Braided line - HEL/Venhill, and do they really last forever?

[neil.]

Hey folks,

Thinking about going with a braided line for the YBR as they apparently last forever (is this actually true?), and the current OEM rubber hose is due for replacement. I've found a couple of different ones - one from HEL and the other from Venhill:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VENHILL-Brake-line-hose-kit-YAMAHA-YBR125-06-07-FRONT_W0QQitemZ200416488405QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item2ea9c0ebd5

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEL-Brake-Lines-Yamaha-YBR125-2006-2009_W0QQitemZ110472595159QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Parts?hash=item19b8ae06d7#ht_2897wt_941

Has anyone had experience of either brand, or could anyone advise on which may be superior?

Cheers!
____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally I would say that rubber hoses are not that short lived (my 1991 FZR600 has the original rubber hoses on it).

Not that much in braided hoses to degrade with age, but they do get easily damaged by rubbing on things (and also easily damage what they rub on). This is the result of a ~1 year old braided hose that was rubbing:-

https://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/TempPicture/colsbrake.jpg

Don't really think there is much to chose from between the products of the different suppliers. Just do not buy any with alloy fittings (don't think either Venhill or HEL sell any with alloy fittings).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[neil.]

Hi Keith,

Thankyou for the info. It seems the Venhill lines are PVC coated so I'd assume rubbing isn't an issue there, especially if things are routed carefully? Fittings are steel and washers are copper from the looks of things. Tempting...

Edit: The HEL lines are also PVC coated.
____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Kickstart]

Hi

The shrink wrap coating does make the rubbing less of a problem, but they still need to be routed carefully (the covering will wear through fairly easily). The HEL lines look like they have a shrink wrap coating as well.

Stainless steel fittings are probably the most long lived (and most expensive). You can also get them with a cadmium plated finish (lasts well, but expect some cosmetic corrosion at some point) or a chrome finish (seems more easily damaged when you fit the hoses).

However unless your current line is knackered I would say it is mainly a cosmetic change.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[neil.]

I'm just going by the service schedule that says every 4 years for OEM brake line replacement. Current one looks okay though (can't see cracking), but I'm just worried about how it'll behave as it ages.
____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Kickstart]

Hi

I would suspect that if the braided hose suppliers were as paranoid as the bike makers they would also specify a similar replacement schedule.

While rubber hoses do degrade eventually, I don't think it is anything like as big an issue as some think.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Vincent]

One problem I've had with old rubber only hoses is that when you apply the brake, the hose will stretch like a baloon causing your brakes to feel spongy. I use Hel lines with S/S fittings and find them pretty good, eaiser to clean than the braded lines too. If money was no problem, I'd go with Goodridge.

[Kickstart]

[Dan79]

I would agree with some of the other posters who say rubber hoses will last more than the recommended renewal intervals. My old bike, a 1984 Honda VF500, still had what appeared to be its original rubber brake and clutch hoses when I sold it in 2005 with about 40,000m+ on it and one of my two current bikes, also a 1984 Honda VF500 with just over 50,000m, still has its original rubber front brake hose (I replaced the clutch line with a braided one last summer as the outer casing of a section of the old rubber one had started to split at a chafing point - before it had any effect on operation).