Best place/make for braided brake lines?

[virtual120]

I want to upgrade my brake lines to braided ones as ive read they are much better in improving the braking performance. Wheres the best place in NZ to buy them. My local dealer said to expect to pay around $400 !

Thanks
TIm

[AllanB]

Stupid price!

Try http://www.spieglerusa.com/

Or check out http://www.denniskirk.com put in your year/bike and there will most likely be several sets to choose from.

If ordering from off-shore make sure they are DOT or TUV approved (it will be marked on the lines) otherwise you'll never get a WOF with them.

Have a nosey at a Aussie bike magazine as there are advertisers who regularly feature in there for braided lines (usually work out dearer then USA).

Obviously allow fro the shipping cost too ex USA.

[98tls]

Local Suzuki dealer got me mine for $70 a line.Probably could have got them cheaper overseas but no doubt they wouldnt have had the correct numbers on them or similar bullshit.

[Big Dave]

Greenlane Speed Shop - Penrose Auckland does custom jobs.

[pzkpfw]

I was happy with these: http://www.helperformance.co.nz/ ( HEL )

A set of three lines ( I got red for the front and black for the back, they were happy to mix the colours) including new double banjo for the front (now I've got separate lines to both front calipers from master cylinder) and all washers and even stainless steel bleeding nipples was about $250. (About a year ago).

Though apparently I just beat a price rise.


(My one issue is that both front lines were the same length. With the master cylinder on the right, the right line is kind of slack but the left is kind of tight.

I've still got to get around to fiddling with the mounting of the left line, to see if I can loosen it; but in the long run may get a new one "custom made".)

[Jonno.]

Is there a difference in performance between brands? Or is a braided line a braided line?

[FJRider]

As I understand ... braided lines prevent the expansion of the brake lines on application, which reduces the actual pressure at the calipers. Not a large amount ... but it is there ...

Any difference with different braided lines would not be worth checking/measuring.

Just ... as has been said ... check they are approved for W.O.F.

[F5 Dave]

Alert engineering in Auckers does HEL as above post sez. Cheap & good quality + comes with DOT markings for WOF. Send your old lines to copy is easiest,


. . . . unless you have the stoopid Suzuki loop over fender line arrangement, then you need to get a duble banjo bolt & work out how long the 2nd line needs to be. Hold on, you may be able to use the double banjo from teh caliper & fit another single one in the other side.

[Grasshopperus]

Drury Performance Centre.

When my rear brake line burst he measured up, ordered and installed a new braided line complete with new banjo bolts. $140 all up. Talk to Mike.

[vifferman]

I want to upgrade my brake lines to braided ones as ive read they are much better in improving the braking performance.

Nup.
All they will do is make for less expansion of the lines when you brake hard - there will be no performance increase. If you want that, you'll have to change the m/c, calipers, and pads. And possibly the disks too.
In fact, braided lines can often seem WORSE than the standard rubbery ones, as they often impart a rather 'wooden' feel at the lever. However (but!) they're often worth installing for the improvements you get in bleeding the lines and eliminating air bubbles.
I changed the OEM lines on my VTR1000 (twice!), because the standard lines had a stupid 2-into-1 line to the front calipers, with a loop over the front mudguard. It was almost impossible to bleed the air out without an expensive vacuum bleeder. I installed some lovely Aerotek-BSR braided lines, with two lines from the m/c to each of the front calipers. After my first ever post on KiwiBiker, I then uninstalled them (and got my money back) and put some HEL lines on. The latter didn't feel or look quite as good, but had the requisite 'DOT' markings imprinted on the sides, so they passed the WOF.

[Jonno.]

Is it worth the 150-200 dollars for front braided lines?

[F5 Dave]

Depends what your existing ones are like. If they are old & spongy then yes without a doubt. Old Yams especially have very flexible lines as they age they get worse & it is impossible to get a good feel at the lever with those old lines, new ones make heaps of difference in that case.

[pritch]

A lot of what is said about braided lines is a bit out of date. Standard brake lines used to be rubber and steel was clearly superior. I read more recently that now some OE brake lines are kevlar, it looks like rubber but performs more like steel. You'd need to know what's actually fitted to your bike.

Having written that though I have long lusted after braided hoses and that itch has currently been scratched, they came standard on this bike...

[Racey Rider]

Time to get some made up for my RGV250. (For road and race use)
Why is getting two lines directly from the master cylinder, a better option than one line, with a 'T' in it just above the fender to link to the other calipar?

Cheers
Racey.

[Pussy]

Time to get some made up for my RGV250. (For road and race use)
Why is getting two lines directly from the master cylinder, a better option than one line, with a 'T' in it just above the fender to link to the other calipar?

Cheers
Racey.

There is no hydraulic advantage, it's just easier to refit the front wheel if you have to do it a lot...allegedly. I don't have any problem with the cross-over type.