Just a word to the wise. Tonight I changed my front brake pads because this morning I noticed marks on the rotor. In case you are not aware of the fact that the front rotor cost over $350 to replace I am letting you know it does.

New policy for me is change the front brake pads at the beginning of each new riding year (spring) whether they need it or not they only cost $35 and take less then 20 minutes to change even for a beginner. Do the math if you do this each year you should get at least 5 years out of the rotor and still only spent $175 and taken 1 hour and 4o minutes of your time.

Just a thought 

Robert

Wow.  Was that dealer retail?  Seriously I'm not trying to be a jerk, just curious.  

Glad you got it taken care of, though, and great reminder to everyone to check their pads.  

Dude if you know a cheaper way to get a new rotor post it and broadcast it loud! I am dealing with a shop in NJ. I about fell off my chair when I heard the quote from him! Moral of the story though is watch those rotors! it's much cheaper to replace the pads. I am anal about my maintenance to begin with and I noticed marks and I was like wholly ....

Quote from: JB848 on July 16, 2009, 08:12:58 PM
Dude if you know a cheaper way to get a new rotor post it and broadcast it loud! I am dealing with a shop in NJ. I about fell off my chair when I heard the quote from him! Moral of the story though is watch those rotors! it's much cheaper to replace the pads. I am anal about my maintenance to begin with and I noticed marks and I was like wholly ....

Heck, even one of the fanciest street and track rotor on the market (EBC wave rotor) is "only" $220 from dennis kirk.  Really nice, light, and tough as nails.  I've burned up a caliper, master cylinder and 3 sets of sintered pads at the track and still haven't warped the rotor!

I sold a stock mint 2008 rotor with 1000 miles for $30 shipped a few months ago.  You can find nice ones with a little effort.   It came with a mint rim I bought on ebay.  

All GS500 rotors are the same, just the color is different.  There has to be a better way than $350.

Dude, there is enough of them after the kat swaps that they cost next to nothing ...
I can make em, prolly for under 100 a piece but why ever  bother ... 20 prepaid's and I'll start on it, but ... screw that I aint getting started ... it is useless ... plenty available.
Cool.
Buddha.

not trying to be a jerk, but why not change it yourself? i think that $350 is all being charged for "labor" 'cause you can get a decent front rotor for a lot cheaper. http://www.bikebandit.com/product/19426?mg=3607&t=1&td=1 is a nice one.

if you haven't made any commitments i'd try and get out of it. 

g'luck.

cheers,
~drin

Quote from: drincruz on July 16, 2009, 08:41:53 PM
not trying to be a jerk, but why not change it yourself? i think that $350 is all being charged for "labor" 'cause you can get a decent front rotor for a lot cheaper. http://www.bikebandit.com/product/19426?mg=3607&t=1&td=1 is a nice one.

if you haven't made any commitments i'd try and get out of it.  

g'luck.

cheers,
~drin

+1.

Ok this is why I posted this to help every one else! East Coast Suzuki

I have been to the East Coast Suzuki before.  never bought anything from them though since i live 10 minutes from Burger's Suzuki dealer and they are really good about ordering and finding whichever part i need.  Usually takes them 2 days and their prices are fair compared to ordering stuff over the internet.

Yeah, there's gotta be some labor in there. Ask them how much it is just for the rotor. The first new bike I bought was a ninja 250, and after I took it back for inspection the next year they told me it needed a new chain, brake pads, whatever else that all came to about $300 some in parts, so they did it, and handed me another bill for $700 in labor  

Never again will I make that mistake!

I work at a Suzuki dealer and the OEM rotor from Suzuki is $202. GS Twin price $175 shipped 

Well Thanks for all of the input. And no that was not labor included. I do all of my maintenance thank you very much.

East Coast Kawasaki I believe it is called is on the high side with all of their prices because they can and where they are located.

The guys that work there are really cool but they don't set the prices the owner does so.

When I do buy a new (never used) rotor I will definatley call scottpA_GS and get one from his business.

