Disc rotors – alternatives to ultegra

Upgrading my winter bike wheels which has 6 hole disc rotors to new wheels which are centre lock. Bike has ultegra hydronic group set and was looking and matching the new rotors but they seem expensive. I need a 160 front and 140 rear to match what I have currently.

Are there better options at a better price ? Or are there better options for the same price?

What’s peoples thoughts on this?

A very quick search brought up £37 for a 140mm https://www.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-brakes-and-pads/shimano-ultegra-rt800-ice-tech-freeza-rotor/11465186.html , looks like a 160mm will be ~£47.

If you want to use your existing rotors, you could use these…

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Shimano-6-Bolt-Rotor-To-Centre-Lock-Hub-Disc-Adapter-SMRTAD05_87930.htm?sku=299902&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiA962BBhCzARIsAIpWEL0FL-aODtfsvldbBZCe6wlECW25Qi8TZBFeNJMlFFzBeB-P_jZSPvoaAiaeEALw_wcB

Cheapest option would be to buy a couple of centre lock to 6 bolt converters and use your existing discs for about £10 a wheel.

The DT ones are nice (and Lifeline look similar). The Shimano have stupid little bolts that rust…

I’ve been using some Galfer centre lock rotors, with a wavey pattern. Switched from Ultegra and they are notionally lighter and I got them for less than £50 a pair on a random Ebay motorcross shop.

Galfer are more known in motorcycles circles, but i’m impressed so far in use with a hope RX4 caliper. Seem quiet and clear well in the wet.

https://galfer.eu/bike/galfer-disc-wave-now-available-for-the-center-lock-system/

Swissstop Catalyst get reviewed well but no cheaper than Ultegra.

Wish I’d remembered about Galfer, they’ve always reviewed well too. Seem in short supply on British shores right now though.

Am I the only one who thinks that galfer rotor looks like a 6 bolt with a centre lock adaptor permanently fitted? (Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing).

Op- you can get cheaper shimano CL rotors. You won’t get the fins and whatnot but unless you’re regularly trying to melt your rotors it shouldn’t matter. Just be careful not to buy the ones that only work with resin pads.

Just be careful not to buy the ones that only work with resin pads.

Is there such a thing? I thought a disc was a disc….

What’s wrong with the resin only ones out of interest?

I think cheaper rotors (typically) are only suitable for resin pads as they haven’t been heat treated in the right way to deal with the higher temps of running sintered? Something like that anyway

Ah right – I thought maybe it could be something more serious…I’ve got resin only ones atm (they were fitted as stock) but I’m about to upgrade them. As long as they are not going to disintegrate or something and kill me that’s OK. 😎

As long as they are not going to disintegrate or something and kill me that’s OK

unless you run sintered pads in which case they will melt and flick little globs of molten steel all over the back of your calves*

*maybe

I was under the impression that the resin only rotors would literally explode if you used sintereds on them?

(I don’t actually know, tbf, I vaguely remember something about them wearing out stupidly fast but now you’ve asked I can’t be sure. Just had them marked as ‘avoid’)

I recently asked the question at my LBS, his answer was that technically resin only discs are for resin only pads, however he sells many sintered pads to be used on resin only discs, and has not had any negative feedback yet. Apparently they wear the discs abit quicker. In fact ive not long put some in myself so check back in 6 months and il let you know how theyre going