complete key and fob, supposedly there was no other option. Barrie Robson sorted me out with a replacement blade for £12 and told me how to do it. My business goes to Best Regards from now on.

Doh! Spell check. Obviously should have said Barrie Robson.

I just had aux lights fitted there on the BMW winter deal. Top service, picked it up one day dropped it off the next day.

 

[darthwhite]

My GS LC goes through a set of rear pads every +/- 6000 miles (front pads last easily double that), I do all my own work and change at the wear limit to get my money’s worth.

If your dealership has become accustomed to that kind of wear and most of the bikes they service need new pads most of the time they would probably start to advise new pads as a matter of habit (?)

 

[beaver]

York... maybe worth a try. Problem is I'm about 5 miles from AJ's, but York would be a nice trip out. I'm still in warranty so use the dealers, once out I'll DIY as there is that little to do these days....

 

[Slipperyeel]

Funny seeing this post. Just today I've serviced/cleaned up the front and rear calipers.

I've done quite a few more miles this year than normal (I mean last year, 2020). Before the first Italian trip I checked the pads. Bought some new rear pads thinking I'd better have some packed, they ain't gonna last a trip like this with all that luggage. 6k miles later, I see today they've barely lost any material. It's even possible they're the original pads.

I'mm quite impressed. My 1150 got through a few sets. In the same number of years.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

 

[JerseyNeil]

I got 14,000 miles out of my rear pads on my 2017 Rallye. I bought a new set about a year earlier as they looked quite thin. It was only when I picked up the new pads from the dealer that I realised that the rear pads are very thin to start with. I didn't change them for several thousand more miles and when I did it was only because I was going away. The old ones were still serviceable.

My bike was serviced last autumn with 16,500 on the clock and I asked them to change the front pads if necessary. I was told they were only half worn so were good.

I commute every day on a small rock so most of my riding is stop start.

To the OP. I personally think there are many miles left on those rear pads.

 

[stever1]

I think the pads are easy for an average person to change. I replaced mine in an underground parking area in Mandello de lario whilst on a tour. It took about 15 minutes, including taking off/fitting the panniers and drinking a bottle of beer. They had done 17000 miles.