THUNDER PRESS - OCT, '05 > Product Review

Quality on all fronts Lyndall Racing Brakes LLC #7195 Z+ Brake Pads $46 suggested retail 800.400.9490 www.lyndallracingbrakes.com Reviewed by Robert Filla

When I bought my old Shovelhead bagger, it came with the stock front mechanical drum and a rear hydraulic drum brake system. And although the rear hydraulic was light years ahead of the Panhead mechanical rear, the setup still left a lot to be desired. I found out exactly how inadequate it was back in the '70s when I launched myself off an escarpment in the Sandia Mountains outside of Albuquerque. I soon replaced the rear drum. with an aftermarket disc but retained the classic front drum (which is great for keeping the bike from rolling downhill at a stop sign but not much more). I became a devout disc brake fan from then on.

Some product reviews take longer than others. Some items you can simply bolt on, ride around town and come back with an honest opinion of the merchandise. The ones that require additional research usually involve products that either make you go fast or stop fast and require a review of the item's longevity. That's why it's taken a while to evaluate Lyndall Racing Brake's 719 Z+ brake pads. I installed a set on the rear of the Road King 12,000 miles ago and then a couple of sets on the front a few months later. Since I had gone through a set of stock pads in as few as 8,000 miles before, I kept a close visual on the Z+ units to be certain I wouldn't destroy a rotor. But when the maintenance log hit the 12 grand mark, I decided it was time to take everything apart and perform a thorough inspection.

The installation of the Z+ pads had been a simple matter as they are an exact replacement for the stock H D parts. Anyone with basic mechanical skills (and maybe the assistance of a manual) can perform the exchange. But the perform ance difference was beyond my, expectations. Lyndall's Z+ pads are constructed of a composite consisting of carbon, Kevlar and nonferrous metal. The benefits of this combination of materials are fourfold: the pads need no break in time, they run cooler (which in my thinking means they should last longer), bite harder and they produce little if any brake dust. The company touts all four advantages and all four claims proved true, resulting in a superior product over stock. Bolt 'em in and run 'em; with no fade (even when fully packed and after repeated heavy braking) and virtually no brake dust. And the Z+ unit is an upgrade from Lyndall's previous Z pads. The' ones with the new "+"designation are clicked up one notch on the hardness scale to eliminate all brake squeal.

But the final test would be the wear factor, so I pulled off the older, rear set first. The micrometer revealed that total wear was only 0.060 inches, which left more than half the original thickness of the pad. With such remarkable results, and since the front dual setup had recorded less than 7,000 miles, I figured they still are good for at least a few more months so I buttoned :up the rear and called it a day. This bike is my workhorse, hauling me to different events and venues. I take little time to wrench it or clean it, so Lyndall's upgrade was a definite improvement over what came stock on the Twinkie. And Lyndall produces a brake pad for just about any, bike you can think of: every model of T I D, Buell, Victory, Big Dog, American IronHorse and all the aftermarket brake systems (GMA, Hawg Halters, PM, etc.). Lyndall products are, available through Drag Specialties, Biker's Choice Rivera Engineering and, in Canada, the KMS Sport Group, This is a superior product with easy installation, no break in period required a higher performance factor, longer life and no mess to clean up after a ride. Quality on all fronts.

EASY RIDERS MAGAZINE - OCT, '04 > Product Review

There's no better feeling than riding hard, whether it's accelerating, cornering or stopping. For a bike to be able to do this requires great mechanical effort from a whole bunch of different parts. When you are stopping, the bike's front line troops are your brake pads. The pads must be stout enough to camp onto your rotors with enough force to stop over 750 pounds that is moving at a high rate of speed. On the average ride they have to do this over and over again, in a working environment that is hellish. The surface temperature of the pads can get up into the 450 degree range. It's no wonder that a set of pads lasts only about 5,000 miles.

Which brings us to the heart of the story, the Easyriders Victory test bike. It has been in our test fleet long enough for us to turn the front pads to nothing, not that we rode it hard (sure we didn't), but we do need to test bikes under all types of conditions. To get the bike back in shape for further action in the local stoplight stampede, we picked up a set of pads from Lyndall Racing Brakes. We used their high performance Z series pads; they use a carbon and Kevlar based formula that is extremely tough. We've used these pads before and found that they offer quit a bit better stopping performance than the stock pads. As a side benefit, the Z series pads don't leave a bunch of gray dust ail over the wheels, rotors and calipers.

Installing the pads was one of those jobs that took more time to think about than actually do. Granted we put the pads on a Victory that has Brembo calipers, but installing a set of pads on a Harley, or most of the aftermarket brake calipers, is just about as simple. If you haven't installed brake pads before, get a copy of a Harley or Clymer service manual for your model bike. Both of these books are very complete when it comes to routine service operations.

Lyndall Racing Brake pads are available from your local Drag Specialties or Bikers Choice dealer. If you have any questions, call Lyndall Racing brakes at 800 400 9490.

~John Sullivan