I'm planning to switch to floating rotors on my 09 SG, primarily because I don't like the look of stock rotors and the theory underlying floating rotors makes sense. Also, the drag I get on my rear bugs me, although the shop says it's normal.

I'm thinking of going with EBC MD520 (front) and MD521 (rear). Got the P/Ns from EBC. Anyone have these rotors?

More broadly, I'm interested in feedback on switching to floating rotors, and available options. I recall a post claiming the HD versions are not true floaters but I don't recall an explanation for the claim.

 

www.lyndallracingbrakes.com if you checkout these you will have all the help you need by phone or online before you buy. Ask for Paul Kittrell he owns the place he can tell you about everything you need to know.
And no I don't work there!

 

I had EBC floaters on my last bike and they served well showing almost no wear in >100k miles on that bike and 10k on the one I had before it. They have steel rotor surfaces, not SS as in HD rotors, so they will rust. The HD's will rust too but not as much. The small amount of rusting I saw on the EBC's was never a problem for me, though, and what little light surface rust showed it was quickly wiped away by normal use. If you kept your bike outside and unprotected with long periods between rides you might have a problem, however.

I have HD floaters now (front only) and they seem to perform as well even though the outer rotor isn't as loosely fitted as the EBC's were. I can't budge the HD's but the EBC moved very easily on their bushings. The EBC also had an aluminum hub which dissipates heat better than the steel hub in the HD, but I doubt if heat is a big problem on bikes like these that see little track time. Mine sees no more than a few hours per week on the track, for example. (Or, maybe I just dreamed it was on the track.)

Compared to solids the floaters keep heat away from the wheel and bearings better, tend to have fewer problems with noise, mask the effects of rotor warpage, probably increase pad life, and most riders feel they look better. I think on a Harley its the last factor that sells the floaters, but you're paying for the performance advantage, as small an impact as it may be on a street bike, and cosmetic appeal. I haven't had a problem with either the EBC or HD floaters, and only went with the HD's this time around because of cost.

 

Thanks Iclick. Great info. The tight fit you mention re HD rotors is likely why someone said HD's aren't real floaters.

 

Harley sell real floaters, although I have seen a few members who argue they are not. I have one on my rear wheel. They are every bit full floaters as my 13" Harrisons up front are.

I looked at buying an EBC for the rear of my bike, but the Harley options were slightly cheaper, believe it or not! I have used EBC on other bikes (BMW) and been very happy with them.

 

Yeah, and I don't know if that's a big deal or not. If you were really interested in floaters for their usual purposes you wouldn't want a tight fit or a steel center hub, as the latter would defeat or at least reduce the purpose of isolating heat.

I'm more interested in floaters for their ability to mask the effects of warpage and increase pad life, as well as the cosmetic appeal, of course. I just like the way the black centers look on an SG, although appearance issues are almost never my top priority.