Sinter's $180 Elite Brake Pads Use Titanium & Gold

Jun 24, 2022
by Ed Spratt  
photo

After 50 years of specializing in brake pads, Sinter claims to have made the greatest performing pads for XC bikes. The one downside is they will set you back €169.95 for a full set (two pairs of pads), or €189.95 if you opt to have them delivered in a personalized wooden box.

The Elite is a limited edition brake pad from Sinter that uses titanium backing plates and 24ct springs and retaining pins. Sinter claims that using titanium instead of steel for the backing plate has better management of heat with a reduced thermal conductivity compared to standard pads. With the lower temperatures Sinter claim these very expensive pads will last longer, have improved modulation and allow the brake fluid to stay at a more consistent temperature.

These limited edition pads are being made in Slovenia and limited to a run of just 500 sets and are compatible with Shimano calipers using K Type pads (XTR 9100 and XTR9000).

photo
photo

You can find out more here.

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Reviews and Tech Press Releases Sinter


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201 Comments
  • 605 10
 You're an asshole if you buy these.
  • 73 1
 Right up there with baby seal pelt saddle covers.
  • 78 0
 Or just dumb. This is scraping the bottom of clickbait.
  • 43 45
 Or a dentist
  • 65 0
 Writing a business plan right now for Ahole Bike Co. Our one and only model will come spec'd with these brake pads on Alhonga calipers and an SX drivetrain lubed with GRAPHENlube. Availability will hinge on when those baby seal seat covers mentioned above arrive.
  • 49 1
 @MTBrent: As soon as I buy your bike, I'll take it right to the shop to have the derailleur jockey replaced with ceramicspeed pulleys. Or can I pay an extra to have you so it. While I think Ahole bikes are good entry level bikes, I'll only ride the ASS-WORKS branded frames.
  • 53 2
 If you buy these, the IRS should get a notification and you lose all tax exemptions.
  • 8 1
 An absolute dickhead
  • 18 1
 Ill wait for the Justin bieber edition
  • 7 0
 @adrennan: Actually, the IRS has a special exemption for these. It's in their special book they only distribute to rich a-holes.
  • 7 0
 jeremy3220: Man, I love a straight answer. This made me laugh out loud!
  • 2 1
 yes i am.
  • 3 1
 Sinter makes amazing pads, they just need something premium for "clickbait" to sell their regular ones. Buy one pair, if not satisfied I'll buy you any brake pad you want
  • 4 3
 Say it like in The Boys or GoT - "You're a c*nt" for buying these Big Grin
  • 5 0
 @CSharp: I prefer a*shole because everyone’s got one and therefore it is all inclusive. Though I understand a dude can buy one of your suggested items if he is so inclined.
  • 8 3
 John Roberts uses these
  • 2 6
flag baca262 (Jun 24, 2022 at 12:35) (Below Threshold)
 @talanking: that was a really good one and the haters neg prop it
  • 8 0
 100% What is wrong with the industry....
  • 2 9
flag seraph (Jun 24, 2022 at 12:47) (Below Threshold)
 @MTBrent: say what you want, but the Graphenlube is actually pretty legit.
  • 5 3
 Even dentists have limits
  • 1 0
 @jeremy3220 an elitist
  • 4 4
 @jeremy3220: did you order yours yet?
  • 46 42
 My heart goes out to all my fellow female riders in the USA that have now once again been reduced to a lesser being by the unreliable and deteriorating government. Both sides of the hall could have prevented all that happened today for generations, however they have chosen not to so as to have a political campaign strategy. Fuck this shit.
  • 33 9
 @abueno: all life is sacred - unless you're six years old and get shot in school, of course. Disgusted
  • 5 2
 @endoguru: The C-word is no longer gender specific. So, it's all inclusive Wink
  • 4 10
flag BostonMullit (Jun 24, 2022 at 14:31) (Below Threshold)
 I fell into a reddit thread once about people/rubes who boil their chains in wax to get maximum lube and longevity. a*sholes are out there.
  • 5 1
 @Compositepro: Who is Justice Beaver?
  • 3 5
 @BostonMullit: kinda off topic there
  • 1 0
 Yep
  • 1 0
 Of all the comments why is this below threshold @talanking:
  • 4 2
 @talanking: a dentists dentist maybe...
  • 1 0
 Also if you make them. Ridiculous.
  • 1 1
 Price is big for pads, however in reality, in the bike world its short money
  • 1 2
 @talanking: you know you're buying BS when dentists find something ridiculous and overpriced. I don't see dentists riding these...
  • 1 0
 @CSharp: lol! Yess!
  • 2 0
 I'd argue more that you're a bigger asshole if you sell these.
  • 3 0
 @bctrailblazer68: This is for Lawyers of the top dentists
  • 2 0
 @asmtb: or dentists of the top lawyers
  • 106 1
 I'm sure they'll sell all 500 - but the real value is in capturing the contact information for the type of people who will buy into this kinda thing.

