Abstract: In order to investigate the friction properties between CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastics) main cable and saddle of a suspension bridge, the contact geometry and contact characteristics of main cable and saddle were analyzed theoretically. From the related formula for calculating the friction coefficient, parametric analysis of factors influencing the friction properties is conducted, static tests were designed and carried out under different parametric conditions. Theoretical and experimental results show that the friction coefficient between CFRP main cable and saddle was sensitive to the roughness of saddle surface and CFRP rod species, but the average radial pressure affects on the friction coefficient slightly. The friction coefficient between saddle and hot-extruded CFRP main cable, composed of hot-extruded CFRP rods with micro-embossed silks, is not sensitive to friction membrane, while the friction coefficient between saddle and cold-drawn CFRP main cable, composed of cold-drawn light circular CFRP rods, decreases with the appearance of the friction membrane. As a result, compared with the cold-drawn CFRP main cable, the hot-extruded CFRP main cable has excellent tribological properties. The friction coefficients between the two types of CFRP main cables and saddle are respectively about 0.5 and 0.3 to meet the design standards.