Quote from: scottpA_GS on July 17, 2009, 07:14:16 AM

I work at a Suzuki dealer and the OEM rotor from Suzuki is $202. GS Twin price $175 shipped 

How much are the brake pads? I don't know if mine need replaced yet, but I'm replacing most of the random stuff, so I figure I should get at those too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-2005-GS500F-GS-500-FRONT-BRAKE-ROTOR-p_W0QQitemZ350219668925QQcmdZViewItem
nothing wrong with that one.

http://kneedraggers.amazonwebstore.com/EBC-ProLite-Brake-Rotors-Suzuki-GS500F/M/B000KJWIU6.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
that one looks real nice

http://kneedraggers.amazonwebstore.com/EBC-ProLite-Brake-Rotors-Suzuki-GS500E/M/B000KJQK0A.htm?traffic_src=froogle&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=froogle
and if your bike is not '04+

Quote from: tt_four on July 17, 2009, 08:21:05 AM

Quote from: scottpA_GS on July 17, 2009, 07:14:16 AM

I work at a Suzuki dealer and the OEM rotor from Suzuki is $202. GS Twin price $175 shipped 

How much are the brake pads? I don't know if mine need replaced yet, but I'm replacing most of the random stuff, so I figure I should get at those too.

OEM fronts are $40 shipped (GStwin price)... I think EBCs are cheaper but I dont have a book at my desk right this sec.

You can look things up on www.cernics.com PM me the part # and I will get you your GStwin price 

Anyone needs anything feel free to PM me. Sometimes I post in these threads and never look in em again 

Quote from: scottpA_GS on July 17, 2009, 11:08:01 AM

Quote from: tt_four on July 17, 2009, 08:21:05 AM

Quote from: scottpA_GS on July 17, 2009, 07:14:16 AM

I work at a Suzuki dealer and the OEM rotor from Suzuki is $202. GS Twin price $175 shipped 

How much are the brake pads? I don't know if mine need replaced yet, but I'm replacing most of the random stuff, so I figure I should get at those too.

OEM fronts are $40 shipped (GStwin price)... I think EBCs are cheaper but I dont have a book at my desk right this sec.

You can look things up on www.cernics.com PM me the part # and I will get you your GStwin price 

Anyone needs anything feel free to PM me. Sometimes I post in these threads and never look in em again 

Now this I don't understand I got the EBC's yesterday and put them on last night and they were only $32.00 + tax ? What gives here?

 What do you mean "what gives" ?

Its Like I said... EBC's are cheaper...

OEM compounds are better and usually are all around better pads as far as Im told. Give me the EBC part# and Im sure I can beat $32

 FA129 Fronts $26 Shipped for GStwin  

FA129HH $30 Shipped 

Although it's a good idea not to let your pads wear all the way down to lessen the severity of rotor grooves, you can change your pads every year and your rotors will wear anyway.  They will still get thinner.  I wait until the pads are near but not at their service limit before I change them.  I never ran a controlled experiment, but I would doubt that changing pads every year would make rotors last significantly longer than changing them when they're nearing their service limit.  You may get another season or two over about 8 years depending how much you ride, but you would have spent about 3 times as much on brake pads.  I don't see you saving any money, and rotors are easy to change.  Why not do it yourself?  That's where the real savings is! 

Quote from: bill14224 on July 17, 2009, 02:24:21 PM
Although it's a good idea not to let your pads wear all the way down to lessen the severity of rotor grooves, you can change your pads every year and your rotors will wear anyway.  They will still get thinner.  I wait until the pads are near but not at their service limit before I change them.  I never ran a controlled experiment, but I would doubt that changing pads every year would make rotors last significantly longer than changing them when they're nearing their service limit.  You may get another season or two over about 8 years depending how much you ride, but you would have spent about 3 times as much on brake pads.  I don't see you saving any money, and rotors are easy to change.  Why not do it yourself?  That's where the real savings is! 

Yes good point. I know they will wear no matter what, but, grooves bad, smooth good. Your pads will wear to the grooves but you lose however small some of the braking potential with grooves vs smoothe! And to add to your point I am kind of anal as far as watching and checking the mechanical side of my bike and I developed grooves on my perfect rotor in the matter of a week trying to stretch the life of the pads. Bad idea. If you think they should be changed it's probably to late. And if you read all the thread I do do all of my labor myself. Most of the time I plan way ahead and by things cheap online but this time I weighed the damage to the rotor vs price of buying parts out right at the stealership!