Decent brands of front brake rotors that don't cost an arm/leg/kidney | GTAMotorcycle.com

Decent brands of front brake rotors that don't cost an arm/leg/kidney

J

jc100

Well-known member
I've finally gotten around to sorting out a pretty big service for my bike that involves valves check/adjustment, new tires etc. One of the things I'm getting them to look at is the front brake judder and I'm sourcing out the rotors now just in case they need replacing. I've mentioned this judder before in another thread but this is about sourcing components now. Rotors seem outrageously priced for the ones I can get hold of. They are 320mm floating (semi floating) rotors for a KTM 1290 Super Adventure. I can get hold of OEM ones for $350 CDN which is very, very reasonable BUT every forum post I've read states they will just warp again and most owners end up replacing the KTM OEM ones with aftermarkets. So....I can't seem to source the right EBK rotors in Canada (contacted Fortnine and they don't have any), EBK from the UK would cost me nearly $700 CDN unless I'm looking in the wrong place and everything else from Motomaster/Brembo/Galfer starts to come in at $600+ and up for two. I can source brembo gold from Italy for about $400ish CDN but no idea how long that's going to take to land here.

Any other minor brands in Canada that might have rotors that fit, that are decent that are a bit more reasonably priced? Suppliers to check?

Or....do I just sell a kidney?

Thanks in advance!
 
Have you tried a higher level of service store like bluestreak? I have no idea if they know about SA but they seem to provide valuable advice to others and can get their hands on product.
 
GreyGhost said:
Have you tried a higher level of service store like bluestreak? I have no idea if they know about SA but they seem to provide valuable advice to others and can get their hands on product.
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I'll contact them now. Thanks!
 
If it’s going by ocean then I would say 8 weeks transit + potential 20 days sitting at the dock.
Montreal just went on strike FYI.

lots of blank sailing right now.
Air freight is your best bet. Even that’s been up 30% recently
 
jc100 said:
I can source brembo gold from Italy for about $400ish CDN but no idea how long that's going to take to land here.
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If you're talking about Serie Oro discs from Carpi Moto, I've done two orders with them in the past few months, and in both cases it took longer for the bank transfer via TransferWise to clear (3-4 days) than for the delivery from DHL to arrive once shipped (2-3 days). Their communication was great, too, but I speak a (very) little Italian which may or may not have helped. Even with the bank transfer delays, I got both shipments way faster than pretty much every item I've had shipped from the US or even within Canada from FortNine or Bayside.
 
Priller said:
If you're talking about Serie Oro discs from Carpi Moto, I've done two orders with them in the past few months, and in both cases it took longer for the bank transfer via TransferWise to clear (3-4 days) than for the delivery from DHL to arrive once shipped (2-3 days). Their communication was great, too, but I speak a (very) little Italian which may or may not have helped. Even with the bank transfer delays, I got both shipments way faster than pretty much every item I've had shipped from the US or even within Canada from FortNine or Bayside.
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You happy with the rotors? What were they replacing/which bike?
 
Evoex said:
If it’s going by ocean then I would say 8 weeks transit + potential 20 days sitting at the dock.
Montreal just went on strike FYI.

lots of blank sailing right now.
Air freight is your best bet. Even that’s been up 30% recently
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I saw that on the news. How much of our stuff comes through the port of Montreal?
 
jc100 said:
I saw that on the news. How much of our stuff comes through the port of Montreal?
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A lot. Halifax and Montreal take in the freight from Europe sometimes India.
 
jc100 said:
You happy with the rotors? What were they replacing/which bike?
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Haven't tried them yet, to be honest. Bought for an RC51 track bike build to go on a set of rims I bought with no discs. First track day is a ways off, it seems, so likely won't get to use them until June at the rate we're going...

Quality is what you'd expect from Brembo, top notch. As far as I can tell, the main difference with them and the Supersport discs is thickness and slightly heavier carriers...
 
Priller said:
Haven't tried them yet, to be honest. Bought for an RC51 track bike build to go on a set of rims I bought with no discs. First track day is a ways off, it seems, so likely won't get to use them until June at the rate we're going...

Quality is what you'd expect from Brembo, top notch. As far as I can tell, the main difference with them and the Supersport discs is thickness and slightly heavier carriers...
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Thanks, if they can handle a track bike at track speeds they can handle my lardy ass on my lardy bike at normal speeds!
 
A lot of European suppliers use DHL for bike parts shipped to Canada -- I've had it take less than a week.

