Aprilia RS250 disc warpage

[BuzzbomB]

Have any other RS250 owners experienced premature/unexpected front disc warpage with OEM parts? When I bought the bike the dealership had new discs put on (or so they said) but they developed a warp after about 2000kms that causes mild shuddering at high speeds and an annoying pulsing at low speeds.

Is this a common issue? Could I have done something to help them warp like holding on the front brake after a hard stop? Is it possible that its not the discs at all but maybe a wheel bearing issue? I did have the dealer check them out and they said they were warped. I tried, but had no joy in getting any assistance from the importer on a price break for a new set. That just didn't seem fair since they warped from pretty much normal street riding so quickly.

Given that there seems to be a pattern of premature warping im reluctant to buy another set of Aprilia discs (esp at $700ea). Has anyone a recommendation for aftermarket discs for this bike? Any other wisdom to share?

[imdying]

When I bought the bike the dealership had new discs put on (or so they said) but they developed a warp after about 2000kms that causes mild shuddering at high speeds and an annoying pulsing at low speeds.

That just didn't seem fair since they warped from pretty much normal street riding so quickly.

The consumer guarantees act specifies that goods must be fit for the intended purpose. One avenue of redress would be through the MTA if the dealer is an MTA dealer. Alternatively, you can take them to the civil court for the value of the discs. Road bike discs that are used on the road, should not warp in 2000kms, these discs (for whatever reason, perhaps a manufacturing fault, it happens) do not appear to be suitable for the purpose they were sold for. That you didn't buy them, but they were fitted before you purchased the bike, causes an issue though. How long have you had the bike, and what sort of warranty did you purchase with it?

[F5 Dave]

Discs suck like that. Check the EBC or similar website for alternatives. Got my EBCs for my RF from Cyclebrakes in US, do a google.

My Yam (YZF750) which warp std discs I am running Aprillia RSV discs, that chap at Corsa MC in Auckers seems to dabble on Tardme with 2nd hand Apr parts.

If they are same size as RSVs then a Brembo fitment is shared with Ducati 916/748/Monsters etc.

[BuzzbomB]

The consumer guarantees act specifies that goods must be fit for the intended purpose. One avenue of redress would be through the MTA if the dealer is an MTA dealer. Alternatively, you can take them to the civil court for the value of the discs. Road bike discs that are used on the road, should not warp in 2000kms, these discs (for whatever reason, perhaps a manufacturing fault, it happens) do not appear to be suitable for the purpose they were sold for. That you didn't buy them, but they were fitted before you purchased the bike, causes an issue though. How long have you had the bike, and what sort of warranty did you purchase with it?

I think I got the SFA warrenty plan. The bike was being sold on behalf I'm pretty sure. This was 4 years and 20,000 kms ago so I'm not looking for redress although I am rather dissapointed that the dealer and/or the importer weren't able to respond in a supportive manner (i.e. couldn't give a fuck). Apparently brake discs are like fuses, if they blow after you've install them its got to have been your fault.

Anyways thanks, at this point I'm just wanting to know these things;
- Are Aprilia RS250 discs prone to warpage?
- Is there a better (proven) alternative?
- Could there be a preventable cause for the warpage?

[BuzzbomB]

Discs suck like that. Check the EBC or similar website for alternatives. Got my EBCs for my RF from Cyclebrakes in US, do a google.

My Yam (YZF750) which warp std discs I am running Aprillia RSV discs, that chap at Corsa MC in Auckers seems to dabble on Tardme with 2nd hand Apr parts.

If they are same size as RSVs then a Brembo fitment is shared with Ducati 916/748/Monsters etc.

Not the same as an RSV as far as I know. I've looked around in the past and no one seems to make them as a stock item in SS road discs. I've seen racing discs but they're all cast iron. The ones that will make SS ones ask you to send your old ones in so they can make them custom and they're all overseas so thats lots of downtime. Hopefully someone knows of a mfr that can make a set without having the old ones for a pattern. I'll search again but thought I'd start with a query here to see what other's experience has been.

[nadroj]

Braking.com parts

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are available from bike shops dealing with:
CROWN KIWI ENTERPRISES LTD
11 Manadon Street, P.O.Box 819 - 4601 NEW PLYMOUTH
Ph. 0064-6-7514550 - Fx. 0064-6-7514551

[imdying]

Anyways thanks, at this point I'm just wanting to know these things;
- Are Aprilia RS250 discs prone to warpage?
- Is there a better (proven) alternative?
- Could there be a preventable cause for the warpage?

