Hey everyone. First off I promise that this will be my only Wet behind the ears, Toddler post on this Forum. Now I have a 2007 Zx14 and yes this is my first bike, and No I'm not crazy, no I'm not dead, and No I'm not crazy. Now that I got that out of the way I have had it for a month and put 1700miles on it and the first 600 were rough as I was harsh the front brakes and tires. I want to get some fresh brake pads and tires. I'm not going to ask what are the best brakes and pads out there because this thread may never end. Only asking what are some good tires and pads and what are those particular items qualities. Thanks in advance!!!

first of babyblue and congrats with your new 14. i havent changed the brakes on mine yet but with other bikes ive had good experience with ebc stinted pads. as far as tires in the general section there is a sticky for a tire poll you may wanna check it out. just so many things to consider such as your riding style and what your wanting the tire to do for you. now for me i run the avon storms very good long wearing tire takes a bit longer for them to warm up but it hugs the corners for my style of riding (im not a knee dragger lol) my last rear had 4500 mi on it before i had to change it (drywall screw) and it was still like new, replaced with another storm, but you ask 10 diff guys on here and chances are youll get 10 diff answers lol well good luck

Whatever you do Blue...stay away from the Angels if you're expecting mileage!!!!!!!!! Oh,and I may be switching tire brands here soon...already ordered a BT003,just to see how it holds up.1220 some miles on my now "used up" Diablo.Something's seriously wrong with this picture!I haven't burned out one time.No skidding.Nothing like that.WTF?The ONLY thing different has been I lowered the pressure to Pirelli's values for my bike.The rep sent me an e-mail..."instructing" me it HAD to be too much pressure(even in that Angel before).Apparently,41 psi cold is just "too much" for attaining good mileage.Really?I've ALWAYS run 41psi...always...and have had WAY higher mileage before these two.IDK....It may be the death of a Pirelli fan here...we'll see how that Battlax works out.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 6/27/2011 @ 5:15 PM *

Brakes?... EBC HH or stock pads. Which ever you can find the best price on.
Tires?... What's on sale?

* Last updated by: DogoZX on 6/27/2011 @ 5:40 PM *

Gonna order EBC pads right now, as a matter of fact. The OEMs lasted me 25K and still have some life left.

I have tried stock BT-014, BT-016 and BT-003. I think the 016 is best for grip and wear doing sport riding on the street. If you are looking for long wearing tires, I always heard the Avon Storms were amazing and they grip a bit better than stock tires to. If you are mostly straightline riding, that is probably a good one to try (but you may be stuck with them a long time waiting for them to wear out).

If you like cornering, you will notice an improvement in turn in going to a 190/55 height tire in back.

&TIDJust did some forum research. EBC HH pads are often recommended. Complaints about the pads do not seem common. Mostly positive statements of decreased stopping distance. I read a couple comments about noise from the pads apparently caused by open spaces in the back plate that reduce heat transfer. One suggestion from a trusted source (in the one of the links below)of applying a cream available at Autozone before installing to eliminate the noise. Also read a review where the owner felt the pads were not as good as OEM or had weaker initial bight until the pads warmed up. He felt that the pads caused fading after a few hard applications in sport riding. Less noise when cold.

EBC has a heat dissipating backplate to the pad which reduces the heat transferred to the brake fluid and reduces fade from fluid overheating. Also the composition of the pads is supposed to have more good stuff and less bad ingredients than than competing pads. The composition has been perfected one time since the pads were introduced.

OEM pads also highly recommended for the 14. Found this review rather surprizing. Note the las comment about resurfacing rotors when switching pads.

http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=27=30309

Another review not entirely positive but seems like most of the responses are in support of the HH pads.

http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=27&TID=57777

Here are where I found good prices for front and back.
REAR $30 free ship

FRONT <<$90 Need to order another $10 of stuff to qualify for free ship on this one.

OR just order front/back here --do both front and the back for a couple bucks more.
FRONT AND REAR $128.45 free ship

REMEMBER>>>>YOU NORMALLY MUST ORDER TWO UNITS TO DO THE FRONT BRAKES UNLESS IT IS A PACKAGE DEAL -- 1 UNIT IS TWO PADS WHICH WILL EQUIP ONLY ONE CALIPER

Before I even try these pads, I have to make the observation that the stock brake system will easily lock the front and back brake even at ~60 mph with a 200 lb rider. I don't know how much stopping distance would be increased by any upgrade. Maybe necessary if you are a very large man or carry a passenger? ABS would be the only thing I can see that could decrease stopping distance for everyone in all situations.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/29/2011 @ 12:57 PM *

Unless you are a track racer or mad, the Bridgestone BT023 is more than enough tyre for the ZX14, IMHO. Hard in the middle, and soft enough on the edges. Works for me.

Some here order more track tire than they need, or use. So they get horrible mileage out of them (of course) and keep spending big money on tires too soft for how they are used.

Though some actually go to the track and use the tires for what they were made for, granted.

My experience so far with Michelin Pilot Road 2 tires is extremely positive. I am putting a lot of long, droning miles on this season, with a decent amount of twisties mixed in. But all Michelin tires are expensive.

Frankly, the Bridgestones that came on my 2008 were just fine until I flattened the center riding too many miles straight up. As long as I wasn't going to go racing they were all the bike needed in the mountain twisties I frequently ride in.

All the rest is wasted rubber and money, if it isn't taken to a road course track fairly often.

Blue07 I'm curious what did Pirelli tell you the cold psi should be?

Hello & welcome,

I was able to get about 10k miles on the stock tires and then about 11k miles on a set of Pilot 2CTs.
The 2CTs were exceptional tires.
Currently I have Pilot Road 2s on my bike, with no complaints; and at 25k miles, I'm still on my original stock brake pads.

* Last updated by: ApogeeNow on 8/5/2011 @ 6:43 AM *

and yes this is my first bike, and No I'm not crazy, no I'm not dead, and No I'm not crazy.