Concours 14 Brake Rotors

[Steve Bell]

I know there was alot of warped rotor information and posts on the Pre Crash Forum but I would like some up to date facts posted here.
Something is wrong with the braking system and some day we will get to the bottom of it!
Galfer claims it is a brake Caliper dragging issue that is warping rotors and Kawasaki just seems content to replace everyones rotors under warranty. If Galfer thinks it is a caliper issue why is this just coming up now after almost 4 years these bikes have been on the road? I am interested in the ABS VS Non ABS results on the poll, do we have a ABS issue that the pistons are not retracting in the bore of the calipers properly and causing the rotors to warp?
How many of you remember Factory Kawasaki riding a Concours 14 for 100,000 KMS or miles ( not sure) back in 2007 in Germany I think it was to see the reliability of these bikes and they listed all the maintanence they had to do and they changed brake rotors 3 times in the 100,000!!
Please list how many miles were on the bike when they warped, and what year you ride.
Thanks for voting in the poll.

[blanton]

2010 ABS, 3500 mi.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

2008 non-ABS and my rotors were replaced under warranty at 29,000 miles.  The second set is performing flawlessly with EBC pads.

[VirginiaJim]

Very difficult for me to vote on this....in fact I didn't because I could check multiple boxes.

My bike is a 2008 ABS and I've 'warped' at least three rotors. 

The first time was me taking the front wheel in for the first tire change.   Put it in the back of the truck and bent the carrier.  Warped to the point of feeling it in the lever and it wore out the pads unevenly.  Strangely enough there was no shuddering that I can recall.  Ordered a new one from Kawi and all was well until....

Did a very hard stop on I80 in WY and actuated the ABS...from then on I had a severe case of the shudders and then...

Decided to go with EBC and have done with the Kawi chocolate rotors...  New pads and new front rotors, shuddering from Day 1.  Was told it took a bit for them to break in.  They never broke in....  In their defence, I most likely did this to myself when I put the new pads in as I didn't remove some of the brake fluid.  The pads weren't retracting due to the higher pressure and I think that they left deposits on the rotors and heat treated the pads so they weren't engaging in the proper manner.  Rotors got very hot.

Decided to try to scrub the rotors with a rotor hone.  This helped quite a bit but the shuddering continued.  Then decided to replace the pads.  Shuddering is now minimal.  I'm waiting until after my trip to Dayton to decide what to do after that if anything.

[Tactical_Mik]

09 abs.  First noticed the TIR going up at about 12,000 miles.  Now my TIR on the left rotor sits at .022.  Going in on Saturday to have the mech put a dial indicator on to confirm, hopefully I won't get any grief about a warantee claim going.  If so, I guess I'll be riding on warped rotors.

[Bob]

Very difficult for me to vote on this....in fact I didn't because I could check multiple boxes.

My bike is a 2008 ABS and I've 'warped' at least three rotors. 

<snip>

Me too. I only went through one set of front rotors in my time with the bike! But I also had a ABS. And No they are not perfect!  So I voted in the one bad set choice!

[Steve Bell]

Very difficult for me to vote on this....in fact I didn't because I could check multiple boxes.

I set up the poll to be able to check up to 3 boxes.

[Bigcat]

2009 ABS. 900 mi. Picked up the bike with just under 900 mi Nov 09 and noticed the pulsing almost immediately. Lived with it for 22,000 mi until replacing with Galfers a month ago. Now it's smooth as glass and better feedback. I think the spirited pace capabilities and weight of the C14 are just too much for the stock rotors. Just my $.02

[slickcdb2000]

I have a "new to me" 08 non abs with 8000 miles, I noticed it after the first day of riding it.  Seems to get worse when the rotors warm up.

[C1xRider]

I voted before I realized you could check multiple boxes, but it still doesn't cover my case.

I had only one front rotor replaced, not a set.  Mine is 2010 ABS, and the rotor was diagnosed around 7K miles, and replaced just under 9K miles (took them awhile to get it).

[Steve Bell]

Anyone else want to add their warped rotor experience? We had alot of guys on the Pre Crash forum warping rotors and now not so many, I guess thats because it was mainly the 08' and 09' bikes.

[Son of Pappy]

Non ABS '08, 48,000+ miles, 5 or 6 trips to the track, mixed 2 up weekend rides, daily commute, 10 miles of which is stop in go.  Once I changed out the stock pads to CLs the pulsing left, once they wore out I went with Galfers, still no pulsing, but, it is about time for new rotors, they be about wore out.  Aint sure if I want Galfers or EBCs.

[S.Ga.Rider]

Mine were replaced at 8000 miles. According to my dealer it is the carriers that were the problem and were fixed in 2011.

[ZG]

09 ABS, 2k miles, no issues yet...

[C1xRider]

09 ABS, 2k miles, no issues yet...

Only 2K miles?!?

More riding, less posting 

[ZG]

Only 2K miles?!?

More riding, less posting 

 


Multiple bikes in the stable... 


Plus I live in Oregon (I think you do too right C1?) where it rains almost every freakin day from October through May and I just bought my Connie last fall. Hopefully I can put some miles on her this summer...

[alexx45]

09, NonABS, 10.5k miles, no problems thus far. I do, however, live in the flat part of east Texas so I haven't had to do a lot of hard breaking. Riding to TN for a week to enjoy the twisties this saturday so this is subject to change. 

[lather]

I have an 08 with 54,000 miles. Now on my third set of front pads. Zero problems with the rotors so far other than the time I put a pad in backward. Got a lot of shuttering. But when I turned the pad around all was good. Even after that blunder, my rotors are not warped. They don't make noise either.

[Freddy]

Mine has had 5 OEM sets, none of which were warped but caused shuddering, which, apparently is caused by the build-up of material on the faces of the rotors according to informal feedback from Kaw.  I fitted EBC rotors and pads recently and the shudder is just starting to show up again after a 12,000km tour over the last 4 weeks, altho it has a different feel to the OEM brakes that shuddered.  Again, I doubt they are warped, being the latest and greatest technology from EBC.  66,000km total.  I'll be removing them and hitting em with an orbital sander next service as a trial, may even do the OEM ones I removed and see what gives.

[C1xRider]

 


Multiple bikes in the stable... 


Plus I live in Oregon (I think you do too right C1?) where it rains almost every freakin day from October through May and I just bought my Connie last fall. Hopefully I can put some miles on her this summer...

Yep, I live just across town from you.  I'm still waiting for the dry weather too, which is supposed to start this afternoon.  Of course, it wasn't supposed to rain all day yesterday though, so what do they know.

I'm planning a ride up to Warrenton (via Scappoose/Vernonia Hwy, 47, and 210 through Mist & Jewell), one of the first dry weekends we get, just so I can say I made it to that corner of the state.  Plus, those are all roads I haven't seen yet.  If you want to put some miles on the C14, let me know.  I'm sure we can find someplace along that route to stress those brake rotors for you.