1200 Sport Brake Rotor Issues, Solutions

[johnnyquest]

If the brakes pulse but it's intermittent - I would check to see if your caliper's pistons are all moving freely too.....brake pad dust, etc.

I have about 3,500 miles on mine with some spirited going and stopping involved - nothing but excellent braking performance to report.

Well, that's one!! I'm now hopeful!!  

JQ

[chornbe]

Well, that's one!! I'm now hopeful!!  

JQ

My Breva doesn't have the petal rotors, so it's not a 1:1 comparison, but the bike has ~12k miles on it. I bought it at 7400 miles and I ride pretty aggressively. No issues with the brakes; performance or pulsing.

[Biking Sailor]

Back in my sports car racing days, One guy I knew that built a lot of cars for other racers was anal about "breaking in" the brakes.   A lot of the cars had come out with drums and converting to disk, he would do a series of slow easy stops to match the pads to the disks.   Don't know if it would help prevent this on the new bikes, but may be worth a try.  What could it hurt?

Of course the guys setting the bike up has already hit the binders a bit... mine has 14 miles on it from set up at MI.

[jdgretz]

There are a number of theories why the rotors on the 1200 Sport seem particularly susceptible to warping.    The Breva and Norge have the same calipers and pads but different (non-wave) rotors.  Neither bike has a problem with warped rotors.

Not quite so fast - the Norges/Brevas, especially the '07s had the same issue.  Mine was one of those effected.  Had both front rotors replaced under warranty at the 6250 service and the latest 11,000 miles have been trouble free - still on the original brake pads.  I think there was a bad run of rotors - some got them, some didn't.

jdg

[MisterSmooth]

Not quite so fast - the Norges/Brevas, especially the '07s had the same issue.  Mine was one of those effected.  Had both front rotors replaced under warranty at the 6250 service and the latest 11,000 miles have been trouble free - still on the original brake pads.  I think there was a bad run of rotors - some got them, some didn't.

jdg

Yeah, I think there's something in that.

In my case, Moto International is putting on new rotors next week under warranty.  My heated grips came in   so at the same time they're putting on my heated grips and a spiffy Moto Guzzi tank pad.  

We'll see how this next set of rotors wears.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are no issues after this.

[johnnyquest]

Yeah, I think there's something in that.

In my case, Moto International is putting on new rotors next week under warranty.  My heated grips came in   so at the same time they're putting on my heated grips and a spiffy Moto Guzzi tank pad.  

We'll see how this next set of rotors wears.  I wouldn't be surprised if there are no issues after this.

You'll have to post pics of the spiffy MG tank pad!

JQ

[bisbonian]

While on the Rt. 666 ride this weekend my brakes developed a wicked pulse at one point.  After thinking about it I came to the conclusion that it started after a nasty downhill section with plenty of curves that had me heating up the brakes a bit.  We got to the bottom and pulled off the side of the road so one of the guys could take some pictures; I think I may have sat there with the front brake engaged for a bit to keep from rolling while waiting.

Regardless the next morning when I rode home there was no hint of a pulse.  Popular opinion on these bikes is that the pad material is too soft and can transfer to the rotor if you heat them up and then sit with the brake engaged.  EBC HH pads are supposed to be a good fix for them; I'll have to try them at some point.

Obligatory Pic

[chornbe]

While on the Rt. 666 ride this weekend my brakes developed a wicked pulse at one point.  After thinking about it I came to the conclusion that it started after a nasty downhill section with plenty of curves that had me heating up the brakes a bit.  We got to the bottom and pulled off the side of the road so one of the guys could take some pictures; I think I may have sat there with the front brake engaged for a bit to keep from rolling while waiting.

Regardless the next morning when I rode home there was no hint of a pulse.  Popular opinion on these bikes is that the pad material is too soft and can transfer to the rotor if you heat them up and then sit with the brake engaged.  EBC HH pads are supposed to be a good fix for them; I'll have to try them at some point.

That was an assumption on the Buells as well.

[MisterSmooth]

My new rotors were mounted under warranty and I took them out for a 3,500 mile break in ride to Minneapolis and back.  Zero issues so far.      Moto International switched from the OEM to EBC HH pads, too; they think that's a better pairing than OEM.


My inside contact says that a significant number of these Braking Wave Rotors (Braking is the manufacturer) warp right away.  And that they tend to warp anyhow as "normal wear", and getting 10,000 miles out of a set would be considered "normal."


So that's the way of the world and maybe 10,000 miles from now when it happens again, I'll have them mount something different.  A farkle to be looked forward to rather than an underengineered part.   'Scool by me