Wavy Discs (Rotors)

[grommit]

While browsing Ebay, as you do, I noticed some wavy discs for sale for the FZ. I think they look trick, but do they have any benefit?

I can see they may have less mass therefore less unsprung mass. The waves should create some turbulence and therefore help cool them down quicker.

So has anybody fitted them?
What do people think of them as a mod generally.

 

[Fred]

Racers seem to like them. Although you should check out the brand name before buying. I wouldn't want to trust no name brakes.

The big advantages are increased venting of gases generated by the brake pads during heavy braking, as well as resistance to warpage.

If you want more stopping force, a change of brake pads would be the first, cheaper option.

Fred

 

[bmccrary]

Keep this in mind, too...

There is less surface area with a wave rotor so even though it is venting the gasses better and stayin cooler, you "technically" are not getting as much braking out of them.

Honestly though, if your not tracking the bike, its pretty much a waste, IMHO.
+1 for getting a nice set of pads.

-bryan

 

[HavBlue]

Racers seem to like them. Although you should check out the brand name before buying. I wouldn't want to trust no name brakes.

The big advantages are increased venting of gases generated by the brake pads during heavy braking, as well as resistance to warpage.

If you want more stopping force, a change of brake pads would be the first, cheaper option.

Fred

The modern semi metallic or ceramic type brake pads are for more efficient than the days of asbestos and outgassing isn't really a problem in the modern applications. I agree switching pads can be a help but the need for cross drilling or channeling in an effort to prevent outgassing simply isn't there. Rather, cooling is an issue under hard braking and those same cross drilled rotors dissipate heat faster than the solid rotor hence the need for holes.....

 

[Hellgate]

While browsing Ebay, as you do, I noticed some wavy discs for sale for the FZ. I think they look trick, but do they have any benefit?

I can see they may have less mass therefore less unsprung mass. The waves should create some turbulence and therefore help cool them down quicker.

So has anybody fitted them?
What do people think of them as a mod generally.

I think they are mainly for the Bling folks with long swing arms and sparkely paint jobs in hideous colors.

Now if you bought some Galfer of Lockhart's that might be another story, I don't know. The brakes are so damn good on the FZ I don't think I would bother.

Galfer Notes:

CycleBrakes.com - Motorcycle Brakes, Accessories, Motorcycle Parts, Brake Rotors, Pads, Lines, Discs, ATV Brakes, Wave Rotors, Braking Systems, Galfer, Sport-bike Brakes, Custom Steel-braided Brake Lines, Harley-Davidson, Dirt-bike MX Brakes, Perform

Manufacturing Comments:

Laser cut (not stamped) to assure no stress to the material
Made of a unique high carbon content steel (420ss) for higher friction
Pre-heat treated so that the rotor is less likely to warp
Double, parallel disc grinded and diamond finished for perfect flatness

Benefits

The brake system stays cooler and in contact with the rotor surface. This provides better brake power and lever feel.
Their exclusive, unusual design gives a distinct look to your machine. Observers will notice that you have modified your application of rotors.
Universal right and left side fitments holes are dispersed in a uniform pattern instead of fan-like pattern, for added cooling features
Both front bolt-on and full-floating applications and rear bolt-on rotors are available for hundreds of applications.
Full floating rotors stay in touch with the brake pad’s surface much longer than non-floating, conventional rotors and allow the rotor to follow the path of the caliper, which reduces caliper flex. This innovation provides better brake feel and power
However, with each different riding application and part number there are also some additional benefits.

Added Features

The wave rotors are designed to work excellent with all brake pad compositions for added cooling benefits. Magazine testing used wave rotors in combination with Galfer HH pads for optimum performance.
Although the Wave Rotors were initially designed for weight savings, this will vary by application and may not apply. We are unable to give stock v. wave weight savings for particular models.

Sport Bikes, Super Motard & Other Racing: The added amount of trailing edges gives the racer better brake response at first touch of the brake lever. The Sport Bike application rotors by Galfer are race-ready units that perform excellent on the street. Many top race teams in national and local super-bike races currently use Galfer’s rotors. When you are at the track, stop and ask any Galfer sponsored team what they think about these rotors. You’ll be amazed. It’s likely that you’ll meet a factory representative as well.

 

[grommit]

I do not think I would buy them just curious what people thought. I might think about it if the discs needed doing.

On my car I have Tar-ox radial grooved G88 discs with EBC green stuff pads.

They work real well.

 

[wolfc70]

I do not think I would buy them just curious what people thought. I might think about it if the discs needed doing.

On my car I have Tar-ox radial grooved G88 discs with EBC green stuff pads.

They work real well.

I LOVE EBC Green Stuff pads. They were the best pads I have ever put on a vehicle. Less dust, better wear, less noise and NO FADE under hard (not track) driving. I think when the time comes I will put EBC on the FZ6.

 

[flyer34]

I tried a set of EBC pads on my car (Cavalier Z24). They do stop great, but they're much more aggressive in regards to wear than I expected. One set of pads completely chewed up my brand new rotors (EBC dimpled/slotted rotors). Also, the pads wore out much faster than I expected.

