Symox

Just installed the Kool Stop blacks to replace the pads in my 105 rim brakes. Better modulation and stopping power. I'm impressed. They aren't as thick as I expected but have a profile that allows for better modulation (back side contacts first). This likely will wear over time though. Not sure about longevity obviously

Greatestalltime

Yeah, after 8 years back into cycling, and only using Shimano pads, I switched to some Swissstop BXB and they are much much better in dry and wet.

Wonder why I waited so long.

Sy Reene

Why doesn't someone like GCN do tests along these lines.. actual product/brand side-by-sides? SStop vs KoolStop vs Shimano etc.

indyfabz

I use their Kool Stop Mountain Salmon pads on my touring bike's canti brakes. Love them.

Germany_chris

Kool Stop salmons on my DD, they work far better than the pads SRAM put in originally

Unca_Sam

Though I don't consider GCN to be the pinnacle of third party testing, it might be that testing multiple pads can be too time consuming on a complex system like a bike.

The simplest test I can think of would be to test off of a bike, say on a fork. You'd want to use the same wheel to control for differences in bearing drag and braking surface finish. You'd want to accelerate the wheel to the same rpm, so maybe have a cycling computer or other way to measure that. Then you'd want to use a precise and repeatable cable pull, maybe a weight on the cable, used for all tests.

Then test, test, test... average the times, and see which pad brings the wheel to a complete stop soonest, on average? Even installation differences can materially affect testing performance. Then, what does the test tell you?

I don't think anyone besides pad manufacturers are interested in rubber compound characteristics like Shore hardness, which affects wear life, durability, and rim wear. They all work well when installed properly, with the downside being that the majority of Shimano's pads are likely engineered for adequacy as OEM equipment, rather than performance.

Sy Reene

Of course it would be assumed that such a test would be what we're familiar with when GCN "does science".. eg.

Jack Tone 

If anything, shouldn't the front side contact first? I set mine up so they contact evenly since they will anyway after several miles of use, and newer, more rigid calipers don't flex.

Unca_Sam

Yes, toe-in is great for braking modulation and reducing squeal. Kool Stop mountain type pads have patented(?) angled tips that face the back of the bike, supposedly to clear debris and water from the braking surface and make braking more predictable. These tips are also proud of the rest of the pad, again, supposedly to help set toe-in when installing them. Properly installed, the angled tip makes contact at the back around the same time as the front edge of the pads.

Carbonfiberboy 

Swisstop BXP are even better.

Clipped_in

OP, I'm a big fan of the Kool Stop dual compound Dura 2's for alloy rims.

79pmooney

Or,you can just listen to posters who say that KoolStops are very good pads. Over and over again. Who knows. They might be on to something.

Sy Reene

I've been eating a few almonds every day now for the last few months and I haven't gotten Covid.

fietsbob

Isn't GCN British , not stateside based, and so their views are defined by their location?

Sy Reene

Definitely. Braking in wet weather is much more heavily focused upon.

noisebeam

Note that kool stop salmon stop working when it is over ~108F.
The black compound ones don't have that problem.

Unca_Sam

While I don't typically ride in the vicinity of the Devil's *******, I'm curious about why and how the salmon pads stop working at such unholy temperatures.

Sy Reene

Yeah, 108 doesn't sound that high really, especially if in sun, with blacktop, and heat generated from braking itself.

noisebeam

This is 108F+ ambient in the shade. Add in full direct sun and radiant heat from 160F blacktop, plus braking heat. They get real squishy and slick, worse than a regular pad in rain. This is all my experience over multiple trials, not verified by others or kool-stop.

Unca_Sam

Wait, how do you know about braking in the rain?

This seems like something Kool Stop would want to know about. Frankly, they're probably the only ones who can answer as well.

noisebeam

It rains in the winter (cold showers) and fall (hot monsoon thunderstorms) and I have had many rainy rides including a couple of centuries- one of the reasons I tried salmon kool stops. Many years ago I contacted Kool Stop about it and they hadn't heard of it. I've duplicated the result multiple times across three different bikes and pads including cleaning rims and resurfacing pads.

Symox

Did some more riding, even more impressed. Seem to be less messy than the Shimano pads. Less muck on the rims after a ride.

Very happy with my purchase

Seattle Forrest

Whatever. I removed my brake pads, it saved me 30 grams.

Robert A

I inserted Swissstop BXPs in my Ultegra R8000 brakes and found the improvement to be fleeting. At first, they reallly grabbed. But after a few hundred milestThere was no discernible improvement and I eventually went back to Shimano. And along the way, I replaced all brake housing and cables, checked pad toe, sanded both the pads and the rims, and even took it to my LBS.

Sorry, I saw no improvement with Swissstop.

Jazzguitar

I love my Kool Stop Salmon pads and leave them on my bike full time. Modulation and stopping power is great and they don't seem to collect grit and metal shards like the stock Shimano pads so hopefully rim life is extended. I'm not riding in 108º weather with any pads so I'm not concerned about their supposed, broiler level, heat performance.