Brake Rotors - Which ones would you get?

[The Bearded Duc]

I'm sure that I'm gonna catch a lot flack for this and some might call me wrong, dumb, inexperienced, or a number of other things but I'm gonna go for it anyway.

"Upgrading" or changing any component on the stock brake system seems purely aesthetic to me. And I'm not claiming I haven't wanted to do the same cause, believe me, I've browsed.
Although I'm sure there are some benefits to this upgrade I am also sure there are just the same DOT requirements for testing when it comes to motorcycle brakes as there are for testing cars. The stock setup, as per testing, is more than adequate enough to stop the bike they are on at any speed. I can just about flip my bike with my stock setup going just 5 mph.

That being said, to the OP, go for the ones you like looking at the best. The Braketech ceramics are the tits, I just can't afford 'em. And the Galfers look pretty cool too.

Anyhow, just my $.02

[mattc7]

I'm sure that I'm gonna catch a lot flack for this and some might call me wrong, dumb, inexperienced, or a number of other things but I'm gonna go for it anyway.

"Upgrading" or changing any component on the stock brake system seems purely aesthetic to me. And I'm not claiming I haven't wanted to do the same cause, believe me, I've browsed.
Although I'm sure there are some benefits to this upgrade I am also sure there are just the same DOT requirements for testing when it comes to motorcycle brakes as there are for testing cars. The stock setup, as per testing, is more than adequate enough to stop the bike they are on at any speed. I can just about flip my bike with my stock setup going just 5 mph.

That being said, to the OP, go for the ones you like looking at the best. The Braketech ceramics are the tits, I just can't afford 'em. And the Galfers look pretty cool too.

Anyhow, just my $.02

Passing DOT standards are like getting Cs in your neurochemistry class....You get your MD, but how many patients want to know that their Dr. barely squeaked by?

Wave Rotors don't do much different intrinsically.  Galfers have a higher friction coefficient, and will heat up less, so there is less brake fade when you're really pushing it.

Axis Rotors weight a make the beast with two backs load less than stock, and they have even better thermal transfer.  Those lose NO power when hot. 

The master is not a power-upgrade, but is a feel upgrade. A radial master gives much better modulation ability than the stocker, and provides much better feedback. The lines aren't upgraded much once they're SS, which all modern Ducs get from the factory. Rotors and Pads leave alot of room for upgrading from the factory for friction, and feel, as well as how strong they perform before fading.  Too much heat in brake systems causes them to lose power.

What you get is good. It's better than the equivalent stock from anyone else, but it's nowhere near great.

[monsta]

I put MotoMaster on mine..
http://www.moto-master.com/productnow.php#

[DarkStaR]

I'm sure that I'm gonna catch a lot flack for this and some might call me wrong, dumb, inexperienced, or a number of other things but I'm gonna go for it anyway.

"Upgrading" or changing any component on the stock brake system seems purely aesthetic to me. And I'm not claiming I haven't wanted to do the same cause, believe me, I've browsed.
Although I'm sure there are some benefits to this upgrade I am also sure there are just the same DOT requirements for testing when it comes to motorcycle brakes as there are for testing cars. The stock setup, as per testing, is more than adequate enough to stop the bike they are on at any speed. I can just about flip my bike with my stock setup going just 5 mph.

That being said, to the OP, go for the ones you like looking at the best. The Braketech ceramics are the tits, I just can't afford 'em. And the Galfers look pretty cool too.

Anyhow, just my $.02

That's like saying:  "All tires get you from point A to point B; therefore, all of those tires should perform the same under all circumstances."

[The Bearded Duc]

Passing DOT standards are like getting Cs in your neurochemistry class....You get your MD, but how many patients want to know that their Dr. barely squeaked by?

Wave Rotors don't do much different intrinsically.  Galfers have a higher friction coefficient, and will heat up less, so there is less brake fade when you're really pushing it.

Axis Rotors weight a make the beast with two backs load less than stock, and they have even better thermal transfer.  Those lose NO power when hot.  

The master is not a power-upgrade, but is a feel upgrade. A radial master gives much better modulation ability than the stocker, and provides much better feedback. The lines aren't upgraded much once they're SS, which all modern Ducs get from the factory. Rotors and Pads leave alot of room for upgrading from the factory for friction, and feel, as well as how strong they perform before fading.  Too much heat in brake systems causes them to lose power.

What you get is good. It's better than the equivalent stock from anyone else, but it's nowhere near great.

Makes sense. I'm sure I ride a little differently than most people here as well, mostly commuting with minor twisties on the weekends so I don't have to deal with over heating. No track days or racing, which I'm sure is where upgrading the brakes makes the most difference.

For the type of riding I do I make sure I have good pads with plenty of life, properly bled lines and a properly filled reservoir with dot 4 or 5.1, and adjustable levers(which help somewhat with feel).

[The Bearded Duc]

That's like saying:  "All tires get you from point A to point B; therefore, all of those tires should perform the same under all circumstances."

That's not saying that at all. When you bought your bike did you change the tires right away, regardless of tread life?

How long did you ride with your stock brake set up before you could upgrade? I'm sure they did just fine for you.

Start a poll thread and see how many of the 6000+ member have stayed with the stock brake set up or have opted to stay with the same brand of tire that came on the bike when they bought it because they like how they perform for the type of riding they do.

A lot of the time the stock components are not the best but most of the time they are far from "shitty".