I replaced the EBC setup with Bendix CT-3 Ceramic pads and stock solid rotors, and believe it or not, the performance is actually as good if not better than the EBCs. So far the pad life looks to be much longer, and the brake dust is, again believe it or not, less than the EBCs - almost no dust at all.

The EBCs are great performing pads, but in my experience the Bendix are just as good and are much more practical.

 

[Justang]

The modern semi metallic or ceramic type brake pads are for more efficient than the days of asbestos and outgassing isn't really a problem in the modern applications. I agree switching pads can be a help but the need for cross drilling or channeling in an effort to prevent outgassing simply isn't there. Rather, cooling is an issue under hard braking and those same cross drilled rotors dissipate heat faster than the solid rotor hence the need for holes.....

:rockon:

I wish more people knew this. Off gassing is a thing of the past.

 

[bard]

I am considering the Galfer Wavy discs for my FZ6, they're ferking expensive so I don't want to waste my money for nothing.

Best upgrade on brakes is stainless steel braided hoses (e.g. Galfer) and better brake pads. However when I was riding in the mountain passes in Northern Thailand I noticed this;

My discs were blue at the edges after... Up there you have very steep hills up and down and curve after curve hairpins etc. So you use the brakes a lot, and the ambient temperature is easily 36 centigrades or 100 F. I am not sure if bluish discs is a sign for overheating? Or close to overheating? I noticed the brakes started to fade in long downhill twisties, so I switched to trailbraking for a while to cool down the front, end result is bluish discs front and rear. So is this of any risk or is it normal and never mind?

I will upgrade if this is a sign of closing into the limits, but if this is normal I won't bother.

Cheers Bard

 

[Wolfman]

I have the braking brand Wave discs, which are pretty much identical, if not exactly the same as the Galfers....

They are a lot lighter than OEM discs, so there is one advantage....i have 4 pot r6 calipers on my bike (same as fz6, except different disc insert colour - blue), with braided lines, and Ferodo sintered pads, and they work extremely well...

And yes, they look awesome too!

:rockon:

 

[SovietRobot]

I thought you had the galfers wolfy, how do you like the cheaper ones?

 

[Wolfman]

I thought you had the galfers wolfy, how do you like the cheaper ones?

not a cent cheaper in oz, in fact, they were a little more expensive at the time of buying, and they are made by the same contractor, to the same spec.

And I reckon they are a lot better than OEM performance wise...and I can compare back to back...pinky has OEM rotors, same brake lines, same brake calipers, and the streety definitely stops better. :thumbup:

 

[Justang]

I am considering the Galfer Wavy discs for my FZ6, they're ferking expensive so I don't want to waste my money for nothing.

Best upgrade on brakes is stainless steel braided hoses (e.g. Galfer) and better brake pads. However when I was riding in the mountain passes in Northern Thailand I noticed this;

My discs were blue at the edges after... Up there you have very steep hills up and down and curve after curve hairpins etc. So you use the brakes a lot, and the ambient temperature is easily 36 centigrades or 100 F. I am not sure if bluish discs is a sign for overheating? Or close to overheating? I noticed the brakes started to fade in long downhill twisties, so I switched to trailbraking for a while to cool down the front, end result is bluish discs front and rear. So is this of any risk or is it normal and never mind?

I will upgrade if this is a sign of closing into the limits, but if this is normal I won't bother.

Cheers Bard

This post has no relevance to the topic at hand... but I wanted to save you from saying this to somebody who might be a jerk. Trail braking is not using your rear brakes to slow yourself. Trail braking is when you continue braking when leaning into a curve. You would be trailing off the brakes to the point of the apex of the turn. In a standard turn you want to scrub off speed before entering the turn. Just fyi bud.

 

[bard]

Then I was trailbraking mate, as this is what I did;

I kept lower speed to not use front brakes more than a blip and trailbraked through the corners downhill to cool down my front discs. Normally I brake to the curve with front, and roll on the throttle through the curve uphill or downhill, I never use the rear brakes to be honest. I don't like trailbraking at all, so it slowed me down big time.

Sorry but I am not native English speaker/writer so maybe I was not clear in the post. Anyway thanks a lot for correcting me, great to get input and I appreciate it.

Hopefully someone could help me out and tell me bluening of discs are bad or not, it would be fantastic as if it is I will go for Galfer wave discs, if not leave it be and just change the brake pads to Galfer HH in front.

Cheers Bard

 

[Justang]

I don't think a little discoloration will hurt. Are they warped? Think you could get pictures of them.

 

[bard]

No there not warped, just a bit of discoloration on the edges. Right now I'm in Angola working so can't get pics until I'm home again unfortunately. So you think it should be fine riding with them? I'll put on Galfer HH front pads and check it out on my next tour in the end of the month. If they get more blue I will change the front discs, if not leave it.

Cheers and thanks for the input Justang.