Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Yamaha Tech
Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
Photo by Stephan Hahnel, Kradwanderer, in Northern Argentina

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Stephan Hahnel,
www.krad-wanderer.de,
in Northern Argentina



Like Tree4Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 24 Jul 2012
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
Disc Forgeries.

Hi, I bought an EBC stainless steel front disc for a Yamaha TTR600R. The mounting holes didn't line up accurately and some drilling was needed. Next day I washed the bike with water and left it ovrenight without drying it. The new disc was rusty on all its edges and had surface rust beginning to appear all over it. The rear disc was not rusty and the original front disc had shown no signs of rusting despite being outside for a year.

I checked Triumph, Honda, Suzuki and other bikes and none showed signs of rust on any of their discs. I asked in two garages about this and was informed that my suspicions of a forgery were founded.

I went to Wemoto from whom the disc had been bought. I said the above and stated that I thought they were being supplied with discs as EBC but not made by them, though the packaging was for EBC.

Wemoto asked what I was insinuating. I said I simply I wanted a response to my statement. They say they don't have to give one. They even tried to confiscate the packaging. I said this customer service is not good. He smiled.

This is my experience, use it as you wish. I suspect there are false EBC discs for sale in UK. Perhaps more stockists than Wemoto have them. I personally shall in future deal directly with Yamaha and EBC. EBC said over the phone that their discs do not rust.

Ciao, Lindsay.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24 Jul 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cork,Ireland
Posts: 150
Why don't you ask EBC if they will investigate the possibility of counterfeit discs being sold under their name?
Surely they would have some interest if this is true?, after all its their brand they will be trying to protect!
If they don't have any interest then maybe look elsewhere for discs like Metalgear or ABM Peak?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 24 Jul 2012
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
Done.

Hi, have just e-mailed EBC with the code number and bar code from the packaging. EBCdirect said already that they sound suspect. I know forgeries are widespread and this applies more to brake pads which could be more dangerous. Lindsay.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 24 Jul 2012
palace15's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LONDONISTAN, England
Posts: 1,035
Trading standards ?
__________________
'He who laughs last, was too slow to get the joke'
Never confuse the map with the journey.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 24 Jul 2012
BlackDogZulu's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: West Wales, UK
Posts: 753
Modern stainless discs will rust eventually, but in my experience it usually takes a couple of weeks in the open before there is a trace of rust on the braking surfaces. Rusting overnight is what my old Moto Guzzi's discs used to do - and they were cast iron! The disc material is clearly not the grade of s/s it should be.

I've dealt a lot with Wemoto and always found them to be fine. But as I have never had a problem, I haven't had cause to test their approach to a problem. Their attitude, as reported, doesn't give much confidence. Having worked a lot in customer service, I would have responded as follows:

We are very sorry you have had a problem with the product.
Please return the disc for a full refund.
We will then investigate the matter with EBC and report back to you.
And then do what you say you will do.

It costs a bit more to operate in this way, but it maintains customer confidence. With safety-critical items like brake discs, that is a vital element of trading.
__________________
2006 XT660R daily ride, 1994 XT600E about to be reborn, Blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25 Jul 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cork,Ireland
Posts: 150
I could understand if you bought them off Ebay or some other auction site then the seller could just tell you to go away and there would be little recourse.
However when you are dealing with an established company like Wemoto which is a big enough player in the parts game then the game changes.
They need to be on top of this perceived issue or word will start to spread and thats the last thing that any company needs these days.
I am looking for a new front disc right now, and what are the chances that I will buy an EBC from Wemoto while this is unresolved?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 25 Jul 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linzi View Post
Hi, have just e-mailed EBC with the code number and bar code from the packaging. EBCdirect said already that they sound suspect. I know forgeries are widespread and this applies more to brake pads which could be more dangerous. Lindsay.
I'm following this with great interest and looking forward to the later responses of both EBC and Wemoto.
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 25 Jul 2012
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
Responses.

Hi, EBC replied and they're great. It seems likely that the disc is an old type of low grade stainless steel that should have been gold finished but slipped by. The new type are higher grade stainless steel. They offered to swap it. The codes are correct. The MOT is due in ten days so the bike'll have to be off the road for a while. The disc rusted as fast as the cast steel discs on my 1970's Guzzi, definitely too rapidly.

So, I'd say EBC are a great company. No-one's perfect. But I'll deal direct with them in future if I need to. I'll not use Wemoto again despite them being so close. I had phoned them the day before and agreed to bring the disc in. It was on the bike parked outside to be viewed but the guy there was not agreeable at all.

