BrakeRotors
The brake rotor is a disc attached to the front and rear wheel. When the rider applies the brakes, the brake pads squeeze the disc creating friction and results in slowing the spinning wheel. This reduces the bike kinetic energy by dissipating the velocity into heat.
Brake Rotor Characteristics
A brake rotor has the following traits:
- High in friction. The pads need a surface they can grip.
- Dissipates heat quickly. If the disc gets too hot the brakes will 'fade' and braking ability is reduced.
- Light weight. The less sprung weight the easier it is for your suspension to control the wheel. Less rotational weight also help acceleration and deceleration. Some weight however is required in the friction surface for efficient heat absorption, durability and stability.
- Suitable lifespan. It would send owners broke if the brake rotor needed changing too often. But they do wear out.
Brake Rotor Features
Floating Disc
The floating disc is made from 2 parts.
This allows the inner portion of the disc mounting system to be made from a lighter, weaker material (forged aluminium) and hence decrease the rotating mass of the wheel and adding to the overall lightness of the motorcycle. They also aid in faster dissipation of heat, and reduce heart transfer from the brakes to the wheel bearings.
The high friction outer part of the disk where the calliper grabs will be made of a high friction, high heat tolerant material. Usually steel or in more exotic applications could be made from a special ceramic substrate.
Cross Drilled and/or Slotted
Drilling holes across the friction surface of the disc has the following benefits.
- The edges of the slots or holes continuously clean and refresh the pad surface as well as providing increased brake "bite". Additionally, they prevent gasses from collecting between the pad and disc interface.
- The disc is lightened, thereby decreasing its rotational inertia.
- Improved ventilation increases the disc's ability to shed heat, resulting in cooler operating temperatures
Wave Rotors
These rotors have a modified perimeter to your normal circular disc rotor. The contoured shape may offer the following benefits:
- Greater pad 'bite'. See Cross Drilled and Slotted.
- Better heat dissipation due to turbulent air created by the contoured shape chopping up the air. This turbulence also helps to keep the pad cleaner as it promotes the removal of dust and dirt.
- In some circumstances, they may be lighter weight.
Benefits of a wave rotor are not often noticed with street riding, but are more noticeable when under hard use like on track days.
EBC Rotors
EBC Pro Lite
1989 - 2008 Front Part number: MD3006RS
1989 - 2008 Rear Part number: MD3002
EBC Pro Lite Contoured
1989 - 2008 Front Part Number: MD3006C
1989 - 2008 Rear Part number: MD3002C