A buddy has this problem with his 790, he told me it's just something that happens on KTMs with 320 front rotors. He's pretty hardcore KTM, said it's they all eventually warp, he mentioned the OEs are your best bet, you get some sort of warranty on them.

He believes it's due to the small circle hub KTM uses - too much distance from brake pad to hub.
 
Mad Mike said:
A lot of European suppliers use DHL for bike parts shipped to Canada -- I've had it take less than a week.

A buddy has this problem with his 790, he told me it's just something that happens on KTMs with 320 front rotors. He's pretty hardcore KTM, said it's they all eventually warp, he mentioned the OEs are your best bet, you get some sort of warranty on them.

He believes it's due to the small circle hub KTM uses - too much distance from brake pad to hub.
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The problem with that warranty is that it’s great but...if you keep needing to replace them as they warp then what’s the cost of inconvenience? I read the same thing about the 320 rotors. Most owners with the issue got rid of it altogether by ditching the OEM rotors. I might look into seeing if there was a large bad batch of the things as they are still the cheapest set at $350CDN but if not I’ll likely pony up another 100 and get the Brembos from Italy. Mind you...with all the new model KTM 1290s plus the 1190s and some lower cc models all using the same rotors there should be an epidemic of issues right now too if they are all bad and I’m not sure that’s happening.

Decisions decisions.
 
I'll take EBC over Brembo all day long.

EBC Canada is useless, deal with Britain.
Dollar is up, pound is down.
 
bitzz said:
I'll take EBC over Brembo all day long.

EBC Canada is useless, deal with Britain.
Dollar is up, pound is down.
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Really? I'd be interested in hearing why you say that (I don't dispute it, I just figure you have a good reason)
 
Firstly, I hate Brembo.
Pretentious Italian goombas

Generally I am prejudiced in thinking Engish steel is better than Italian (HA!) steel.

EBC uses spin cast metal (I think that's what it's called)
EBC carriers are usually lighter
EBC is cheaper and easier to replace the bobbins
Brembo, and most OEM rotors have a higher nickel content. Doesn't rust, but doesn't have as much bite nor work as well in the wet. For a while Honda was using almost stainless rotors, they were near dangerous in the wet... but lasted FOREVER
 
jc100 said:
The problem with that warranty is that it’s great but...if you keep needing to replace them as they warp then what’s the cost of inconvenience? I read the same thing about the 320 rotors. Most owners with the issue got rid of it altogether by ditching the OEM rotors. I might look into seeing if there was a large bad batch of the things as they are still the cheapest set at $350CDN but if not I’ll likely pony up another 100 and get the Brembos from Italy. Mind you...with all the new model KTM 1290s plus the 1190s and some lower cc models all using the same rotors there should be an epidemic of issues right now too if they are all bad and I’m not sure that’s happening.

Decisions decisions.
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I think if you read around it’s found on all KLM and Ducs that use the small circumference mounting on 320s. You can find lots on how riders take replacing rotors as part of their cost of ownership.

Compare at Japanese 320s, they have a larger hub, less room to flex and get out of shape.

I believe this again is the difference in dependability engineering you have to live with and pay for when you buy a euro bike. Lighter front wheel, higher maintenance costs.
 
Alrighty...mechanic (great guy, Unique Cycle if you ever need anything Kingston way) said there’s a slight warp which doesn’t affect braking power right now but if anything will happen it will only get worse. Gave me the option of just leaving it be but now I know for sure it’s there it will bug me. So...Carpimoto 318 euros later for 2 Brembo serie oro rotors and some Brembo LS sintered street pads shipped to my door. About 450 CDN I think. Way cheaper than anything I could find here. Figured new pads with the new rotors to make sure everything beds in properly.

Edit. For anyone going this route a previous poster mentioned they had issues with a credit card purchase from Carpimoto. No issues with my Rogers MC (I got it as it deals with international purchases in a different way and you end up paying less in fees as there are rebates etc).
 
jc100 said:
Alrighty...mechanic (great guy, Unique Cycle if you ever need anything Kingston way) said there’s a slight warp which doesn’t affect braking power right now but if anything will happen it will only get worse. Gave me the option of just leaving it be but now I know for sure it’s there it will bug me. So...Carpimoto 318 euros later for 2 Brembo serie oro rotors and some Brembo LS sintered street pads shipped to my door. About 450 CDN I think. Way cheaper than anything I could find here. Figured new pads with the new rotors to make sure everything beds in properly.
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Good stuff. Let me know how they work out, as at this rate you'll be trying yours before I can try mine...
 
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