Help with a quick question, please!

[lhonda]

Hi there folks,

For my inaugural post, I'm hoping someone with far more tech knowledge than myself can answer a quick question. I have a new-to-me '87 ZX-10 (Ninja 1000R) that has warped front rotors. I was stunned and angered to have the dealership I took my bike to tell me that I'd need new rotors, and that replacement and installation I was looking at $990. As in, dollars? 'Any other options', I asked. 'No' was the answer. Long story shorter, I told him to go spit, and found a couple on my own. I found non-OEM rotors, new, for $160 a pop. Still kind of pricey, but a far sight cheaper than almost a grand. Then I checked ebay, and found a used pair for 20 bucks. Guy has an excellent rating. Here's the question: his pair are off a 86 ZX-10. Mine's an 87. Are they compatible? Same question for an 84-86 ZX-900 (found another guy with these for 80 bucks apiece). Any help is greatly appreciated. Oh, also, the ebay guy has said that his rotors were used, but well within specs, and "could be turned". What does this mean, that a machine shop could grind the thing down to true again by shaving off a thousandth or so? And yes, I did ask him himself, but haven't had a response, so am very hopeful that some kind soul can help me here.

Big thanks in advance,

Leighton N. Honda (yeah, that is my last name, and yeah, I'm currently on a Kawi )

Boston, MA

[zedx11]

you can go to kawasaki.com and compare the part numbers for them to make sure.

I would not buy a set of rotors that the seller is saying they can be turned. you don't want to do that to motorcycle rotors. what end of the spec range are they? wouldn't be worth it if on the low end.

[anrfknm]

i agree, i wouldn't buy used rotors.

[techy]

I've bought used, but agree with zed on the need turned info. Don't turn bike rotors.

[lhonda]

Thanks kindly for the input. I guess I'll go with the new non-OEM rotors then.
The ones that are ~$160 a pop I found at a place called denniskirk.com. Any other suggestions (read as a place cheaper than that!) are welcome. Once again, thank you for the reponses. Nice place here; already read some interesting posts, and learned a thing or two. Think I'll stick around!

Cheers from Boston, and GO SOX!

LNH

[JimmyD]

What does turned mean? As in turned around, or as in swapped left to right?

[zedx11]

Originally Posted by JimmyD

What does turned mean? As in turned around, or as in swapped left to right?

on cars if you ran without changing the pads or shoes you can have the drums/rotors turned on a lathe to get a better surface but with bikes first off, I've never seen a brake lathe for motorcycles and secondly the manual says not to do it.

[techy]

Bike rotors are already thin. If they are warped, you'd loose about a third of the thickness to get them flat. They'd warp at first hard brake after turning because of thinness.