Front brakes: drop the hardline?

[Easy-X]

I have some plans for my bike in the next year and given the existing rubber lines will be ~7yrs old they'll be on the replacement list.

I'm eyeing up the front brakes:

https://frentubo.it/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/yamaha_xsr_700_abs_frentubo_carbonio-5.jpg

Brake line comes down from the ABS unit and then there's flexi-hardline-flexi looping over the mudguard. Given I can make up my own braided lines I'm thinking of just one simple line running over
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Zen Dog]

You wonder why they didn't do that in the first place, there seems no particular reason why it needs to be a hardline in that section. Maybe they found it was rubbing/bouncing against the mudguard?
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Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Nobby the Bastard]

Maybe because whilst they were spending millions on developing the model they discovered that having a flexili caused problems?

There's a reason why they made it like that. 2 pipes are more expensive than 1 so it's clearly not cost.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[stinkwheel]

Pretty standard to do that even before ABS, one flexi line from the master cylinder down and a hard line across to the other calliper. I think it's a bit lighter and possibly cheaper than running two lines down from the MC.

It was also pretty common to shitcan the rigid line and run two seperate lines down from the MC when replacing the brake lines. Any time I've done it, it''s noticeably a bit of a fidget to get both lines fitted in and routed neatly down from the bars.

A hard brake line is better than a flexi one if it doesn't need to flex. If you're talking about looping a flexi line over the top of the mudguard to replace the rigid one, I'd just stick with the rigid one. If you're talking about running two lines down from the MC, one major advantage is they are easier to bleed. Two seperate lines was always known as "race" setup. I don't know why.

I know nothing about ABS so I don't understand half of the plumbing there. Or are they sensor wires?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Zen Dog]

[Shaft]

[stinkwheel]

[Easy-X]

The "race setup" arrangement is an interesting idea. Instead of stacking the banjos on the master one would stack them from the ABS unit which would obviously bear some examination as Mr. Stinkwheel suggests with regards to routing.
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Nobby the Bastard]

The FZ and FZR both had twin pipes.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[redeem ouzzer]

Is OP aware you can't bleed ABS brakes at home?
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Be a REAL MAN!

[A100man]

[ThatDippyTwat]

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[sickpup]

[Zen Dog]

[stinkwheel]

[Robby]

I'm not sure why you want to get rid of the hard line.

It's small, fits in place, doesn't flex, and means you only need to run a single flexi line down the fork leg.

[WD Forte]

Hmmmm
I'm kinda on the "if it aint broke dont fix it" side of this
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bikers smell of wee

[Zen Dog]

[stinkwheel]

He could also consider replacting the top banjo bolt for one with a hydraulic brake light switch in it too. It's what I do, had too many of those flimsy brakelight microswitches fail over the years.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Easy-X]

[Easy-X]

[stinkwheel]

[Fizzer Thou]

When I rebuilt my 3XW-FJ1200 ABS I had no intention of refitting the ABS clutter.I fitted a two line kit supplied by HEL from the front master cylinder directly to the calipers and the same one line for the rear.The gubbins that went with the original setup was complicated and not that effective from new,from what I have read on various FJ forums.

I have driven many cars that have ABS as standard and not once did I ever feel it kick in,despite braking hard in certain circumstances.Friends who have ABS on their bikes as standard have mentioned that they have never experienced it ever...which is not to say that it would not be useful,just that it can be relied on too much to get one out of certain difficulties.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[stinkwheel]

I don't like ABS in cars, never tried it on a bike but I'd imagine it's similar. It's to let you steer with less risk of skidding while braking hard.

What I find is there are situations where I WANT to lock the wheel and the ABS kicks in causing the vehicle to just run-on when I feel it should have stopped. Also all my years of riding motorbikes have taught me to brake only in a straight line for maximum effect but come off the brake for steering. Tyres give maximum grip in any one axis, ask them to grip in two axes at once and you're in trouble.

One situation where it's a pain is on narrow roads where you put the nearside wheels onto the mud/grass/gravel at the side of the road. I usually lock those and they drag through the loose shit while I'm looking for max braking on the offside wheels. With ABS, there's no feel at all because the ABS kicks in super early on the tyres on the loose stuff.

The other is snow. Sometimes the only way to stop is to plough snow up ahead of the wheels and hope you wear through it onto the road surface. Or you need to lock the wheel to instagate a slide when negotiating junctions with piled snow on them. First time I used an ABS equipped vehicle on snow, it scared the shit out of me because the brakes did nothing at all. Still does.

I also like to squeal the tyres when idiot pedestrians walk out into the road without looking.

Don't get me started on traction control. You could stick my last van (RWD Vito) on a steep slope of wet tarmac 'till you turned the TC off.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.