For the last couple of years I noticed that when using the front brake on my T100 I would get a pulsating feel at very slow speeds. It's a little annoying but not that bothersome so I just put up with it.
In a recent issue of Rider Magazine I found this interesting question and answer:
Question:
"The front brake disc on my 2005 Triumph Bonneville warps every 2000 miles. I had three brake discs replaced under warranty because of the warping and all warped after similar mileage. I installed an EBC floating disc and it warped after 2000 miles.
I'm just living with the problem as it is really only noticeable when braking under 10mph. I'm real easy on brakes and rarely brake hard. The pads are not dragging and visually the disc doesn't show any sign of warping of the wheel or disc attachment flange.
My dealer's solution is to just keep on replacing the disc."
Answer:
"There are two points in your question that jump out. One is that it's only a problem below 10 mph and the other is that you're "real easy on brakes." The part about only being a problem at very low speeds indicates a hard spot or spots rather than a physical warping, and very gentle use can cause that. As strange as it may sound, you'll probably get better life out of the brakes if you use them harder. Very gentle use will warm a brake rotor enough to expand with the heat but not allow the heat to dissipate evenly with the release of the clamping pressure. The tiny high spots that result will "work harden" and offer less braking traction than the surrounding areas and give you a pulsing feel at low speeds. The pulsing is still there at high speeds but the frequency is high enough that you can't feel it."
The magazine tech didn't say whether to fit a new disc and treat it harder or to treat the present disc harder and the problem will go away.
Next summer I'm going to take the bike out and hammer the front brake to see if the pulsing will go away. If not, maybe I'll go for a new disc and hammer it harder.
In a recent issue of Rider Magazine I found this interesting question and answer:
Question:
"The front brake disc on my 2005 Triumph Bonneville warps every 2000 miles. I had three brake discs replaced under warranty because of the warping and all warped after similar mileage. I installed an EBC floating disc and it warped after 2000 miles.
I'm just living with the problem as it is really only noticeable when braking under 10mph. I'm real easy on brakes and rarely brake hard. The pads are not dragging and visually the disc doesn't show any sign of warping of the wheel or disc attachment flange.
My dealer's solution is to just keep on replacing the disc."
Answer:
"There are two points in your question that jump out. One is that it's only a problem below 10 mph and the other is that you're "real easy on brakes." The part about only being a problem at very low speeds indicates a hard spot or spots rather than a physical warping, and very gentle use can cause that. As strange as it may sound, you'll probably get better life out of the brakes if you use them harder. Very gentle use will warm a brake rotor enough to expand with the heat but not allow the heat to dissipate evenly with the release of the clamping pressure. The tiny high spots that result will "work harden" and offer less braking traction than the surrounding areas and give you a pulsing feel at low speeds. The pulsing is still there at high speeds but the frequency is high enough that you can't feel it."
The magazine tech didn't say whether to fit a new disc and treat it harder or to treat the present disc harder and the problem will go away.
Next summer I'm going to take the bike out and hammer the front brake to see if the pulsing will go away. If not, maybe I'll go for a new disc and hammer it harder.
