stainless brake lines

[Isamemon]

gonna replace my brake lines and found 2 brands, speigler and Hel, are their others and what experience or recomendations do you have for a brand
77 r80/7

[rbryson]

Seems that everyone has told me to upgrade my brakes (see thread ("How do I upgrade my R90/6?") with steel braided brakes lines, yet no one will offer advice on brand. Please give your opinion on brand of braided brake lines and help those of us that are not as experienced. Thank you.

[PacWestGS]

I'm not an airhead so I skip over from time to time, but brake lines are brake lines.

I think all the manufactures have to meet TUV/DOT standards so it comes down to style, availability and price.

I upgraded to Spiegler on my R1150GS and have no complaints. SS brake lines will not provide extra stopping power but do provide consistency each and every time.

After that it's a choice of colors and banjo-fittings...

Doc

[Isamemon]

I was also told of a brand that started with a "G" but can not remeber the name and nothing come up on google that I saw

[Braddog]

I was also told of a brand that started with a "G" but can not remeber the name and nothing come up on google that I saw

I'm thinking "Galfer".

Try here ---> Galfer USA (http://www.galferusa.com/MOTO.html)

[barryg]

I know that SS brake lines are better than oem brake lines. But a 30 year old /6 would probably get good results from just adding new oem brake lines. After 30 years alot of the the original parts need replacing. Parts just slowly deteriorate over time at a rate not noticeable on a day to day basis.

[flash412]

I know that SS brake lines are better than oem brake lines. But a 30 year old /6 would probably get good results from just adding new oem brake lines. After 30 years alot of the the original parts need replacing. Parts just slowly deteriorate over time at a rate not noticeable on a day to day basis.Why pay BMW $100 for a brand new piece-of-crap rubber line when you can pay www.cyclebrakes.com half that much for a line with twice the feel and twice the "power"?

[barryg]

Why pay BMW $100 for a brand new piece-of-crap rubber line when you can pay www.cyclebrakes.com half that much for a line with twice the feel and twice the "power"?
If BMW parts are a piece of crap does that make BMW bikes a piece of crap.

[1flyer]

If BMW parts are a piece of crap does that make BMW bikes a piece of crap.


Please don't get him started. He was in a bad mood over on the battery thread and with all the pissed off BS threads on this site lately I just don't feel like reading another one.

[pmdave]

Let's note what "stainless steel" brake lines accomplish.

Rubber brake hoses are reinforced with cords, similar to a tire. The cords help keep the hose from stretching. Good news, bad news. There will be some flex in the hoses--which you will feel as a "rubbery lever". But if the disk is warped or uneven thickness, rubber brake hoses will absorb some of the variations without locking the disk. Sort of a poor man's ABS.

"Stainless steel" brake hoses aren't really made of steel. Rather, a plastic tube is encased in stainless steel braid. The braid is less flexible than a fabric belt, so it is better at holding the plastic tube in shape. Less flex means better feel at the lever. Good News, bad news. A warped disk will transmit a pulse back to the lever. You'll feel what is happening all right, but you may not be able to brake smoothly.

IME, "stainless steel" hoses seem to last longer than rubber hoses. Since SS hoses are typically cheaper than stock rubber hoses, I prefer the SS. If there are caliper or disk problems, it's time to do some cleanup and/or replace the disk.

If possible, get plastic covered SS hoses, because the raw braid is very abrasive to fenders, paint, etc.

I have had very good service from Spiegler. They can provide custom lengths (say if you change handlebars or install a leading link for sidecar use. And I got prompt delivery. Spiegler also has "racemetal" rotors (disks).

pmdave

[barryg]

Got it Flyer. I was just defending myself. I don't want to start anything. :stick I'm a lovable little fuzzball. :hug

[Isamemon]

My research shows the main difference in stainless brands is the fittings

I guess, from reading, that stainless lines with aluminum fittings is a no no
That there will be an interaction with moisture and the stainless and the aluminum
electrolysis or something like that
Could just be a sales pitch
So I am waiting to see what the pricing is on galfer
The HEL lines are 98 for my bike plus shipping
Galfer, don’t know yet, the spiegelrs are 107 but have aluminum fittings

(2 lines needed for my single disc r80/7)

also from wht I have read, the stinless lines wont bulge with age or hard pressure, when you grab the pinchers hard, and thus, stainless, will not bulge, having the brake lines in a straight jacket, thus giving a more constant feel .
cant afford to convert to dual disc so , anything else I can do wihtin my wallet that stops me , even 5 feet faster , is good with me
5 feet can be life or....not riding any more

last note
my book shows my single disc scooter, at 60 mph will stop in 138 feet
wonder how that compares now
maybe I dont want to know :dunno

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

I replaced the OEM lines on my XS850 with Galfers. Good product, great price and excellent customer service. I searched through all the links I could find readily through Google and they seemed the most logical for that particular bike. If you change the front and you have a 3 line system you have the option of switching it to a 2 line system and eliminating the splitter. This reduces a further possibility of trapping a bubble in the splitter that can sometimes happen when bleeding.

If you know the measurements of the hoses, and the angles of the fittings they will make you lines to your specs, or you can send the OEM lines in and they will make to match. Lots of colors to choose from at no extra charge too.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

My research shows the main difference in stainless brands is the fittings

I guess, from reading, that stainless lines with aluminum fittings is a no no
That there will be an interaction with moisture and the stainless and the aluminum
electrolysis or something like that
Could just be a sales pitch
So I am waiting to see what the pricing is on galfer
The HEL lines are 98 for my bike plus shipping
Galfer, don’t know yet, the spiegelrs are 107 but have aluminum fittings

(2 lines needed for my single disc r80/7)

also from wht I have read, the stinless lines wont bulge with age or hard pressure, when you grab the pinchers hard, and thus, stainless, will not bulge, having the brake lines in a straight jacket, thus giving a more constant feel .
cant afford to convert to dual disc so , anything else I can do wihtin my wallet that stops me , even 5 feet faster , is good with me
5 feet can be life or....not riding any more

last note
my book shows my single disc scooter, at 60 mph will stop in 138 feet
wonder how that compares now
maybe I dont want to know :dunno

If you are referring to dissimilar metal corrosion don't worry as there are still brass/copper washers between the fittings anyway.

[flash412]

If BMW parts are a piece of crap does that make BMW bikes a piece of crap.If you count things like their tinfoil coated luggage that mounts with breakaway plastic tabs, their rear differentials (on all the bikes that have them) that catch fire or let the wheel fall off, proprietary Botched Moronic fuel injection systems (no user or 3rd party access possible), fail-UNSAFE braking systems... stuff like that, then yeah, I guess so.

My "BMWs" were built by Aprilia. The best BMW that BMW has ever sold was neither designed nor built by BMW.

Hey, I didn't start this. Barryg asked for it.

Barryg, ALL OEM (and aftermarket) rubber brakelines are crap compared to SS.

[28796]

One nice feature about the Spiegler lines is that the banjo ends are adjustable. If you've ever installed stainless lines you know that you can end up with a bulge in the line instead of a nice close fit if the angle of the banjo doesn't line up just right. With the Spieglers you can turn the end fittings to remove any bulges & every kit includes the plastic clamp for holding the line when you adjust the fitting.

[Isamemon]

my bike does not have banjo fittings,