Kool Stop E-bike pads

[Patrick Moore]

Rivendell sells these, the blurb bubbles over with enthusiasm about their stopping power, and I wonder if others have used them on non-ebikes and found that they improve braking compared to Kool Stop salmons enough to be worth the money.

Also, do they wear out the braking track more quickly than salmons?

Thanks.

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[Joe Bernard]

They're notably better than the salmons that came stock on my Paul Motolites, in fact strong enough to work with pads slid way too high on the arms for my odd 700c 3-spd conversion to a 650b Clem (it shouldn't work).

Can't say about rim wear, I don't ride enough to to eat rims. 

Joe Bernard 

Clearlake CA 

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, Joe. I’ll put a bike’s worth on my shopping list.

If others care to chime in about their braking effectiveness and about rim wear, I’d be glad to hear their opinions.

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[Armand Kizirian]

There was a pretty extensive thread about these some time ago, likely can find it pretty easily. I use them, won't use any other compound again.

I don't think anyone is conducting scientific experiments to assess if they eat rims faster than others. 

[Justin Kennedy]

I have them on my Platypus and will echo other comments here that they're indeed great. Highly recommended. 

[Kim H.]

I found these Kool Stop E-bike brake pads initially on Ebay two months ago. I have had these pads on my Clem since then. These are a new line of brake pads from Kool Stop.  I was informed through a personal email of inquiry from the company that these are a new line of brakes pads. I really like them a lot to the point of deciding I am not going back to buying the salmon Kool-Stop pads again. Happy and highly recommend !

Kim Hetzel.

[Kim H.]

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, all, the consensus is positive.

I don’t expect that anyone is scientifically comparing rim wear between ebike gray and salmon pads, but I wanted to hear if anyone had their rims sandpapered by these pads. Apparently no one has.

Armand: I searched the archive and found a thread from March 2025 where Jim from Mpls and Bill Lindsay praise them, but nothing else; if you can point me to a longer thread, I’d be grateful; thanks.

Right now, a bike’s worth is on my shopping list.

[Jim in Mpls]

Here ya go Patrick https://groups.google.com/g/rbw-owners-bunch/c/w-Ic8wKCqWY/m/qqZatqprAgAJ

From last Oct. 

And I still have them on a bunch of my bikes.

I think rim wear depends on your riding conditions. If you do a lot of big descents on wet, gritty roads yeah, they're probably going to wear your rims, like any pads.

Jim in Mpls

[Kim H.]

@Armand,

I thank you for finding the original post of KOOL-STOP E-Bike brake pads. I had thought that I might have posted one awhile back. However, I was not certain. Granted, there are errors between the two posts. I blame my memory as an aging senior cyclist. 

Kim Hetzel who filed down the upper part of my front cantilever brake stirrups to stop the brake pads from squeaking.   

[Patrick Moore]

Thanks, Jim, and I see that I was involved in that October of last year discussion, and it seems that almost 6 months later there’s no still no anecdotal evidence that the ebike pads wear rims faster. That is in itself good news and I plan to buy some.

Of course, conditions change rates of rims wear. I meant, conditions being the same, ie discounting conditions.

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[Chris Halasz]

Curious if anyone's compared with the Kool-Stop e-bike pads with the amazing SwissStop blue brake pads. 

They're a common preference over standard Kool-Stop salmon around here, and from my experience their modulation and ease of braking power of the SwissStop blue pads on the descent of our nearby winding HC (~6 mile, ~8%, ~3000') Gibraltar Rd. 

Anybody?

[CMR]

Bringing back an older thread. I picked these up during a visit to Rivendell (thanks, Roman and Grant!).

My immediate short-term reaction is that they are fantastic and a world above stock Shimano pads. These may be the only brake pads I will buy for rim brakes going forward.

[Kim H.]

Yes, The Kool-Stop E-Bike brakes pads are an excellent choice over the standard salmon Kool-Stop pads. I live the PNW where it rains a lot. There are times when I do ride in the rain. These E-Bike pads stop very effectively in wet conditions. They are a perfect choice as I have had previously recommended to everyone here on this group earlier this year. I am very pleased to hear your positive feedback and experience with them. 

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[Brian Turner]

I'm waiting on a pair to arrive from Rivendell as I type this. After initially thinking I had solved the Motolite brake squeal on the front wheel of my Sam, it started up again in a really bad way. I'm about 200 miles into this bike and figured the squeal would've gone away by now, but I'm hoping these e-bike pads might make a difference? I dunno... I'm at a loss and feel like I need to try everything I can think of.

Brian

Lexington KY

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[Steve]

Glad to have clicked on this thread - it may save me mucho $$ as I've been contemplating purchasing a replacement for the Dia Compe 980 cantis on my Hillborne. 

Thanks to everyone who's shared their experience with the E-Bike pads! I'll check out the Swiss Stop pads as well.

-- Brian, after logging some miles on my current Thinline salmon pads I found I needed to redo the toe-in on the front wheel due to squealing.  

Steve in AVL

[Kim H.]

@Brain,

When I installed my E-Bike brake pads back in the late last year ?, I had a very loud squeal from my front wheel. I initially tried everything as far as adjustments. Then I remember a time when I had own a pair of Tektro cantilever brakes on my Surly Long Haul Trucker with same issue back in the mid 2000's. I took my Dremel Tool with a narrow sanding stone and sanding the upper part of the brake stirrup at different angles. Then I remounted the brakes pads. I went for a ride. No more squealing !  I did then same with my Dia-Compe 980 front cantilever brakes. Same result. Happy !

Kim Hetzel.

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[John Bokman]

For what it's worth (or not), I use Kool-Stop pads almost all the time (I am experimenting with Swiss Stop Blue but not finding I like them as much as the Kool-Stops).

What I've noticed is that when I use the Salmon compound, my brakes are more apt to squeal than when I use their E-brake, black, dual , or even triple (cyclocross) compound. 

Of course, there are a multitude of factors concerning brake squeal, but all else equal, I find the non-all-Salmon pads to stop as well (yes even in the wet), and be quieter.

John

Wettern Oregon