| Author | Message | ||
     Wolfridgerider |
What a difference a "NEW" rotor makes.... I just put the wheels from my race bike on the Uly. They have "NEWER" tires on them..... Now I have NO pulsing when I use the front brake. I had put a set of Lyndal Golds on before the swap and that helped... but the newer rotor is SAWEET!! The old rotor has about 36,000 miles on it. What kinda mileage is anyone else getting before you replace your old rotor? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Mark- One former XB rider (Rubberdown) told me he saw an marked improvement by occasionally installing new hardware on the existing rotor. His theory was the hardware (screws, springs, and locator blocks) gets clogged with brake dust, dirt, etc. keeping the rotor from "floating" properly. Since the screws are one-use-only, he just replaced everything (IIRC). I think I'll try that at some point. It'd be considerably cheaper than a new rotor. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
That sounds like a plan... Just a FYI, when you order a new rotor...it comes with a the mounting hardware.... don't ask how I found that out.... | ||
| Maximum |
I replaced my rotor at 34,000 when I upgraded to the ZTL2 system, and it was like night and day! But honestly I should have replaced my rotor around 15,000 miles...I had just been accepting the pulsing as normal, well it is not normal! | ||
| Buelltoys |
Guess I should be replacing mine then! I have 52,000 on mine and still going. I have been thinking of buying both front and rear rotors to replace just have not found the time. Since I live in the south I ride to work all year and when I quit working 7 days maybe I will find time to change. Good to know the pulsing is not normal. I am just living with it for a little while longer. Maybe on my vacation in a few weeks I will change. | ||
| Portero72 |
I just had my rotor replaced at 8500 miles. I promptly went home and threw in a set of Lyndall's I had. Soooo much more confident in panic stops. | ||
| Etennuly |
My Uly is over 37,000 on the original rotor. It is about time to smooth it out by replacing it. The last couple thousand miles have been showing, not pulsing, but rather a roughness when applying the front brake. Anybody know what these things cost? Is a wave rotor a good alternative? The Lyndalls have been on since 19,000 and still have a good amount of pad left. It is time to check the torque on the steering head. I need to do the fork oil change to. Crap, it needs new tires also, and it is close on fluid changes, then the damn fuel pump wires need done. Cheeeech! When will it end? I should have bought a.....I don't know. I guess if I want to save time and money on up keep, don't ride it!  | ||
| Froggy |
These dang gone BMWs and their upkeep! New rotor is like $150 including hardware, wave is $300 no hard ware, but looks so sexy with the red ZTL2   | ||
| Mad_doctor |
Man,,, That picture with the brake line rubbing the tire REALLY bothers me... You KNOW at some time, there is going to be that "OH SHIT" moment, when you grab for the brake, and guess what? I guess that is why they handle so well, so you can use that expert riding ability, and steer around it. | ||
| Froggy |
I had my "oh shit" moment during a stoppie  The "Oh shit" was "why is it coming back down so soon? I am still doing 50!" The new brake line is on the other side of the fork, just like the post-recall 09 XB's | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I love your imaginary front fender Just enough to protect the tubes. | ||
| Michael1 |
Mine was toast at 15k miles. The pulsing was so bad I couldn't stop it with out it trying to buck me off. I ditched the stock pads at 5k miles and that helped...but I think I fried the rotor at an extended trip down in the Smokey Mountains. I was running a fairy "quick" pace and using my brakes. They just were never the same after that trip. I also went with the "Wave" rotor. Mine is made by Galfer. With new mounting hardware, EBC HH Pads and the rotor, it cost me about $400. The upgrade is pretty darn amazing. With the 17mm radial master cylinder I had on the bike before hand...it is really something now. Almost rivals my SV track bike.... | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I was running a fairy "quick" pace Just what is a fairy quick pace?? Is that running so you don't get caught? or is it running so you maybe you don't get caught... hehehe, you're naughty.. kinda running pace | ||
| Michael1 |
Let's put it this way... between track pace and the pace of a rider who thinks he knows how to ride fast... | ||
| Hoon |
