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Morning all.
I recently replaced my front brake pads. In the distant past I was told to always bed new pads in by doing something similar to the following:

On a clear straight section of road at about 40mph+ drag your brakes (do the front and rear seperately) as you apply throttle. Keep doing this until you feel the brakes start to fade. You’ll probably smell them about this time too.
Get off the brake, speed up to about 70, and then brake hard again using only that brake. Repeat one more time.
Continue riding without using that brake to allow it to cool.

I told a mate about this and he was horrified. Whose right

Yep! I remember that sort of advice. About thirty years ago. It would certainly still apply, but these days no-one bothers. Normal driving/riding now is so demanding on brakes that they will bed in on the first outing. I used to cure brakes that developed a squeal by slamming them on at about 70mph. I suspect it ripped the glaze off and they would usually be alright for the next few months. Brake pad compounds have improved somewhat since then.

My advice really is to take it carefully for a few miles and gradually use the brakes harder each time. Apart from that I beleive that they are ready to go from the box.

Just treat them as you would new tyres. Just go easy until they start to feel a bit better.

just a ten penneth: go easy until the (new) pad has shaped itself enough to make full contact over the (old) rotor - to avoid localised heating of the disc and possible warping. Sounds good in theory...