I can imagine that these 500 customers are probably worth $2.5M+ in annual purchasing for products they absolutely do not need, and are readily accepting of any marketing you throw their way.

"Ever feel as if your carbon XC cranks just aren't getting you the results you need? This version has gold-leaf graphics that perfectly reflect solar energy to signal to all your friends that you paid 300% more for your cranks. The intimidation to your competitors guarantees a marginal distraction and slight edge on race day. They cost $3,000.00, or $4,000.00 shipped in a box made of 3D printed titanium." Smile
  • 32 0
 The bellend 500
  • 3 3
 @browner: Sorely underrated comment.
  • 100 0
 Just think of the dollars spent ever time you pull the brake lever. If I bought these I may never pull the brake lever. These could be the greatest dollar to speed ratio out there!
  • 15 0
 Dude, you're onto something. That would make you way faster too.
  • 6 0
 Amazing!! Could end up being the cheapest pads you ever buy as you’ll never use them!!!!!
  • 95 0
 Using rare metals for disposable parts - priceless
  • 12 0
 Mountain biking has surpassed golf in terms of rich guy marketing ridiculousness.
  • 5 0
 @office: true, but at least mtbing is fun.
  • 49 0
 Shimano G04Ti pads use a titanium backing plate as well, they are sintered and they are €15 a pair...
  • 4 0
 These aren't sintered. The company is called Sinter. They make organic pads
  • 5 0
 @tofhami: well now that's just confusing
  • 1 0
 I have a set but have been avoiding putting them onto my gravel bike because they are missing the heat sink fins that came stock. (For real!)

Why is there no platinum heat sink here? I’m out.
  • 49 0
 They couldn't include an NFT to sweeten the pot??
  • 25 0
 "the backing plate has better management of heat with a reduced thermal conductivity compared to standard pads. With the lower temperatures Sinter claim these very expensive pads will last longer, have improved modulation and allow the brake fluid to stay at a more consistent temperature."

That doesn't compute. If the backing plate has less conductivity, then less heat will be transferred to the caliper, thus more heat will remain in the pads and rotor. That can help their 3rd point, fluid temp, but the other 2 don't make sense. Hotter pads and rotors tends to mean more wear and less modulation and power.
  • 1 0
 @justinfoil that was exactly my thought when I read the article.
  • 2 1
 this is why you didn't finish college, boy!
  • 1 0
 Titanium has good thermal conductivity. That statement made no sense to me as well
  • 3 0
 @Inclag: Ugh you made me log in into the account to reply to this.

Titanium has one of the worst thermal conductivities of all common metals, Aluminum is way more thermally conductive and so is Steel, Stainless is still better but lower than Alu and Steel.

That would make the backing plate useful to only transfer heat to the rotor, which is the intender part to cool the system, and not the caliper.

But then Again.. you can get that with good shimano pads.
  • 26 0
 Totally overshot the April 1st release date on this...
  • 24 0
 Aren’t all disc pads limited edition?
  • 23 1
 Isn’t gold soft and heavy ?

