I have a 2013 street glide and put aftermarket rotors on the front. I don't think they are floating rotors. This is what I'm dumb at. Are stock ones floating rotors? What exactly does it mean. Never had a problem with the stock ones as pulsating goes. My new ones are pulsating. They are brand new but seem warped.

 

You will have to make up a jig to test them.

 

Stock rotors suck. They are not floating rotors. They warp very easily. Floating rotors are better but not a panacea.

Look at these rotors - one piece. http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...tors-41831-05a

Now look at these - two piece. http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...03-4482200a--1

From what I understand rotors can warp if you come to a long fast stop and keep the brakes squeezed so that the pads stay on the rotors, creating a hot spot. Someone else may be able to explain better than I can what causes warping.

Being two piece, floating rotors isolate the heat.

 

that is one cause, brakes work through heat, allowing the rotors to get hot will warp them.
this is why it is smarter to control speed with releasing the throttle, than only using the brakes ( and proper F/R brake balance), this means keeping the revs up, at 3500 rpm if you release the throttle the bike will slow, at 2000 rpms, it would more like coast.


I have good results with the stock rotors.

I have never needed to replace rotors on my 1988, 1995 or 2009.
I use mostly stock pads and they have been fine. I do have EBC's on the 1988 FXR, and they have also been good.

Mike

 

That's what I thought. One piece rotors are what I have on now. They are brand new and the first time I put the brakes on they felt warped. Don't know if I should ride with these or not.

 

83000 miles on my bike, stock were worn out at 65000 ish...Replaced them with used take offs from Ebay... still works fine...

 

Good day.

In the 1920s Douglas built the first disc brakes. Motorcycle discs are usually stainless steel, drilled and occasionally slotted, to help remove rain water. Many motorcycle discs are of a floating design where the disc rides on small dowels and is allowed to slightly move laterally. This allows for better disc centering when used with a fixed caliper. It can also prevent heat transfer to the wheel hub under hard braking. This allows the disc to expand while heating up without increasing tension in such a way that the disc would become warped.

This from Wikipedia…..

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