Chep Ebay brake pads..worth trying out?

[bigbikerrick]

Hello Folks, has anyone tried any of these inexpensive organic pads on ebay? at $15.99 , for all 3 sets , it almost seems too good to be true. Is there a catch? should I try them on my Cal II, or should I just get some EBCs and not even mess with those?
Thanks, Rick

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Rear-Kevlar-Brake-Pads-For-1983-1993-Moto-Guzzi-California-1000-II-III-/361384605980?fits=Model%3ACalifornia&hash=item542433791c:g:0EcAAOSwu-BWORcU&vxp=mtr 

[Curtis Harper]

Is your butt worth more or less than $14?

http://www.harpermoto.com/ebc-brake-pads-55.7x55x9.html

[rocker59]

No way I'd buy cheap Ebay brake pads!

A sure recipe for spitting out pad material in the middle of nowhere, having terrible wet weather performance, or simply just wearing out quickly, and at a real inconvenient time!

[Two Checks]

If you think your life isn't worth the price of a good set of brakes, you might be right.


I use that statement about wearing helmets. Just adapted it for this.

[slopokes]

don't be a tight arse--your life is worth more

[sib]

You folks seem to be concluding that more expensive is automatically better.  Could be true, but not necessarily so.  Moto Guzzi itself has been known to purchase parts from suppliers (yes, even from some located in Asia) and then sell them for 3 or more times what you can buy for them for directly from the supplier.  Even in the specific case of brake pads, a well-known Moto Guzzi parts supplier in the US will sell you a pair of front brake pads for the V7II (part 883673) for $121.54, plus shipping.  You can buy a US-made equivalent pair, EBC FA244HH, for $29.11, from an Amazon seller, including shipping.

[alanp]

EBC is a good brand, known product.  I think what people are saying is don't get cheap brake pads just because they are cheap.

[Seamaster]

No way, not even for Chinese

[timonbik]

I wouldn't necessarily "poo poo" these brake pads just because they are cheap or from China.  I used a set of inexpensive Ebay pads on my Ducati with no problems and no decrease in braking performance.  Where do you think EBC and similar companies source their pads.  I can't imagine that some  Chinese company is going to tool up production for Moto Guzzi pads  just to sell them on Amazon, Ebay etc.  No, they produce them for so called "Reputable companies" that package them with their branding and resell them at 3 or 4 times the cost.  If the Chinese manufacturer sell a few over the internet at a reduced cost, that's just "gravy on the meat".  Just my 2 cents worth!!!
Cheers. Tim

[sib]

I wouldn't necessarily "poo poo" these brake pads just because they are cheap or from China.  I used a set of inexpensive Ebay pads on my Ducati with no problems and no decrease in braking performance.  Where do you think EBC and similar companies source their pads.  I can't imagine that some  Chinese company is going to tool up production for Moto Guzzi pads  just to sell them on Amazon, Ebay etc.  No, they produce them for so called "Reputable companies" that package them with their branding and resell them at 3 or 4 times the cost.  If the Chinese manufacturer sell a few over the internet at a reduced cost, that's just "gravy on the meat".  Just my 2 cents worth!!!
Cheers. Tim

I agree with your comments in general, but EBC claims to actually manufacture their pads in the US.

[DARKHORSE]

I started using them last year, They work just fine. The only problem that I encountered was having to use two sets of pads for the rear caliper for the season on my V-11. The pads wore pretty quickly in the rear but the fronts are still good. I did go back to ebc for the rear.

[rocker59]

I wouldn't necessarily "poo poo" these brake pads just because they are cheap or from China.  I used a set of inexpensive Ebay pads on my Ducati with no problems and no decrease in braking performance.  Where do you think EBC and similar companies source their pads.  I can't imagine that some  Chinese company is going to tool up production for Moto Guzzi pads  just to sell them on Amazon, Ebay etc.  No, they produce them for so called "Reputable companies" that package them with their branding and resell them at 3 or 4 times the cost.  If the Chinese manufacturer sell a few over the internet at a reduced cost, that's just "gravy on the meat".  Just my 2 cents worth!!!
Cheers. Tim

"Moto Guzzi Pads"???

You know Guzzi uses standard off the shelf Brembos that are used on many Italian motorcycles, right?

[Tom H]

I bought a set of cheap "organic" type pads off fleabay. Per feedback, from a good seller. Pads fit, looked fine, worked for me in the dry, no different then the Brembo's I removed. But in the wet, i had no brakes until they dried or heated not sure witch. Not fun at 65mph with no brakes. Replaced with EBC HH pads and happy so far, no rain so far to see if that's different. The Brembo's were fine in the rain.

Tom

[K250]

Who knows what kind of quality that part is.   I only buy parts from a known good source, there are so many counterfeits and knock offs these days that look real but are very low quality.