Does gold spring back to shape or just get squished flat.
  • 63 0
 Don't let facts get in the way of shiny golden goodness
  • 14 1
 Gold is very soft, and a shite material to make a spring from. It is however a fantastic thermal conductor so if they'd swapped the materials over they could have charged waaay more AND the marketing BS would make a tiny bit of engineering sense.
  • 6 0
 @ROOTminus1: so you could have a nice soft backplate? It's starting to sound like shoe-horning gold into brake pads might not be a great idea
  • 7 0
 it might be gold plated, or with a gold bath.
  • 3 0
 @timsim07: lol Design oversights are just opportunities for more creative marketing BS, call it self-conforming for better thermal transfer.
Hey presto! Another point to jack the price up on
  • 5 0
 To be fair, at no point do they claim the gold to be of any benefit which I think really tells you how pointless it is. Usually it doesn't take much for someone in marketing to claim additional benefits.
  • 2 0
 @timsim07: just when we all were thinking it might be a great idea
  • 20 0
 Too bad that they are not compatible with my slx brakes otherwise I would be all over them.
  • 19 0
 .... but why?
  • 46 27
 retards gonna retard
  • 13 0
 Consumables don't belong in custom boxes. That's for tools: fancy brakes can come in a fancy handmade wooden box. Replacement brake pads should come in the bare minimum of packaging that keeps them protected from contamination. So dumb.
  • 11 0
 In the mean time Shimano Ti backed pads sell for $29.99 & Gold colored pad retaining bolts are $10 on ebay.... Ballin' on a budget!
  • 8 0
 I upgraded my Diamondback Atoz to XTR brakes this year. I for one can't wait to try out these pads. Man, the modulation you will get when comfort braking down hill on my local Xc trail will be fantastic, that fire road wont be any trouble at all this year. I just do not understand the hate.
  • 9 0
 Have we reached peak stupidity yet or should we hold onto our cash for and even more stupid and expensive product?
  • 8 0
 I clicked in just to read the comments, and you all did not disappoint! Thanks for the laughs. Happy Friday.
  • 10 1
 Brilliant timing since Shimano pads can't be found anywhere.
  • 7 0
 I have some that I'll let go for the bargain price of $150 a pair.
  • 5 0
 @noapathy: username checks out
  • 4 0
 So....they are limited?....you buy one set and then you'll never get to experience them ever again? Genius. You get what you deserve. This is exactly why people hate the bike industry.Useless,wasteful, and self-serving disguised as "innovation".
  • 5 0
 TruckerCo Semi-Metallics for the win! Even if you can prove 200% improvement over regular pads, that translates to almost nothing performance wise...just doesn't add up at all.
  • 3 0
 I've been on the TruckerCo train for about 7-8 years now; great pads and cheap, wont run anything else
  • 2 0
 For people considering Trucker Co. pads I wanted to offer another opinion. I thought they were trash. Installed some on my bike during dh race practice last year, and removed them after 3 runs due to glazing over and that they became dangerous. I originally purchased them due to people recommending them online. I will not purchase again. Would not recommend. That said, I'll acknowledge that I was probably putting the hurt on the pads moreso than other riders so there are likely scenarios where these are a reasonable and cheap pad. I just wouldn't label them as high performance.
  • 1 0
 @Inclag: That's a fair opinion, I ride primarily desert trails so the descents are typically 300' - 400' over a mile or so. Not ultra steep, however I've taken them to Brian Head, Grafton, etc and they've done well???
  • 2 0
 @psyfi:

