MO Tested: SBS SP EVO Sinter Brake Pad Long-Term Review

Sometimes we take for granted the importance of brake pads. As long as we can stop within a respectable time or distance, we’re good, right? Well, yes, but what if there was something better? Something providing more bite and better feel compared to stock pads throughout its lifetime? Enter the SBS SP Evo Sinter brake pads.

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While it’s easy to assume upgraded pads are only necessary on high-performance motorcycles, better braking performance is a benefit no matter what you ride. With applications for adventure bikes, sportbikes, and touring bikes, there’s a good chance a set of SP EVO pads will fit your modern day machine.

A discussion about brake pads is worthy of a story all its own, but here’s a broad overview. Simply put, sintered brake pads means fusing metallic particles under high heat to create the pad. Benefits include high initial bite, with more consistent and long-lasting performance when hot or cold. Sounds great, right? Well, the biggest drawback of sintered pads is the wear they put on the discs, as the metal-on-metal contact, under extreme conditions, can wear out the disc, too. Granted, this was typically an issue with older versions of sintered pads, but SBS says newer technology has virtually negated this drawback. Other negatives include increased brake dust, more noise, and typically a higher price tag.

The other common brake pad materials are organic pads. Here, different organic fibers and fillers – like kevlar and/or carbon fiber – are mixed with a resin to produce a brake pad. While not as powerful initially compared to a sintered pad, organic pads can deliver a more progressive feel at the lever. Crucial also is the fact they are much less abrasive to brake rotors. Lastly, they tend to be quieter and less expensive than their sintered counterparts. Obviously, the downside with organic pads is they don’t deliver the same braking power as sintered, and they don’t last as long, either.

A nice middle ground, then, is the semi-sintered pad. A combination of organic and metallic components make up the semi-sintered pad, and while they make a good compromise between sintered and organic pads, brake companies are constantly improving their technology to reduce the effects of sintered pads.

As for the material itself, SBS says the things we should expect from sintered pads – strong initial bite, easy modulation, fade-free performance even under extreme conditions, consistent performance throughout the life of the pad, and, importantly, little wear on the disc.

For this long-term test the motorcycle in question is a 2009 Kawasaki Versys 650 – my personal commuter. Installation-wise, things couldn’t be simpler. Each motorcycle will have minor differences, but in the case of the low-tech, pin-slide calipers on my Versys, installation was a matter of removing two caliper bolts and a retaining pin. From there the old pads rotate up and out, and the new pads pop right in (this is an oversimplification, but not by much).

After some light sanding of the disc to clear off the old pad material, I rode around locally for a few miles (SBS recommends 20, but I didn’t do that), intermittently dragging the brake lever with one finger lightly until there was clear pad engagement to bed the new pads.

To SBS’ credit, the new pads came in very fast. However, having used race-spec sintered pads in the past, I was expecting (and hoping) for ferocious bite from the SP EVO once I really stomped on the binders. I was in for a big surprise when I first attempted a panic stop in anger and my expectation was met with a completely different reality. Initial bite was clearly stronger than the stock pads that came on the Kawasaki, but nowhere near the race level I was expecting. This is what they mean by “OEM replacement.”

With my expectations now in line with reality, I’ve been continually impressed with the SP EVO pads. Sure the initial bite isn’t as strong as I’d like, but it’s a clear improvement from stock. I appreciate the better braking feel and stronger power I have versus the stock pads, too, especially during spirited canyon rides – or, more importantly, during the panic stops I’ve had to make from inattentive car drivers cutting me off! More impressive is the fact this performance hasn’t diminished even after the 10,000 miles I’ve put on the Versys since the install. And I’d say I’ve still got another 5,000 miles left on the remaining pad material.

I haven’t put the Versys on a racetrack to test its abilities there, but the SP EVO pads are designed for the street anyway, so a track test wouldn’t be fair. As a street pad, I’m pretty impressed by the SBS SP EVO. If you’re not looking for race-worthy performance (though, for some, these pads could probably pull light track duty), but rather a solid improvement over the pads that came on your bike from the factory, these are worth a look. Nice bite, strong braking power, good feel, with excellent consistency and longevity – these are all things you can expect from the SP EVO. Pricing will vary depending on your model, but should range between $40 – $80 for a set. Contact your local Parts Unlimited dealer for specifics pertaining to your vehicle.

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