Motorcycle Brake Rotors

Whether you're riding in traffic or cruising on the highway, good brakes are crucial for a safe driving experience. Since the efficiency of the brake system is often determined by the condition and performance of your motorcycle brake rotors, they require thorough maintenance and care. Regardless of their type or design, motorcycle brake rotors must be maintained in proper working condition as long as you own the bike and replaced once their performance characteristics fail to meet the requirements provided in the motorcycle owner's manual by your bike manufacturer.

Motorcycle brake rotors work the same way as any car or truck brake rotors. However, unlike the car ones, where the front and rear brakes are actuated by the same pedal, bike rotors can be operated individually. Since most of the weight is delivered to the front of the bike when braking, the front rotor is usually bigger and heavier than the rear one, just like in any car or truck. It does the lion share of the stopping work when you engage the brakes, while the rear rotor provides some assistance in stopping the bike.

On our website, you will find the largest selection of motorcycle brake rotors from industry-leading manufacturers, such as Biker’s Choice, BikeMaster, and Arlen Ness. Motorcycle brake rotors can be divided into drilled and slotted ones. Drilled brake rotors are the most popular type of rotors you can find on almost all modern street bikes. They come either fixed or floating and are usually installed on both front and rear wheel. Drilled brake rotors are lightweight yet very durable. They were first used in motocross where they have proved their efficiency and performance.

Whereas drilled brake rotors are mostly used on street-driven bikes, slotted rotors are the product of choice for many high-performance and on-track bikes. At first glance, slotted rotors seem to be heavier compared to their drilled counterparts, however, they ensure maximum contact area with the brake pads and, therefore, allow for creating a stronger friction force. At the same time, thanks to their slotted design, they provide great heat dissipation which is crucial on the track where extreme acceleration and braking is a common thing. Slotted brake rotors are more resistant to cracks, which also adds to their reliability.

Heat is not the only enemy of brake rotors. When riding in wet weather conditions, the brakes aren’t as responsive as on dry roads, which significantly reduces your braking performance. The holes found on drilled brake rotors allow for diminishing the impact of rain on your braking efficiency. However, if you want to have the best stopping power in any weather conditions, you should consider purchasing brake rotors with grooves. They are specially made to channel water away from the rotor surface, so you can enjoy reliable braking every time.