Rust on Rear Rotor

[Jer]

My FJR spends winters in a car port while I spend winters in Palm Springs. My brother-in-law who spends winters in our Salem apartment sent an email with a picture of rust on the rear rotor. Should I have him do something about it or wait until April 21 when I get back. Never had this problem before.

Any suggestions on what to do about the rust?

 

[Ignacio]

Any suggestions on what to do about the rust?

Ride it more, don't store it in Salem, take it to PS and ride it there, and/or don't worry about a little surface rust on a semi-consumable surface so much.

 

[ahchiu]

It's common if your rotors are exposed to the elements, it will come off as soon as you go for a ride.

 

[Wlfman]

More than likely just surface rust. It'll wear off with no issues after a few times of stopping. Just do a visual check to make sure there is no pitting then ride it like you stole it.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Stop playing golf and ride more...

...it will fix your rust problem and lower your score to zero at the same time.

 

[rPGoatBoy]

Put some grease on those rotors to keep them from rusting.

 

[Ignacio]

Put some grease on those rotors to keep them from rusting.

Grease on or near a surface that should be especially free of grease for your brakes to perform correctly? I see an emoticon, but count me as one of those that things that's a VERY BAD idea...even on the unswept areas....and even if it was meant as a joke. If the OP REALLY stresses about surface rust I'd at least suggest paint or powder coat instead.(edit)....on the UNSWEPT areas if that wasn't clear before.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Ok...Iggy, now are you kidding?? DO NOT paint or powder coat your rotors. The grease thing was a joke and Jer is smarter than that. We used to tell guys whose brakes squeaked to use grease.

However, due to their iron content, rotors will get surface rust and it doesn't take long. Don't stress it Jer. Go to your nearest apartment complex. You'll see lots of cars with rusty rotors. That'll happen in a couple days if its been wet.

 

[Ignacio]

Ok...Iggy, now are you kidding?? DO NOT paint or powder coat your rotors.

Are you kidding? Did you think I suggested painting or powder coating the whole rotor? You know what "unswept" means don't you? It's perfectly fine and common to paint, coat, or anodize parts of rotors that aren't swept.

The grease thing was a joke and Jer is smarter than that. We used to tell guys whose brakes squeaked to use grease.

I was more worried about GoatBoy in this case.

 

[Jer]

Thanks for all of the comments. As I stated above, my brother-in-law sent a picture of the rotor and asked if there was anything he could do about it. I am certainly not going to tell him to take it for a ride to get rid of the rust. The rust will have to remain until I get back to Salem.

Iggy, rather than bring the FJR down here, I may purchase another bike that could be ridden in the desert.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Ok...Iggy, now are you kidding?? DO NOT paint or powder coat your rotors.

Are you kidding? Did you think I suggested painting or powder coating the whole rotor? You know what "unswept" means don't you? It's perfectly fine and common to paint, coat, or anodize parts of rotors that aren't swept.

The grease thing was a joke and Jer is smarter than that. We used to tell guys whose brakes squeaked to use grease.

I was more worried about GoatBoy in this case.

Bwaaaahahahahahaha...I wasn't exactly sure what you meant. I honestly thought you meant the WHOLE rotor, but wasn't sure. For all I know you've been drinking all day.

 

[Chuck35]

 

[wheatonFJR]

For all I know you've been drinking all day.

Takes one to know one....

 

[Geezer]

As others have said, rust on a little used rotor is normal. I see it on my four wheeled vehicles every summer when they sit as I ride the FJR. As long as it is only a light coat of rust and no scaling you will rub it off the first time you use the brakes. You may hear some squeaking as that rust wears off. No problem.

 

[rPGoatBoy]

The grease thing was a joke and Jer is smarter than that. We used to tell guys whose brakes squeaked to use grease.


I was more worried about GoatBoy in this case.

What?...Well grease WOULD keep them from rusting.

I should get off on a technicality.

 

[lnewlf]

I put EBC cast iron rotors on my FJ1200...when they were new the whole rotor was zinc plated to prevent rust..as the rotors broke in the zinc wore away on the swept area..which was the only area rust would form..and as mentioned it quickly was cleaned off when the bike was ridden..[big improvement over the stock rotors]

 

[palerider]

Ok...Iggy, now are you kidding?? DO NOT paint or powder coat your rotors.

Are you kidding? Did you think I suggested painting or powder coating the whole rotor? You know what "unswept" means don't you? It's perfectly fine and common to paint, coat, or anodize parts of rotors that aren't swept.

The grease thing was a joke and Jer is smarter than that. We used to tell guys whose brakes squeaked to use grease.

I was more worried about GoatBoy in this case.

Bwaaaahahahahahaha...I wasn't exactly sure what you meant. I honestly thought you meant the WHOLE rotor, but wasn't sure. For all I know you've been drinking all day.

You say that like it's a bad thing....

 

[art miller]

If you are going to store your bike in a carport or open to the elements area for an extended time wrap the rotors and callipers with saran wrap. If you have respect for the bike you will cover it as well.

 

[wfooshee]

The rust will last about 18 feet once you start it up and move out. My front rotors looked like this after just 4 days of no riding: