Galfer Wave Rotors

Galfer Wave Rotors

New-wave braking

ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION TO GRAND Prix racing over the past decade has certainly noticed the widespread use of carbon-fiber brake rotors. While much too expensive for general street use, these feathery discs do improve a bike’s handling. Reducing the rotational inertia of the frontwheel assembly offers lighter steering while less unsprung weight improves suspension action over bumps.

DETAILS

Galfer Braking Systems

57 West McFarlane Ave.

Ventura, CA 93001

800/685-6633

www.galferusa.com

Price $600/set with pads

Ups

Slight improvement in handling

Big improvement in looks

Downs

Handling improvement may not be noticeable to many riders

Finicky about pad compound

Here’s an alternative to c-f stoppers. Galfer Wave Rotors are not only stylish in appearance, but these laser-cut stainless-steel discs offer sportbike owners the benefit of reduced weight at a realworld price. A set for our 2001 Suzuki GSX-R750 weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces (2 pounds under the stock pair) on our calibrated mailroom scale. The wave pattern isn’t the only weight-saving force at work here as the discs are also .5mm thinner than stock.

We took our Gixxer to a dp Safety School track day at Laguna Seca Raceway and performed a back-to-back comparison with the stock setup. While we did notice a slight reduction in steering effort, we also experienced brake fade-seems that Galfer’s kevlar-compound pads are not a good match with the Wave Rotors. Using the stock pads isn’t an option either, as you’ll likely surface-score the rotors. Galfer sent us a set of its HH-rated ceramic/copper composite pads now being shipped with Wave Rotor kits. Hot laps at a Club Desmo track day at Buttonwillow Raceway proved this pad/disc combination provides the fade-free performance and progressive feel we were looking for. □