My disc (sorry, rotor) story is so similar to a few of you other guys that it makes me feel better- thanks for that. At approx. 15,000 miles I'd had enough of the pulsing (which had been present for far too long) and tried to get it replaced under (sorry to swear) extended warranty. The dealer didn't wear it of course but sold me a new one for the H.O.G. discount price- woo! I did fit new pads before replacing it which didn't help, the disc was proved to be warped as measured by the tech guy. I nearly went for a 'wave' pattern disc but the received knowledge in the UK Buell world is that they are prone to shattering so I decided I'd rather have the new disc warp rather than break on me! The new disc has done nearly 4,000 miles now and I swear I can feel the pulse starting to come back (I felt the first disc start to go around 6,000 miles) so I guess it's one of the 'character' features of owning a Buell- I'm still not getting rid of it though. No-one going to retro-fit a drum then ?  | ||
| Froggy |
Care to elaborate or give a source. First I am hearing of it, and I am yet to shatter mine. Oh I have dented the rim and slammed it hard a few times from failed wheelie landings, and regularly catch air off the train tracks near work. | ||
| Hoon |
It's what the resident expert (Maz) on UKBEG tells us. ( www.ukbeg.com ) As he's a Buell expert working on them (in a dealership I believe) everyday his advice seems to be based on prior experience. Of course you could say that he has a vested interest in promoting genuine parts but he does fit and recommend after-market kit when he deems it to be fit for purpose it seems. Sorry to sow the seed of doubt. Who knows how true it is, you see plenty of them fitted on all types of bikes and I would have thought that if it was a common fault we'd have heard about it by now in all types of motorcycle press. How many miles have you got on yours now Froggy? It'll be interesting to see if it gets affected by 'the dreaded warp'- if not then I may bung one on mine when the inevitable happens. | ||
| Froggy |
I got only about 18k miles on that rotor, I put it on roughly a year ago. | ||
| Hoon |
And no pulsing? Cool Is it the Breaking Wave make? | ||
| Froggy |
I got a slight pulsing, I blame it on doing too many stoppies. Ton of crap built up in the hard ware, I will take it off and scrub it clean and then change the hardware, it shouldn't need any more than that. Now to get castrated for saying this again, I use the rear brake to hold the bike instead of the front when stopped at lights. This prevents the pad material from building up on the surface of the front rotor. Doing stoppies is just the opposite and it only seemed to show up after I did a ton of them in a short time. | ||
| Svh |
I too hold the bike with the rear at lights. I feel like I can do an avoidance manuever much quicker and better with my hand fully on the throttle. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""I use the rear brake to hold the bike instead of the front when stopped at lights. This prevents the pad material from building up on the surface of the front rotor. "" +1 Never hold the bike w/ the front brake/rotor when its hot - that'll warp it as well...just my 2cents . | ||
| Hoon |
Haha, yeah- plenty of back brake use from me too. You get used to doing it so you don't look like a dick as you pull up somewhere with a pogoing front end style from the WARPED BL00DY DISC! It's fine to hold the bike at stops with the back brake- we all know to be ready to jam the front brake on if an a hole comes up too quick behind us don't we. | ||
| Tootal |
I think that's the only reason they put a rear brake on the Uly isn't it?  It's not good for much else!  | ||
| Froggy |
You should try my rear brake, I've locked it up in a wheelie. (I had to change my underwear after) Lyndal pads and Wave rotors up front and behind  | ||
| Hoon |
You're just a bloomin' hoolie Froggy- you'll give us all a bad name . | ||
| Sanchez |
My front rotor pulses badly under hard braking. I don't recall when it started, but I have about 29k miles right now. I haven't bothered to replace it because I know it'll just warp again eventually. I've considered swapping in the rotor from my old M2 (which had an 03 XB9 front end). Considering what was left of the front wheel after I destroyed the Cyclone, that one probably isn't any better, though. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I think this pulsing is just the nature of this braking system, its like an old dog, it just keeps coming back.....Take a 4 inch wire wheel (the knotted kind) and polish off the crap that builds up on the rotor...it will make a big difference.. I do my rotor regularly..I was looking at the new XR1200 yesterday and was lusting for its' front brakes. |
