Braided brake lines, Noticeable difference/worth the money?

[bandit1990]

I'm looking at a full brake system overhaul as my brakes are slightly spongey due to the bikes age. I'm getting better quality pads probably EBC or Brembo sintered and getting i'm a rear disc upgrade possibly front too.

I'm looking at braided brake lines which apprently will improve the bite and smoothness/feel when braking. has anyone had good results with these and could recommend a brand?

[stinkwheel]

I like them. They'll certainly feel more positive if you've got older rubber ones fitted. Don't know if they're more positive than new rubber ones but are probably cheaper and easier to get hold of.

Of the ones I've fitted, I like the HEL hydraulic lines best in terms of overall finish and apparent resistance to the elements.
____________________
“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.

[RhynoCZ]

Braided lines are cheap and everywhere, the OEM rubber hoses are not. Performance wise, no difference what so ever.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends how knackered the original lines are.

Main advantage is that it forces you to fully bleed the brakes through.

If the rubber lines are ancient then they probably do need replacing, but if they are in good condition then there will be pretty much zero difference.

Make sure you route the braided lines well. They are far less able to put up with rubbing on things, and far stiffer so not so easy to route safely.

All the best

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

[Suntan Sid]

[RhynoCZ]

Well, smaller diameter hoses mean less fluid, but the physics work the same.

Why MOTO GP etc., could it be, that the rules state they have to use braided lines, because they seem to be more durable in case of a collision?
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Kickstart]

Hi

Easy to knock up a braided line to the specific length required. Rubber lines are more difficult (although I think the bolt together brake lines are not legal for road use in some countries). But with production quantities this is probably not an issue. On a race bike you can check the hose regularly and will probably strip the bike regularly, unlike a road bike that will be used for ages between any serious attention.

Most proddy race bikes will need new lines anyway, as most standard setups have a join below the bottom yoke which is not allowed under race rules. Cheap to make up some braided lines but comparatively difficult to get some different rubber lines.

Race bikes could even get away with alloy fittings on the braided hoses, which are a really bad idea on the road.

Years ago I measured the external expansion of the lines on a few of the bikes in the garage while pulling the brake levers hard. The one that expanded the most was the standard fit braided hose on Charlottes Triumph Thunderbird.

Effects of a braided line rubbing lightly:-

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

And lines with alloy fittings used on the road

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

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

All the best

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

[DrDonnyBrago]

I couldn't tell the difference in feel. Main advantage to me was that the two straight lines direct to the MC was far easier to bleed than the OEM setup with splitters and high points above the wheel.

[Kawasaki Jimbo]

[c_dug]

I "upgraded" to braided when I had my brakes done on the Fazer.

I'm pretty confident that rubber hoses would have felt pretty much the same, but I'm a tart and I like the look of braided hoses which swung it that way for me - given the price difference was only £20 or so.

The best thing was actually spending some money on the brakes in the first place. I paid to have them done when I had new tyres fitted - never paid for anything other than tyres on a bike in my life. They did an absolute top job and the brakes are really impressive now.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[kawashima]

My Chinese 125(YB) had awful rubber hose. Couldn't stop at signal change. Went over the line Now with braided hose, I can stop at signal safely. Even with Chinese pads. I'm very satisfied. One of the best investment as well as IRC tyres.
____________________
own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[MCN]

Yes.

I fitted a HEL braided to our CG125 which has 'reinforced' rubber as standard.
The feel was immensely improved.

SOme suggested it was simply the act of bleeding that improved the feel but It was Soooooooooo much better it was obviously due to the reduced squeeze allowed by the braided hose.
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Baffler186]

for me the difference in breaking was perhaps increased by 5% but that might have been the fresh fluid in there.

looks wise I think they look much better, and neater because you get to take off a couple of brackets that previously held the splitter. I don't care about the back, at least not until the rubber ones actually need changing.
____________________
Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Rogerborg]

I fitted a braided hose to the Enfield then proceeded to outbrake the tyres and have an off. That's significant if you believe that the plural of anecdote is data.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[mkjackary]

You can get braided lines fairly cheap, and a lot of the £80 ones are just the chinese £15 ones with a logo printed on them. (although not all of them)

I had a 20k 19 yo rubber brake line, swapped for a cheap chinese braided line, along with brake service/flush and EBC sintered pads it made a hell of a difference.

Wouldn't be able to say how much of it was what, but almost certain that most of it was the service and the new pads.

If yours needs replacing anyway, might as well get one, they look cool, and aren't that expensive, especially compared to OEM rubber ones.

[Kaya75]

Yes, do it.

On a bandit? You'll most likely have to drill the rear caliper retaining pin.. I did so you'll have no worries, but I guess that's over in the workshop.

Glad I did it, they feel more consistent and about a thousand time better then the poor old orignial lines.
____________________
ybr125 Sold, GSF600 K1 Bandit (For Sale), FJR13000 gen2.

[talkToTheHat]

They didn't make a lot of difference to the feel of my 2002 bandit, but it was a 500 mile a year garage queen untill I got her. A good bleed worked wonders. I will be fitting new pads in the spring, probably SBS or EBC sintered.

However on my tatty 92 virago, th brake line replacement gave loads of feel back, so mostly it's a case of how knackered your rubber lines are.

Rubber brae lines are supposed to be replaced after 4 years. It rearely happens, check the date on yours. Braded lines don't deteriorate as fast.
____________________
Bandit. does. everything.

[groovylee]

i fitted braided in place of the 16yo rubber lines on mine.

braking feel was dramatically improved, but i don't think it made them any more effective in real life terms
____________________
Past - 1988 honda revere 600, 1996 kawasaki gpz500s, 1999 Yamaha R6

Current - 2002 Aprilia RSV1000R & 1999 Kawasaki ZX6R

[kgm]

I put HEL lines on my ER6 as I was replacing the rubber lines anyway. I found they added a bit more 'feel' and feedback to the brakes and they do feel a bit tighter (I bleed my brakes regularly). I also added EBC HH sintered pads though which gave me far more bite plus I replaced all caliper seals at the same time so I can't say for certain how much the HEL lines actually contributed.

I did find the HEL lines were a bit longer than the stock ones which made routing a bit awkward though - I'd contact them and tell them what length you want and they'll make you a custom set rather than buying off the shelf.

I'd only fit them if your stock lines are due a replacement or if your bike comes with crappy hoses to begin with.

[RhynoCZ]

I'd say all the better performance, feel, is placebo mixed with a fresh brake fluid and bleed. If your previous brakes setup was upto spec, there's no way a set of braided hoses would improve the braking performance like people often say.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Kaya75]

[groovylee]

[Rogerborg]

We need someone to replace a rubber hose with a braided one then put the manky old fluid back in.

Unfortunately, BodyGuard seems to have flounced.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[groovylee]

[kgm]