Thanks, Kawasaki!

[The Menace]

I've been noticing the front brakes on my V2k have been pulsing for the last several thousand miles. Realizing the warranty is expiring in a couple of weeks, I took the bike to the dealer to have it checked out. Turns out the right rotor was out by .024 and the left was out .007. They called Kawasaki for me and they are covering the replacement of both rotors! If I was to buy them myself, they're $310 each. I will have to pay for the new pads, but I'm really happy about this.

Thanks, Kawasaki!

[TejasDevil]

Nice to see a positive warranty experience. Usually we just hear the negative ones.

[g1nomad]

What do you mean by out? Where they wavy, and not flat the whole way around?

[wild_deuce03]

$310 each........for rotors??? Someone want to tell me why rotors are so expensive??? Or is that including labor? Man, glad to know they covered it for you!!!

[The Menace]

Originally Posted by g1nomad

What do you mean by out? Where they wavy, and not flat the whole way around?

Yes, they were not flat. One place was bent in toward the hub.

And the $310 per rotor is the price, sans installation. I would have installed them myself, if not covered under warranty.

They sure like their rotors!

[wild_deuce03]

Originally Posted by The Menace

Yes, they were not flat. One place was bent in toward the hub.

And the $310 per rotor is the price, sans installation. I would have installed them myself, if not covered under warranty.

They sure like their rotors!

That's crazy!!!

[captain Rando]

I've found that Kawasaki sells their bikes for less but it seems their replacement parts prices are about double everyone elses. Babbitt's has those rotors listed for $264 and I think Beartooth would be cheaper. By comparison, a front rotor for a Honda VTX1800 from Babbitt's sells for just $119.

I am curious why they warped so quickly with your bike just being a couple years old. I've not had any issue with my 1600 but I use my rear brake more than my front. The 1600 and the 2000 use the exact same rotor.

[The Menace]

Originally Posted by captain Rando

I am curious why they warped so quickly with your bike just being a couple years old. I've not had any issue with my 1600 but I use my rear brake more than my front. The 1600 and the 2000 use the exact same rotor.

That's a good question. When my dealer called Kawasaki, the first thing the guy asked was had it been hit. There's been nothing abnormal to happed to my bike, just normal riding. It has a little over 18,000 miles on it. I have used my front brakes hard at times, but not long enough to cause excessive heat to the point of warpage, in my opinion.

I certainly hope I get better service out of the new ones. I was told this is a one-time deal, and they would not replace them again.

[2thdr]

Originally Posted by captain Rando

...The 1600 and the 2000 use the exact same rotor.

Maybe that's the problem. The 1600 dry weight is 675, but the V2K weighs in at 838! Maybe the V2K should have bigger rotors? Just a thought.

[wild_deuce03]

Originally Posted by The Menace

That's a good question. When my dealer called Kawasaki, the first thing the guy asked was had it been hit. There's been nothing abnormal to happed to my bike, just normal riding. It has a little over 18,000 miles on it. I have used my front brakes hard at times, but not long enough to cause excessive heat to the point of warpage, in my opinion.

I certainly hope I get better service out of the new ones. I was told this is a one-time deal, and they would not replace them again.

There's some nice service for ya. So if someone has an extended warranty when they buy the bike, rotors go bad in the first year , they get replaced and then if it happens again they won't replace them??? That sure sucks!

[rogue3]

I know rotors on cars can be machined back to spec sometimes, is this a no-no on bikes?

[Utah Motorcyclist]

Originally Posted by rogue3

I know rotors on cars can be machined back to spec sometimes, is this a no-no on bikes?

I was about to ask the same thing...

[rogue3]

I know the answer anyway, I was just being retarded. Machining removes wear grooves but wont fix a warped rotor

[BrianTSmith99]

Some car rotors are thicker and can be "cleaned up". Some have a bevel on the outside rim to show how far they can be turned down. Some can not be turned at all (disposible). I think most bike rotors are too thin to turn. All disks have a minimum thickness after which they are not safe.

Brian

[V2KCruiser]

kawasakipartsnation.com has the V2K rotors listed for $241 each. Even still that's pretty steep if you have to buy 2 of them.

[k5d]

Originally Posted by rogue3

I know rotors on cars can be machined back to spec sometimes, is this a no-no on bikes?

one problem with turning bike rotors is the holes in the rotor when the cutting bit hits the hole it digs in deeper and screws up the rotor.i know because i tried it, so yes its a no no!

[NewRoadie]

I believe the Kawi rotors are more expensive than the Honda rotors due to the full floating capability. In other words, the rotor is two pieces-one that mounts to the wheel and the outer piece that 'floats' that is where the pads squeeze. Many rotors, including my brother's Harley rotors are one piece-i.e. cheaper to manufacture.

[g1nomad]

Originally Posted by NewRoadie

I believe the Kawi rotors are more expensive than the Honda rotors due to the full floating capability. In other words, the rotor is two pieces-one that mounts to the wheel and the outer piece that 'floats' that is where the pads squeeze. Many rotors, including my brother's Harley rotors are one piece-i.e. cheaper to manufacture.

You know, I think I know what you are saying. Thank you. After all these years of reading reviews & specs on bikes, I never really knew what they meant by "floating". But I have also seen where the two peices are joined together with the little round peices. I don't know the advantage, but I might be a little smarter today, and I didn't even stay at a Holday Inn Express.

[The Menace]

I've been told that bike rotors just don't have enough metal to be able to turn them.

I mentioned to my son, who's a mechanic, that it was out 24 thousandths, and he said when he turns car rotors, he starts at 2 thousandths on the first pass, then 1 1/2 thousandths on the second. That wouldn't have even come close to correcting my issue, even if possible.

[Vulcan900]

Had the same problem on the rear of my 900 while still under warranty. Kawi told me it was a wear item and I had to pay for repairs.