Warped front rotor?

SV_Hadder · October 15th, 2010, 12:01 PM

My 01' Ninja 250 with 13,800 miles has recently started doing something odd when braking.. Whenever I apply the front brake the front end kind of bounces a little bit. Like the suspension compresses, then rebounds, then compresses; essentially its acting like I am pulsating the brake lever even though I am not. It seems to be a warped rotor, but there is NO pulsation at the brake lever. Besides a warped rotor, my other thought is that my front tire may be causing this phenomenon, but I'm unsure. I just bought the bike 2 months ago and it did not start doing this until recently. The front tire on the bike is certainly not in the best shape and I am planning on replacing it soon. Are warped rotors commonplace on this bike?

rockNroll · October 15th, 2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV_Hadder

My 01' Ninja 250 with 13,800 miles has recently started doing something odd when braking.. Whenever I apply the front brake the front end kind of bounces a little bit. Like the suspension compresses, then rebounds, then compresses; essentially its acting like I am pulsating the brake lever even though I am not. It seems to be a warped rotor, but there is NO pulsation at the brake lever. Besides a warped rotor, my other thought is that my front tire may be causing this phenomenon, but I'm unsure. I just bought the bike 2 months ago and it did not start doing this until recently. The front tire on the bike is certainly not in the best shape and I am planning on replacing it soon. Are warped rotors commonplace on this bike?

Warped rotors are not common. What is common is a buildup of brake pad material in "spots" on your rotor which give you a pulsating feeling. Elbow grease and scotchbrite pads to clean the rotor up. If you have a tire with a belt problem you can get a pulsating/kangarooing feeling under braking because you're transferring weight onto the front tire. Without riding the bike myself I can't know for sure but if you're puttin a new tire on soon then go ahead and clean up the rotor too while it's apart.

SV_Hadder · October 23rd, 2010, 06:47 PM

Alright, I have noticed that the brake lever DOES pulsate under braking. Now, I am 100% sure that the front rotor is warped. The bike has not done this in the 1000 miles that I have owned it, until just recently. The only thing I have done is a few episodes of HARD braking from 100 down to the speed limit

Please don't tell me that hard braking warps Ninja 250 rotors?

Aside from why it got warped, what are my options for a replacement? I am a broke college student which is why I ride a bike that costs $100 a year to insure, so with that being said, a new rotor is out of the question. What are my chances of getting a non-warped used rotor off ebay?

Thanks guys!

rockNroll · October 23rd, 2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV_Hadder

Alright, I have noticed that the brake lever DOES pulsate under braking. Now, I am 100% sure that the front rotor is warped. The bike has not done this in the 1000 miles that I have owned it, until just recently. The only thing I have done is a few episodes of HARD braking from 100 down to the speed limit

Please don't tell me that hard braking warps Ninja 250 rotors?

Aside from why it got warped, what are my options for a replacement? I am a broke college student which is why I ride a bike that costs $100 a year to insure, so with that being said, a new rotor is out of the question. What are my chances of getting a non-warped used rotor off ebay?

Thanks guys!

Your rotor is most likely NOT warped (read the "NOT warped" part again and then read my first reply).

SV_Hadder · October 23rd, 2010, 08:03 PM

I cleaned the rotor with a scotchbrite pad a few hundred miles ago; before this started happening. I can clean it again, but somehow I doubt that pad build-up can occur within a few hundred miles. Seeing as how "pad buildup" has never occurred on any of the 10 bikes I have owned in the past.

CZroe · October 25th, 2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SV_Hadder

I cleaned the rotor with a scotchbrite pad a few hundred miles ago; before this started happening. I can clean it again, but somehow I doubt that pad build-up can occur within a few hundred miles. Seeing as how "pad buildup" has never occurred on any of the 10 bikes I have owned in the past.

Perhaps that is what caused it?

sktrs_kpr · October 25th, 2010, 01:27 PM

I warped a front brake rotor in my '90 with only about 10k on it. Replaced it with a used one from someone on here and its been fine since... I think I warped it when a deer jumped out infront of me while I was riding with the gf. We were only going about 55, but thats the only thing I can think of. Made me wish I could find some better rotors for the thing...

sktrs_kpr · October 25th, 2010, 01:28 PM

oh, and I'm quite sure mine was warped - if i layed it on a piece of glass it would rock slightly. The new rotor did not.

October 15th, 2010, 12:01 PM	#1
SV_Hadder ninjette.org member Name: Zach Location: Raleigh, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250 Posts: 94	Warped front rotor? My 01' Ninja 250 with 13,800 miles has recently started doing something odd when braking.. Whenever I apply the front brake the front end kind of bounces a little bit. Like the suspension compresses, then rebounds, then compresses; essentially its acting like I am pulsating the brake lever even though I am not. It seems to be a warped rotor, but there is NO pulsation at the brake lever. Besides a warped rotor, my other thought is that my front tire may be causing this phenomenon, but I'm unsure. I just bought the bike 2 months ago and it did not start doing this until recently. The front tire on the bike is certainly not in the best shape and I am planning on replacing it soon. Are warped rotors commonplace on this bike?

October 25th, 2010, 01:27 PM	#7
sktrs_kpr ninjette.org member Name: Nate Location: Central VA Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 1990 Ninjette 250 Posts: 32	I warped a front brake rotor in my '90 with only about 10k on it. Replaced it with a used one from someone on here and its been fine since... I think I warped it when a deer jumped out infront of me while I was riding with the gf. We were only going about 55, but thats the only thing I can think of. Made me wish I could find some better rotors for the thing... __________________________________________________ Nate '90 Ninja 250, 12k miles

October 25th, 2010, 01:28 PM	#8
sktrs_kpr ninjette.org member Name: Nate Location: Central VA Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 1990 Ninjette 250 Posts: 32	oh, and I'm quite sure mine was warped - if i layed it on a piece of glass it would rock slightly. The new rotor did not. __________________________________________________ Nate '90 Ninja 250, 12k miles

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October 23rd, 2010, 06:47 PM	#3
SV_Hadder ninjette.org member Name: Zach Location: Raleigh, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250 Posts: 94	Alright, I have noticed that the brake lever DOES pulsate under braking. Now, I am 100% sure that the front rotor is warped. The bike has not done this in the 1000 miles that I have owned it, until just recently. The only thing I have done is a few episodes of HARD braking from 100 down to the speed limit Please don't tell me that hard braking warps Ninja 250 rotors? Aside from why it got warped, what are my options for a replacement? I am a broke college student which is why I ride a bike that costs $100 a year to insure, so with that being said, a new rotor is out of the question. What are my chances of getting a non-warped used rotor off ebay? Thanks guys!

October 23rd, 2010, 08:03 PM	#5
SV_Hadder ninjette.org member Name: Zach Location: Raleigh, NC Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2001 Ninja 250 Posts: 94	I cleaned the rotor with a scotchbrite pad a few hundred miles ago; before this started happening. I can clean it again, but somehow I doubt that pad build-up can occur within a few hundred miles. Seeing as how "pad buildup" has never occurred on any of the 10 bikes I have owned in the past.