#Bike break pads upgrade#

Could I tell the difference? No, the pad is more of an evolution than an upgraded product, but that’s not necessarily a problem as it was already a very good fit and forget option. To double check my comparisons I tested both the L03A and the newer L05A-RF pads. A great option for wet weather training, but probably not to be considered an upgrade.Īs mentioned above I tested all the pads on the same Shimano Ultegra Callipers which are supplied with the standard Shimano L03A (now replaced by the L05A-RF) pads. Taking this layer off is effectively what we're talking about when we mention 'breaking-in' periods on new brake pads - BBB have sped up the process by making the pad slightly thicker and then skimming off the surface to produce a perfectly flat pad that doesn't require bedding in! Most pads are released from a mold and the process, which commonly involves heat leaves a slightly glazed top layer on the pads.

One nice feature is that the BBB pads come “pre-sanded”, which actually does affect the initial break-in period in a positive way as the pads feel powerful and are quiet straight away. I found the initial bite is good, if slightly raspy, and the modulation is almost on par with Shimano and SRAM’s standard options. The compound too is similar to what OE brands offer. Similar to Aztec, BBB makes a simple range of alternative pads for many of the well known brands. The Organic pads that BBB produce are great aftermarket alternatives, especially when supply issues restrict the use of the standard OE options. It does however wear quickly and can suffer from brake fade with heavier riders on long descents. SRAM’s organic/”quiet“ pad doesn’t seem to suffer from glazing and in most cases is a great pad and a brilliant option for most riders. That was the only flaw however and in general I’d say that they are nearly as good as the Exotherm 2 pads. I removed the pads and used some sandpaper on the top surface of the braking material and they behaved as new again, which was a simple fix but one that most people may be loath to do. This left the brake with less modulation and less initial bite – not to a dangerous level but it was definitely noticeable. I was surprised to find that the Powerful option can suffer a little with glazing over if the brake system gets too hot and this was a bit of an issue in the dry.

The SRAM pads definitely didn’t mind a bit of rain, in fact I’d argue that they seemed to get stronger in wet conditions. The Powerful option lasts longer than the standard OE pads and offers more power and bite in wet conditions – this was the only pad on the test which wasn’t tested on my Shimano Ultegra Callipers for obvious reasons, so therefore you could argue that any comparison in performance cannot be verified, but it’s still a relevant real world test as conditions will have a similar effect on the pads regardless of the brake itself. Obviously they only produce pads for their own brake systems but SRAM’s sister company, Avid, have helped make some really good quality pads.

#Bike break pads upgrade#

Whilst not an upgrade for any other systems, I’ve included the SRAM sintered pads because they’re actually very good and they do offer an upgrade on the standard “Quiet” Organic pads when you use them in the correct conditions.