Low-expansion rubber brake lines

[Cajun]

according to service manual brake lines should be changed every 3 years or so, my 600 is coming up 3 1/2 years old and though might as well give it a go, and to also help with some brake fade that appears in summer.

I am not a huge fan of braided lines since i like a bit of feel with my brakes, after some reseach and some pms with imdying on the subject. I decided to head down the 'Low Expansion Rubber Hose' route, these lines sit somewhere between standard hoses and braided,

I decided to go down the route of normal brake lines (two lines going to each caliper(instead of standard setup of one line to right calpier then line going across from there to left), I had a local brake/clutch service center make up some custom lines for me.

I have been running these lines for past month or so now, and they are a huge step above the stock setup(i flush my brake system once a year, and was due to be flushed again), and my pads are half used. The lever is so firm and strong i have had to move it turn the dial to 2 to not bite so quickly and strong.

And at that they cost, Well they cost under half the cost of braided lines, I had these lines made up for $90 (incl GST), it took them 2 days, and have done awsome work.

I would high recommend people doing this, on there bikes, espially if there bikes are older and still have the stock hoses, that should be replaced.

(pictures will follow later stage)

[janno]

Hey, thanks for this. Something I need to look at asap, as my brakes are not very exciting to say the least. This seems like a good fix for not that many slides.

[James Deuce]

Where did you get them made?

[Aa7]

as per Jim2 comment - where did you get them made please. I NEED to get my brakes sorted and this sounds a good start

[Cajun]

I got them made at a local place called '2nd Ave Brake/Clutch Services' or simlar.(will get the correct name)

But any place that specialise in brake lines in local city would do, and just after some low expansion rubber hoses, they might not know about them but they can get it from there supplier.

There are many advanages of going this route, is you can get them made up to your needs/wants, compared to get new stock hoses from bike store, they are all legal(since they are all crimped and also tested), i would bet be a good cheaper that bike store.

[AllanB]

Or http://www.spieglerusa.com/


purdy colours

[Cajun]

Or http://www.spieglerusa.com/


purdy colours

thats fine if you are after braided lines, but these are not braided

[erik]

I just recently got some new brake lines made up at Trade Parts in Glenfield. They did it in about an hour. They cut the old hoses so they could get the outer sheath onto the new lines - no going back to the old lines. It was about the same price as you, approx $90 for 3 hoses for the bandit (one to a connector block, then one on each side to each caliper).
I don't know if they used low expansion rubber or not, my brakes are still squishy as hell, the handle comes almost all the way back to the bar. I'm going to try bleeding them some more, hopefully it helps.
If not, I'll have to try something else. Maybe I should've specifically asked for low expansion rubber?

[Cajun]

Maybe erik, they would have used normal bike stuff, this is higher quality stuff or so i am lead to believe.

[saltydog]

But will they pass a wanker on a bad day at VTNZ?
www.helperformance.com.au
These were fitted to my R1 6mths ago, never look back.

[Cajun]

But will they pass a wanker on a bad day at VTNZ?
www.helperformance.com.au
These were fitted to my R1 6mths ago, never look back.

yes since they are made in nz, and are like rubber noses, and look stock. hence most people won't bat and eye lid at them

[Cajun]

i know i been a bit slack but here are a couple of pictures for reference

[imdying]

In theory all OEM lines for bikes should be made from a product similar to this. If anyone is in Christchurch and would like to see the difference, I can provide samples of regular and low expansion hose. Essentially they're just a quality hose that utilises a stronger bracing layer (and they're thinner than conventional rubber hoses, but not by much, just enough to make them easier to spot)