They did have a 'bite' to them upon installation. It just got overwhelmed quickly. All in all, I would say it's a product where you get what you pay for. Downhills racing is havoc on parts even for us non-wc riders. I could see why some folks are evangelist of the pads.
  • 1 0
 @Inclag: to be fair, DH is extremely hardcore, and the range varies based on how long you’re riding. I’ve used these Trucker Co pads on some pretty nasty descents, but they weren’t long enough to truly overwhelm them. About the worst I can say for them at this point is that they love to sing the song of their people.
  • 1 0
 @Inclag: did you take the time to properly bed in said brake pads you installed “during dh race practice”?
  • 1 0
 @heckler73: Yes
  • 4 0
 To be fair, I see the point of this. You spend a small fortune on this, so you don't want them to wear out. So you brake less.
Less braking=ride faster.
Brake pads that'll make you a faster rider.
Or paraplegic, whatever comes first.
  • 4 0
 When my car friends ask me " You spent what on a bike?" It was easy to explain how much cheaper it is compared to building and racing cars. That's getting harder and harder these days. SMH!
  • 4 0
 These are literally more expensive then the Hawk HP Plus pads I bought for my autocross car for front and rear.
  • 1 0
 @93EXCivic: this is the truth. And I used to autocross a 94 ex before it became a over powered AWD boosted highway beast. Love you name!
  • 3 0
 These seem right up there with golden toilet seats and $500 mineral water. Maybe they can sell some to the ex-president of the US? After all, they are absolutely the greatest. Everytime I go ride on these, people keep telling me how great they are. They are really great.
  • 5 0
 Are they available? I mean, if so then I may get them just to have some spares.
  • 2 0
 The best case scenario is that the pads are amazing, even if not worth the price. But what happens when they wear out? The limited edition thing means you get a taste of that goodness, and once you're used to it, you're back scrapping for factory seconds from Shimano because nothing else is available. You're better off using that money to buy 10 sets of whatever pad you currently run - as soon as they're available.
  • 18 0
 What happens when they wear out? That's why I bought all 500 sets! #verystablegenius!
  • 1 0
 If you bought these in the first place you likely don't care about buying another set to replace them.
  • 8 2
 500 Santa Cruz riders are now salivating at the thought of buying these.
  • 2 0
 “With the lower temperatures Sinter claim these very expensive pads will last longer….”

Oh well, with the latest bikes nowadays being outdated within a year or so, at least its comforting to know that before I bin the bike, I can save these pads for the pawnshop.
  • 5 0
 These are going to make my Huffy soooooo much better.
  • 3 0
 These will be toast after one ride because they forgot to use a diamond layer for heat dissipation. Diamonds! It's sheeite without diamonds!
  • 5 0
 Pinkbike get the fuck out of here with promoting this bullshit.
  • 1 0
 Are they really promoting it? Or providing gold comment fodder?
  • 1 0
 This is just hilarious. I am starting a new business. I will bring to market tyre sealant with gold nanoparticles as coagulent. Packed in recycled Dom Perignon magnum bottles. Only 299€/liter. If you buy 5 bottles, you get a free platinum coated 3d printed titanium inflation cartridge filled with helium (retail value €349)
  • 1 0
 I am the kind of idiot who does sometimes buy limited edition things because I like to feel fancy.

But on a CONSUMABLE part?

Or on a part that's barely visible when installed?

