Upgrade, ya or nay?

[botus]

Think I am around motorcycle number 27. Give or take 1. Everything from kh 125, to R1, Gsxr750, Ducati, KTM, 5th BMW, nothing in the last twenty years had poor brakes. Different, maybe, more weight to slow down, maybe, porr and a problem? Nope.
And, I am not and never have been plodding on, more ‘progressive’ tbh., I have done a few track days and do ride on a regular basis with quick experienced riders…on a GS.
The only thing that has been required is to adjust the lever span.
I have ridden with someone who claimed they needed to change the Hayes to Brembo, yet at the time mine were fine, with plenty of bite. Short of an individual problem with a bike, either due to worn pads or the system needing to be bled, I say ‘bull shit’.

check this thread out

this comment is not hyperbole, its fact (FYI the sport brakes on my 1300GS are about as useless as using the grey pads on the left)

Straight after fitting within one light ten second application to help bed in the Racing spec pads - I had more brakes with one finger with the pads on the right - than I did after 200 miles of sensible bedding in, plus 2 miles of gentle warm up and all four fingers squeezing for dear life on the death pads...

Thread 'Brembo death pads'

Aug 26, 2025

wow made a major cock up...

been running a set of Brembo pads up front - these lasted well, have not worn the discs out, were quiet, had great feel, worked well throughout the year and had very good braking all the time...

but I forgot what ones they were... visiting Brembo UK bike site it lists three pad types with no real info and none where what I was using.... all I remembered was they had a silver coloured backing plate and pretended to say track - which none listed here have https://www.bremboparts.com/europe/en/catalogue-bike/bmw-r-gs/8927 ???

Thinking I found the right...

• botus
• Replies: 7
• Forum: 1200 GS Hexhead

• 

left side will kill - right side will stop properly

 

[J biker]

Race brake pads have more initial bite, because they are for race brakes! Obvious really, race bikes are not ridden the same and are not designed to come in as progressively and gently as road bikes.
The GS has not been designed to run race compound pads. Race compound pads will massively reduce the lifespan of disks.

The GS whilst very capable is never going to be a track bike.

By all means, run a different compound, even fit bigger disks…they are still not required on a GS by anyone who has properly functioning brakes for road use.
I have done two CBRs (Cannonball) riding with folks on the likes of S1rrs, PikesPeaks, Superdukes, all sorts of stuff at pace, first time on a 1250 and second one on a 1300, zero issues with brakes. Only complaint was the quickshifter being too slow when ‘really’ on it following some seriously quick riders in the Alps..but that was being a bit abusive of the R1300 and well outside of its design remit.

Whichever, I think I am talking to the wall here.

Have a great New Year.