Disc made for bikes

**nudemetalz** · 1st December 2005, 21:14

I totally agree with you, Avgas.

The OEM ones were about $800 each !!!
Not cheap !!

**imdying** · 2nd December 2005, 07:56

Wow $800! Still, kind of nice that kwaka still have them

You're armed with the info, and the price is right. Considering that this is a small country, and noone here has said 'my mates mate had some and they killed him', they sound like they're worth a go. Definitely report back on how they went though!

**Kickaha** · 2nd December 2005, 08:14

Originally Posted by slopster

I used to do a bit of downhill mountain biking and a mate had some stainless discs cut for his brakes by a local engineer. They worked perfectly until they got to maximum heat in a downhill race and warped. The front one jammed in the caliper and locked the front wheel and shattered the disc. I wouldn't trust a disc that wasn't at least made by a well known aftermarket manufacturer.

We have done the same thing with no problems at all (recreational use), had them laser cut and surface ground and they have been on the bike for the last 2 years

We have also had discs laser cut out of stainless for a pre82 bike which used them for a year with no problems and won the championship, we have also had some done in mild steel and used them on trailbikes and 250 Superkarts for the last few years

The only problems we have seen with them warping were when there were caliper problems which caused them to dish a bit

**onearmedbandit** · 2nd December 2005, 08:29

Couldn't care less for Holdens or Fords imdying. You know that. In fact I think it was you that gave me this handy saying, 'same shit, different bucket.'

**nudemetalz** · 2nd December 2005, 09:44

Originally Posted by imdying

Wow $800! Still, kind of nice that kwaka still have them

You're armed with the info, and the price is right. Considering that this is a small country, and noone here has said 'my mates mate had some and they killed him', they sound like they're worth a go. Definitely report back on how they went though!

I do that for sure. Graham wants his rep back and I said that if they live up to expectations, ie they stop the bike without killing me !!! , then I'll write a favourable report.

**vifferman** · 2nd December 2005, 10:04

Ignore the naysayers, Nudemetalz - I'm sure they'll be fine. And like Kickaha said, it's usually the calipers that cause problems.
I've had two bikes with brake problems; the VF500 had one front disk that was very worn (sticking caliper) and I replaced them with secondhand NR250 disks (same size / mounting, but drilled instead of plain). I couldn't get a good righthand one, so bought two lefthand ones (apparently righthand disks for many bikes were problematic). The holes in the righthand one were back to front, but no-one noticed, and it also had a slight warp, but it worked fine, and infinitely better than badly worn disks. This is the same as in your case: the disks you're getting, even if they're not up to the same standard as OEM Kawasaki ones, will be infinitely better than badly worn ones, and much safer.

When I bought the VifFerraRi, it had two mismatched disks. The one on the right had marks from the pad rusted into it, and the brakes pulsed noticeably when braking gently. I was assured the disk was not warped, and that this would scuff off. Now, after a year it has come right, and that only because when I had new brake pads fitted, it turned out the righthand caliper had sticking pistons and one pad was worn out. Once the pads wore in, the brakes came right.

Originally Posted by Ixion

For some reason (absolutely no logic or evidence) I have convinced myself that cast iron would be much easier to get running true, and probably give better braking (goes rusty of course).

That's true.
Brakes used to be cast iron, till the Japanese manufacturers decided the rusting was unsightly, and started making and fitting disks made from stainless steel. The latter is generally inferior in that it is harder (so offers less friction), harder to manufacture, and I think (dunno this for sure) that it's more prone to warping, due to the way it reacts to intense heat.

**nudemetalz** · 2nd December 2005, 10:12

Thanks Vifferman.

All I want is the ZX to be on the road all legal.
I mean to say the NZ-250 is fun to ride, but it doesn't have over 120hp !!

I am also certain that the brake discs will be fine. He's been making them for a long time now and I'm positive he knows his stuff.

I will put in new appropriate pads as well when I get the discs.