Worse yet, both at once? Yeah, this is effing stupid. Go away, Sinter.
  • 2 0
 Finally an ebike specific brake pad. The eLites will go great with my new ebike and make me even more accepted and liked by my riding group. They do seem to like to buy the old useless non- ebike specific parts I take off.
  • 1 0
 Well, after reading this, I'm going to take a wild guess that SINTER and OPINEL (the Co. selling the Tour de France Knives) are both using the same Marketing Company, or there are TWINS and a twin works at each one of the two companies??
  • 1 0
 Opinel has a very rustic origin, and the knifes are to this day very proletarian. feel free to read up on it en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinel
Great knives btw. Bummer I can't find another one like that first one I bought. No stainless steel, difficult to keep clean, always looked stained, but holy cow that thing was sharp and sooo easy to maintain sharp. No stainless steel blade comes close.
  • 1 0
 After looking it up, apparently for the first time, I feel stupid now The carbon steel knifes are the one to buy. I guess I never bothered to look it up and all the shops I've been to only had the stainless steel models.
  • 3 0
 Guaranteed to make you stop..............riding your bike because of the operating costs.
  • 1 0
 Absolutely love the fact that I haven't seen a single person openly admit to wanting to buy a pair. Maybe not all is lost for the sport. Although if it was SantaCruz or Trek, they would probably be sold out by now.
  • 4 1
 How does anyone come up with such a laughably bad idea. These aren't compatible with alhongas!
  • 3 0
 I've been calling Shimano brake pads "Golden Riding Tickets" for a while now - maybe that joke isn't funny anymore.
  • 4 0
 just lol if you're buying these instead of MTX
  • 2 0
 I think regular pads going for 50+ dollars is much more dramatic we are all served with, than this limited edition thingy that affect a very few.
  • 4 0
 Swarovski crystals or fuck you.
  • 2 0
 I'm going to ask my wife for these, it makes my other bike purchases seem reasonable. I can only ask for my anniversary is the problem.
  • 4 0
 How hard would it be to make these into a set of cufflinks?
  • 3 0
 Shimano xtr pads are already titanium backing plates and are not that wild in terms of price.
  • 3 0
 Can I get mine delivered in a baby rhinoceros skull? I’ll pay the extra cost no problem.
  • 3 0
 To be fair, shimano n04c pads are $70 each and are just regular brake pads so its not that much worse than that lol
  • 1 0
 Journey to a new “braking experience”?!?! there is only one experience i want to have when i pull my brake lever, and that is my ass stopping. mtb industry has junped the shark
  • 3 1
 This is right in there with the electronic bike stand and the 150$ chain lube... excessive.
  • 4 0
 The whole intent behind this is to be excessive; I suppose.

