Hey Guys,

I just noticed that my rear brake rotor is severely worn. You couldn't even pretend that it's flat. I can still lock up the rear wheel if I jam on the brake hard enough. That being said, I'd like to replace it before it turns from a confidence problem to a real problem. I'm not sure what the pads look like, but I figure those need to be replaced as well.

I'm thinking of replacing it with a cheap chinese rotor like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rear-Brake-Rotor-Disc-GS-500-E-GSX-600-F-GSX-750-F-FL-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4aa56d4f1dQQitemZ320602984221QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_6492wt_986

Or an equally questionable looking American one like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-REAR-Brake-Disc-Rotor-Pads-GS-500-GS500-89-08-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c5991cae0QQitemZ190481287904QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_2693wt_872

So what are your guys' thoughts? Should I find a used oem rotor, or will I be alright with an aftermarket rotor of dubious origin?

I don't really see a problem with either of those rotors, but here is one made in Japan for just a little more. $85 + $8 shipping
http://www.partsnmore.com/parts/suzuki/gs500/

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-REAR-Brake-Disc-Rotor-Pads-GS-500-GS500-89-08-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c5991cae0QQitemZ190481287904QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_2693wt_872

That's the ugliest rotor I've ever seen! I wouldn't have a problem using a chinese rotor, but I'm sure it's made out of cheaper steel. I assume it'll leave you with brakes that don't stop as well, wear faster, and probably won't feel as smooth when you use the back brake.

The end result certainly won't be worse than eating American made fast food 

the American one looks stronger then the china one

I think the first one I looked at didn't have a center piece like the GS in that case it won't fit 

Mary

How much does the thickness of the rotor matter? My Haynes manual says the rear rotor should be 5.8 - 6.2 mm. The first rotor is only 4mm thick. Will that affect braking at all?

I think my life would be worth paying an extra $20-$40 for a better brake rotor.
Don't forget sellers like pinwall or suncoast or other bike breakers on ebay. You can get used, nearly new factory original rotors for not very much. I've bought some for my extra rims. My dealer checked them out - perfectly flat and true.
Do you feel like betting your life on a brake rotor that starts out thinner than the suggested minimum thickness?

Quote from: adidasguy on March 12, 2011, 09:47:46 PM
I think my life would be worth paying an extra $20-$40 for a better brake rotor.
Don't forget sellers like pinwall or suncoast or other bike breakers on ebay. You can get used, nearly new factory original rotors for not very much. I've bought some for my extra rims. My dealer checked them out - perfectly flat and true.
Do you feel like betting your life on a brake rotor that starts out thinner than the suggested minimum thickness?

X2

Check ebay and buy a bike breaker part off something recent, best deal hands down...

I purchased these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4712.m2000054&item=250558675691&viewitem=#ht_1011wt_941 from China, they came fast.

along with a set of EBC HH pads. Cant yet comment on wear, but the stopping power has increased, they look great, and are less rotating mass than the stock style brakes.

Thanks Jeff, I hope they don't warp under heavy braking!

The front is a floating rotor, so it wont. The rear, idk, but who brakes heavy with the rear?

Quote from: jeffdodge on March 13, 2011, 10:15:20 AM
I purchased these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4712.m2000054&item=250558675691&viewitem=#ht_1011wt_941 from China, they came fast.

along with a set of EBC HH pads. Cant yet comment on wear, but the stopping power has increased, they look great, and are less rotating mass than the stock style brakes.

I just bought the same rotors and pads last week...the rotors were here in 3 days!
Pads are still yet to arrive (standard 3 week wait for parts from the US dammit )

The quality seems to be quite good and from what I can tell from other forums, they don't have the same type of issues as the famous Chinese eBay turbo manifolds (look great - break after the first week of use). Will give more feedback once fitted and broken in.

I got my pads faster than I got my rotors, just gotta watch who you buy from.

Quote from: chilloutdamnit on March 12, 2011, 09:37:37 PM
How much does the thickness of the rotor matter? My Haynes manual says the rear rotor should be 5.8 - 6.2 mm. The first rotor is only 4mm thick. Will that affect braking at all?

Thinner rotors will tend to run hotter, and will be more prone to warping.

Them chinese rotors are not that bad. The same analogy my friend uses for mexican and brazillian vw engine parts being equal to or better than german parts. Its something like this. The original german parts were made to a very high quality with the 60's technologies they had. 60's metallurgy and standards. The mexican and brazillian parts are made to 90's and 2000's standards with metallurgy from the 90's and 00's. So that 30 year difference in metallurgy has brought them to the same level.

The rotors are decent, comparable to jap of 10 years ago. I have put a couple on a few bikes. They work fine.

Cool.
Buddha.

I'm using the rear chinese one ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4712.m2000054&item=250558675691&viewitem=#ht_1094wt_754 ). And it's working better than the stock one:

1- They don't seem to wear unevenly like most stock ones do.
2- The rear brake now has more modulation, I can still lock that wheel, but it's not as easy as it used to be on stock rotor.
3- They lighter, you can really feel. Maybe 30% lighter.

They're thinner than stock, indeed. It has not leaded it to warp so far, tough. They seem to have a better cooling system.