TECH: Stock Vs. After Market Brake Rotors

You just bought a brand new bike, or maybe it’s just a few years old. It looks mint, everything is just the way it was when you got it.

 

Maybe you’ve made a few go-fast or look-good modifications.

 

But you left your brakes stock.

 

The Galfer USA brake specialists are here to explain why those stock brakes might not be as great as you think.

 

If you’re all about engine mods, and you’ve rocked your wallet with go-fast parts, you cannot forget the importance of your brakes. Your motorcycle came with stock brakes, but not the performance modifications you added to your bike.

 

The stock brakes are designed to stop your motorcycle in its stock form. If you add horsepower to your motorcycle, you may want to investigate a braking performance upgrade.

 

Why?

 

Most OEM or stock brakes are made cost-efficiently, most of the time using cheap processes and materials. Most of your aftermarket brake rotors will have a substantial increase in quality. Especially Galfer USA brakes. Here’s the “brake” down:


MOST STOCK BRAKES

  • Cheap materials.
  • Stamped out.
  • Not intended for aggressive braking, or engine modifications.

 

  1. CHEAP MATERIALS

Most stock or OEM rotors are made by the thousands, so it’s cost effective to use cheap metals. The use of cheap metals can lead to rotor warping — which is common with a lot of stock rotors.

 

  1. STAMPED

When producing rotors in bulk, many manufacturers choose to stamp the rotors out of the metal. When a rotor is stamped, the metal retains memory of the pressure and position it was in when it was stamped. At high operating temperatures, it may return back to the stamped state — leading to warping.

 

  1. MADE FOR A STOCK BIKE

Stock rotors are designed for the general riding populace, they are made to be used as the bike came, and some may not be adequate for a motorcycle with engine modifications or increased horsepower.


GALFER BRAKES

  • Virgin 420 stainless steel.
  • Laser cut, never stamped.
  • Tested in race environments.

 

  1. VIRGIN 420 STAINLESS STEEL

Galfer USA uses a virgin 420 stainless steel. This means the materials have never been touched, and are not made of any recycled materials. This gives every Galfer rotor even densities and reduces the likelihood of warping.

 

  1. LASER CUT

Every Galfer USA rotor is laser cut. We never stamp our rotors. By laser cutting our rotors, we eliminate warpage risks that often come from stamping.

 

  1. RACE-TESTED

Galfer USA processes, designs and products have been tested by some of the biggest athletes in the powersports industry. By testing our products under the most rigorous conditions, we guarantee high quality products that will last under all conditions.

 

If you want to learn more about Galfer USA rotors, click here.

 

While not all stock rotors are poor-quality, it’s important to note that as you modify and bulk-up your bike, you shouldn’t forget to increase your braking efficiency by also bulking up your brakes.

Brake systems are one of the most underrated modifications on motorcycles, but are likely the most important. If you need to stop in a hurry, you want to make sure you have brakes you can trust.

Mar 27, 2019 | Tech