Can't tell you specifically about RS250s, as I've had nought to do with them, however:

- Very few bikes are 'prone' to warpage, and none that I can think of would do it inside of 2000kms
- Factory equipment on those is Brembo, so I doubt alternatives would be measurably better in any area of performance but pricing
- Warpage is usually due to a heat cycling problem, either too much heat, or getting them quite hot and running through a decent puddle. It is possible to cause localised heat spots by getting them really hot and stopping somewhere like a junction with the brakes on, but that's a pretty rare situation. More likely is incorrect fitting, they might not be warped, but have worn funny causing thickness variation. You really need to get a dial gauge and measure the runout on the inside and outside of the disc, and a micrometer and measure the thickness at a number of points around the disc.

[F5 Dave]

I don't think you will get too much of an answer here specific to RS250s as there really weren't too many here, - mores the pity.

But Auss there is/was a great 250 proddie scene populated with little else & would have to be a wealth of info, must be an auss site you can tap into.

Careless tyre change or sticking pad may also be the reason for the warp. Assume you can feel this at the lever?

[ArcherWC]

Would be well worth you posting your question here,

http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/

[riffer]

Depending on the warpage, this may give you a bit more usage.

Thanks to Frosty for this fix.

Get yourself a decent sized easy-out - one that's big enough to actually go into the disk rotor rivets before the end of it - the things that hold the rotors to the carriers.

Put the easy-out into a drill, and set the drill to anti-clockwise, and place it into each rivet. Spin the drill until the rivet starts to spin.

Don't do it too much or the rivet will get too loose, just enough to get it spinning.

Loosening the rivets just a touch will give you just enough give to allow the rotor to move enough to compensate for most of the warpage.

If it doesn't fix it, they're probably past fixing.

Are you sure its the rotors? Have you measured the warpage with a run-out gauge?

[BuzzbomB]

Depending on the warpage, this may give you a bit more usage.

Thanks to Frosty for this fix.

Get yourself a decent sized easy-out - one that's big enough to actually go into the disk rotor rivets before the end of it - the things that hold the rotors to the carriers.

Put the easy-out into a drill, and set the drill to anti-clockwise, and place it into each rivet. Spin the drill until the rivet starts to spin.

Don't do it too much or the rivet will get too loose, just enough to get it spinning.

Loosening the rivets just a touch will give you just enough give to allow the rotor to move enough to compensate for most of the warpage.

If it doesn't fix it, they're probably past fixing.

Are you sure its the rotors? Have you measured the warpage with a run-out gauge?

I haven't measured anything myself and I don't have the tools to do it. When it first happened I asked the dealer to suss it out and they told me they were warped. I never felt like they really did a satisfactory job of helping me with the problem and they probably just did a quick exam and found them out of true and then threw their hands up and told me to spend $1400 on a new set to "fix" it without bothering to discover the cause of the problem. This bike is my first road bike and at the time I was not even close to thrashing it as it could be (I'm still not).

One interesting aspect is that the severity of the shudder/pulse does seem to vary on the day, or maybe some days I just don't notice it as much maybe. It did seem to lesson considerably with a passenger on-board so maybe it is related to the mating at the carrier or something besides excessive warp? If the disc is warped and I loosen the rivets to give against the variation will the movement eventually cause excessive wear on the rivets?

If anyone has the tools and wants to help me find out whats the real problem with it I'll buy the beers

[imdying]

Check your steering head bearings. Find a NZ Brake and Clutch Specialist Association member in your locality, they should be able to measure the DTV and runout for you. Otherwise, any engineer can do it.

[FilthyLuka]

- Are Aprilia RS250 discs prone to warpage?
- Is there a better (proven) alternative?
- Could there be a preventable cause for the warpage?

OEM discs suck... atleast from my experience that is.

yes, aftermarket rotors

mistourqed caliper bolts? tightening down the disc too much. If i remember correctiallialy, the rs's have floating discs, the discs should clatter when cold. they expand and clattering stops once they get hot... Pull out ya tourque bar my friend. Get checkin

[imdying]

OEM discs suck... atleast from my experience that is.

yes, aftermarket rotors

There are many race bikes on OEM discs, and many crap aftermarket rotors.

[jade]

Anyways thanks, at this point I'm just wanting to know these things;
- Are Aprilia RS250 discs prone to warpage?
- Is there a better (proven) alternative?
- Could there be a preventable cause for the warpage?

No the RS250 discs are not prone to warpage, they have the best brakes you can get off the shelf and stop that little light machine like nothing else

The easiest way to check if your discs are warped is to get your front wheel off the ground - spin the front wheel and look at the discs from the front and see if they spin true..
Also if they are bent you would probably notice that you could Brake - then the discs would push the piston away so the next time you hit the brake the lever would come back to the bar.
Spin that front wheel and check if they are warped, if they are - take them off your bike, send them to Steve at f1 engineering in Hamilton and he will straighten them for you
(I had a high impact crash and bent my discs - He straightened them for about 150-200 bucks) He is the man - you should not need to buy new ones.

Where did you get your rs250 from ?