I don’t think anyone will actually run these, they’ll sit on display in some CEOs office.
  • 1 0
 @hankbrowne: that was my thought. More of a desk decoration than an actual part intended to be used
  • 2 0
 Do you mean the bike stand that raises and lowers with electric assist? I use one on the nights I do my shop work and it’s wonderful. I don’t even attempt to use the pedestrian acoustic bike stands any more, once you get used to raising and lowering the bike according to the task you’re doing, you’ll never go back. Plus with those big dumb battery mopeds, you just roll it up, clamp the post in the stand, hit the lift button and bring it up to working height. It’s genius.
  • 3 0
 That price is STOPPING me from buying these....
  • 4 4
 its only 170 euros, much cheaper than the saddle i bought, will look good, save weight and improve braking performance on my Yeti....whats not to like..and further justification as if its needed but the pins are re-useable.
  • 1 0
 Look good? You can see like 5% of the gold when they're installed. Even the pins and spring is just too little area to make an impact. I grabbed some titanium SRAM retaining pins to get free shipping once, and they were very lackluster when installed, just too small.
  • 2 0
 reuse pfft I would just throw out my brakes when these pads are worn.
  • 2 1
 @mtbman1980: That's the Xtr bleed procedure.
  • 3 0
 Mars colonization can't happen soon enough. I gotta get out of this place.
  • 3 0
 Gold... or what fox would call Kashima coated.
  • 2 0
 MTX >*
If you’re looking for Shimano pads, don’t bother. Go straight to MTX and never use anything else again.
  • 2 0
 MTX pads are so good. The control is great even if they're wet or dirty.
  • 2 0
 @justinfoil: They last so much longer too! After handlebars and grips, they’re the first thing I install on any bike. They make other pads look like a joke.
  • 1 0
 I’m interested to try them but they’re nearly impossible to get hold off in the UK. How do they cope with heat. And how do they work in the wet? Lots of people love them but I’ve heard lots of reports of them needing constant cleaning, sanding (pads and rotors) to keep running well.
  • 1 0
 @thenotoriousmic: For absolute max power, you might want to keep them spotless, but that kinda goes for any pads, and these are so well mannered in any condition and the power is more than enough most riders.
  • 1 0
 @justinfoil: They sound great. Anything has to better than Uberbike race matrix pads. No matter what the internet says don’t get those pads.
  • 2 0
 I got to say, this made my Friday. So many great smartass comments. A tip of the cap to all!
  • 3 0
 Limited edition brake pads. Stop it, bike industry!!
  • 2 0
 these come with a free kick to the nards for anyone that tells me they have them.
  • 4 0
 Oh fuck off
  • 2 0
 Sometimes Outside you need to know where to draw the line on what to promote... no matter how much they offer you.
  • 2 0
 I´m in. I think these brake pads make me actually faster because I just wouldn't dare to brake.
  • 2 0
 The way inflation is going, all brake pads will cost this buy the end of the year
  • 1 0
 Sure I can afford this .... but I wont buy because I would never support something marked up so much higher than production cost
  • 2 0
 This is great marketing. I had never heard of this company until I saw this article.
  • 1 0
 Still waiting for their gold plated shammy but I guess these will do for now.
  • 1 0
 If they were impervious to contamination I might give them a second thought.
  • 3 1
 This seems like a Specialized move.
  • 1 0
 Sinter claims to have made the greatest performing pads for XC bikes.... For that price - I would prove......
  • 2 0
 pinkbike is gonna have to get a set for budget vs baller - XC edition
  • 1 0
 there no baller item in this post its basically trash
  • 2 0
 We have reached a new level of stupid. Limited edition brakes pads.
  • 2 0
 just going to wait for the depleted uranium and platinum ones.....
  • 2 0
 The bike equivalent of wiping your ass with $100 bills.
  • 2 0
 It’s made from bits of real panther - so you know it good
  • 2 0
 The perfect Tory town bike accessory
  • 2 0
 If they came with their very own NFT I would buy them.
  • 2 0
 and when they wear out, you can wear em as earrings....
  • 2 0
 The Trump family already bought the whole batch for the gold bits alone.
  • 1 1
 This is the worst product release I have ever seen and I don't think I'll be back on PB ever after this. Enough is enough, goodbye Outside. Fucking assholes.
  • 1 0
 They'll last forever because they'll be on cashed up poseurs bikes that don't ride.
  • 1 0
 Bike industry is getting silly expensive....I'm off to buy some trainers and start running
  • 1 0
 I can't tell if this is a PinkBike article or an ad. I hope PinkBike got paid for this.
  • 2 0
 I hate the mountain bike industry I hate the mountain bike industry
  • 1 0
 I guess these don't work so well 'coz the CEO must've crashed and hit his/her head...
  • 1 0
 Next time diamond rotors..
  • 1 0
 no diamonds, no competition.
  • 1 0
 As a show piece sided with Piccola brakes, ok.
  • 1 0
 This is another reason for thieves wanting to steal a bike!
  • 1 0
 Will these fit my Trickstuff Maximas?
  • 1 0
 Even their stock pads are hugely expensive.
  • 1 0
 These... or internal headset cables?
  • 1 0
 Awesome! Just ordered a few sets, really happy about this
  • 2 1
 Are these compatible with Alhonga brakes?
  • 2 0
 late capitalism
  • 1 0
 I just bought the NFT of these. Will last forever for only 2,0 Million.
  • 1 0
 Turn to invest in mining rights for bike park locations
  • 1 0
 Ahahaha nice april fool ! Wait a minute, is it serious ? I mean really ?
  • 1 0
 Wait a second, April already passed.
  • 2 0
 A fool and his money…
  • 1 0
 They will still squeal like hell and not work in the wet.
  • 1 0
 "How do we solve the everyone can afford decent brake pads problem?"
  • 2 0
 April fools 2023?
  • 1 0
 Shimano K04TI Ti backing plate pads have an RRP of £27.99.
  • 1 0
 Stupidity has no limits!!!
  • 1 0
 I will wait for the pinkbike review!
  • 1 0
 This makes me wish a meteor would wipe out our planet.
  • 1 0
 "Is it APRIL fools day"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
  • 1 0
 Can you make a pair with a SUPREME logo? I will pay tripple.
  • 1 0
 From dentist stuff to brain surgeon stuff real quick.
  • 1 0
 here I was thinking saint / zee pads were pricey....
  • 1 0
 I’ll happily put these in my Truckstuff maxima’s.
  • 1 0
 Already sold out
  • 2 1
 Y tho
  • 1 0
 Is this a new currency?
  • 3 4
 non binary orthodontist must have accessory
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