[mattc7]

Makes sense. I'm sure I ride a little differently than most people here as well, mostly commuting with minor twisties on the weekends so I don't have to deal with over heating. No track days or racing, which I'm sure is where upgrading the brakes makes the most difference.

For the type of riding I do I make sure I have good pads with plenty of life, properly bled lines and a properly filled reservoir with dot 4 or 5.1, and adjustable levers(which help somewhat with feel).

adjustable levers make your hand reach differently, but have no correlation to "feel". Feel is a product of the modulation ability of the lever. Coffin style masters (no radial), have a plunger that pushes perpendicular to the pull, this puts the force in 2 directions rather than one, and mechanically makes a less direct link to the lever from the plunger. This is where the lack of feel comes in.

Your brakes are ok, but they're not great.  You might not use them to capacity, but they are still not as good as they could be.


Lighter weight rotors do ALOT to improve every aspect of riding. They turn in easier, you stop quicker, and accelerate quicker.  Reciprocating, unsprung mass is the WORST kind.  Unsprung is about a 1lb = 7lbs sprung weight. Reciprocating weight on rotors is dependant on speed/weight/etc, but you wouldn't believe how much difference 5lbs on a rotor makes when you're riding.

Upgrading the master makes more street help compared to the rotors, because heat transfer isn't important on commuters, however mountain, canyon riders and track riders will notice immediately when the brakes aren't there anymore.


And yes, it IS like saying all tires are the same.  They're acceptable, but they're not the best

[RAT900]

I'm sure that I'm gonna catch a lot flack for this and some might call me wrong, dumb, inexperienced, or a number of other things but I'm gonna go for it anyway.

"Upgrading" or changing any component on the stock brake system seems purely aesthetic to me. And I'm not claiming I haven't wanted to do the same cause, believe me, I've browsed.
Although I'm sure there are some benefits to this upgrade I am also sure there are just the same DOT requirements for testing when it comes to motorcycle brakes as there are for testing cars. The stock setup, as per testing, is more than adequate enough to stop the bike they are on at any speed. I can just about flip my bike with my stock setup going just 5 mph.

That being said, to the OP, go for the ones you like looking at the best. The Braketech ceramics are the tits, I just can't afford 'em. And the Galfers look pretty cool too.

Anyhow, just my $.02

no flak, probably just a matter of what an individual is satisfied with

Some folks buy their bike and ride it as is....

some see it as an adequate starting-point on a continuum of refinement of the riding experience

my bike is chock full of shit I don't "need" to get from point A to point B,

but it is stuff that either satisfies my aesthetic sense or enhances my "riding experience" and sense of control and confidence in the machine

my riding is not about the destination it is all about the journey..so I am not a commuter

if I was a commuter,,, I doubt I would have even looked at a Ducati for that assignment...there are more adequately sensible and reliable machines to use to sit in traffic

also keep in mind, if Ducati did not see merit in enhancements that improve the bike's qualities and/or performance

we all would be buying 1993 Monsters manufactured in 2010...but there is a combination of competitive marketing and actual improved functionality for the user that go into the evolution of the machine

I certainly did not opt for a Monster because it was as practical and sensible as a Ford Focus or won top score in Consumer Reports to begin with...

it was purely an aesthetic or if you will, emotional purchase as is likely the case for most folks sitting on one

[BellissiMoto]

You've got some good choices, but why didn't Beringer, Alth, or Brembo make the list? http://bellissimoto.com/RotorsIndex.html

[Raux]

and just read more about SICOM.. wow!

[stopintime]

You've got some good choices, but why didn't Beringer, Alth, or Brembo make the list?

I don't know why they're not on the list, but the reason why they shouldn't be on the list is because they don't offer a 300mm rotor for this stock system.

If the OP, or other 300mm / 2 piston owners, do the upgrade - then the list is long and interesting.

[Raux]

sicom does have a 300mm rotor.

[stopintime]

sicom does have a 300mm rotor.

Not according to their list?

If they did - do you think they are 0mm offset and will fit inside the calipers/brackets (being 8.5mm thick)?

[Raux]

Not according to their list?

If they did - do you think they are 0mm offset and will fit inside the calipers/brackets (being 8.5mm thick)?

true probably not. most of their kit they recommend getting their calipers.

[Mojo S2R]

monsta and Bellissimoto,  Thanks for the suggestions.  They have all been added to the list of available poll options.

Those Moto-Masters were sort of what I had in mind but now I have too many choices and my head is spinning.  Although I still like the Braketech CMC/Axis I still feel the price is too outrageous and the Sicom don't seem to have a set for my bike.  Getting BST or Dymag CF rims at a later date should make up for the weight loss I am missing out on. 

I haven't made a final decision but I think I have narrowed the rotor choices to either of the Galfer, Moto-Master, or Yana Shiki.  At the moment these are all for looks alone.  As long as the rotors are of lighter materials than OEM and are fully floating I think they should meet my performance requirements.

As for that goldline kit, seems that A&S Powersports has the kit brand new for $706.  I just am not really digging the gold.

Reading everybody's posts I think I am going to do a combination of changing to 320 mm, 4 piston calipers for upgrading brake performance and getting rotors that meet my aesthetic requirement.  Still haven't figured which calipers but will more than likely get the Brembo goldline coffin master to upgrade the current one without having to completely change out the rest of my controls.