So, this was an unusual slip up and not a forgery. Lindsay.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 25 Jul 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Yea, there are various grades of stainless steel and they are not all rust resistant in the wrong, aggressive conditions such as chlorides i.e. salt.
Which begs the question of why were the discs manuf of that material in the first place.
It sounds like you have given up with Wemoto for this subject.
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 25 Jul 2012
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
Yep.

Call it a clash of personalities. I personally will not deal with them again. I really don't like arguments which is what a conversation with them would be. I'll put the bike over a pile of small pallets and remove the disc in that position. There's a company yard where I'm sure they'll say yes to doing that. That way there's no further cost in removal and refitting. I have to do these things cheaply as I'm definitely not well off.

I shouldn't have been so fast to say forgeries but I was certain that was the case.

Lastly, of some interest perhaps: I had damaged the original disc by forgetting the disc lock was there. The bike had been unused for about five months and it was my first ride. My memory is these days a real liability. I had paid for and ordered a new EBC disc which had to be ordered. So I set off for Ripley with the need to apply the front brake four times to get any pressure. I could see the pads being pushed out each time after applying the brake. This is perhaps seen as foolhardy, perhaps illegal but I rode safely knowing that the braking distance was a lot, like a veteran bike no doubt.

After a couple of hours the disc began to straighten and was nearly normal by the time I arrived at Ripley. The heating up and pressure were repairing it! As the caliper is floating, the disc would never straighten completely. I think it could have been repaired with a lathe. On the ride back home the brake activated as normal with just a bit of vibration due to the caliper moving in and out. Clearly it needs a replacement to get an MOT and be sensible to use. The pads have taken a hammering though and new ones have been ordered. All experience. Lindsay.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 25 Jul 2012
bacardi23's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: XXX<-Portugal->Azores->Santa Maria (island)
Posts: 1,544
I have a China made front disc brake rotor bought on ebay and I've had no problems with it nor any rust pick up on it even if when I let the bike outside for weeks..

:S
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 26 Jul 2012
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Seville (E)
Posts: 560
Quote:
Originally Posted by Huan View Post
I am looking for a new front disc right now, and what are the chances that I will buy an EBC from Wemoto while this is unresolved?
I'm exactly in the same situation, but just confirmed I'm going to order it from KEDO (EBC cheaper there as well).

Anyway, I think some factors got together in the case to make things go wrong. Someone there had a bad day or similar. I don't think Wemoto would get to be that big with such bad customer service.

Esteban
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 27 Jul 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cork,Ireland
Posts: 150
Quote:
Originally Posted by estebangc View Post
Anyway, I think some factors got together in the case to make things go wrong. Someone there had a bad day or similar. I don't think Wemoto would get to be that big with such bad customer service.
Maybe someone had a bad day, but in the profession of sales, you don't laugh at customers. EVER.
Thats a surefire way to piss people off and then they bitch and moan on an 'ternet forum and.....
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 28 Jul 2012
BlackDogZulu's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: West Wales, UK
Posts: 753
Quote:
Originally Posted by Huan View Post
Thats a surefire way to piss people off and then they bitch and moan on an 'ternet forum and.....
Another rule of customer service: for every good experience, a customer will tell, on average, three people. For every bad experience, they will tell twenty.

On in the days of the interwebs, twenty million.
__________________
2006 XT660R daily ride, 1994 XT600E about to be reborn, Blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 28 Jul 2012
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 619
Done.

Hi, well that's the disc posted first class to EBC.

No, the guy wasn't having a bad day. He is always unsmiling and serious, surly even. He demands to command the conversation and not be hurried or disturbed in any way. He's one of the founders. Yes, they're doing very well but he should put himself out of sight of the customers, well that's my opinion. I'm not slagging them off simply stating that I was not allowed to make a complaint or point out a possible fault unless I did it on his terms. Good wishes to them. Lindsay.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Yamaha XT 600 personalization Zergman Yamaha Tech 181 7 Aug 2024 16:56
Kawasaki KLE500 Front brake disc, UK royzx7r TRAVEL Equipment for Sale / Wanted 0 4 Jan 2012 16:34

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

  • California: April 18-21
  • Virginia: April 25-28
  • Germany Summer: May 9-12
  • Québec: May 17-19
  • Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
  • CanWest: July 11-14
  • Switzerland: August 15-18
  • Ecuador: August 23-25
  • Romania: August 30-Sept 1
  • Austria: September 12-15
  • France: September 20-22
  • Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3

2025:

  • Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025!
  • CanWest: July 10-13 2025
  • France: September 19-21 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:56.