Brake line length ?

padlock

padlock

Hero member
Location
bedford Uk
Hi, is anyone using twin front brake lines from the master cylinder? I desperately need to order a set but forgot to measure before I stripped jenny down and won't have enough time to order by the time she is back together for padfest. Forks are pushed up through the yokes by 10mm and using clipons. Thanks in advance.

  FFF
 
Getting someone else to measure something. What could possibly go wrong?

I could take a measurement off my bike but I'm not brave enough. Besides, I dunno whether Jenny's calipers are in front of, or behind the forks or whether they're twin piston or 4 piston, whether you'll be using straight threaded fittings or banjos, and if banjos, what angle, etc.

Your best option is to measure it yourself, then you know whose arse to kick if it's not right.

Get something of similar size and flexibility to brake hose, like a piece of plastic tube or maybe a length of 3-core electrical cord. Tape it to your master cylinder and run it to a caliper so the loop behind the forks looks about right - long enough for full fork extension, but not so long that it'll touch the header pipes at full fork compression. Make sure you have the take-off angles correct for whatever type of fittings you'll be using. Mark each end, take it off and measure between the marks. That's the total length you need including fittings.

The other option is to make the lines up yourself. I buy my hose and fittings on ebay or from people like Venhill or Stein Dinse.

As for fittings, with a two hose system, your best option is a two banjos stacked together at the master cylinder end. You can buy a single banjo with two take-off spigots, but one of them is bound to be at the wrong angle. The caliper end can be a straight swivel fitting or angled banjo. Don't forget that you'll need a pressure switch somewhere for the brake light. With two banjos together at the master cylinder, the best option would be a double banjo bolt with built in switch. Brembo fittings have M10 x 1mm thread.

 
Put the bike on a trailer and take it to your Goodridge dealer, have their expert decide what length they should be and make them for you. Or you might even be able to have a hose guy come to you, it's been known to happen in some circles. Costs a few bob extra but if they're not the right length when the bike is running you can always have them fix it for ypu.

Ken
 
Hi Padders

Cam provides useful pointers. Unless you really are up against it, HEL have an online service that delivers next day in the UK at least. I had a spate of errors with some orders, but recently this has worked fine. Their guidance about going10mm longer if in doubt is spot on!
http://www.helperformance.com/create-your-custom-brake-hose.html

If you can transport your bike, you'll find Earls at Silverstone but you will need to make an appointment and make it clear you need a while you wait service.
 
+1 on making your own, Padders. But some Goodridge fittings plus a long length of hose. Easy to cut the hose with a slicing disc on a dremel (tape wrap over braid). This way you can get the length exactly right. +/- 10mm makes a big difference to the sweep of the lines.

P
 
Thanks for all the info. Now have an appointment at earls Thursday 6th August. The day before padfest. Bike won't even be running but don't fancy wheeling it around without at least one brake working!!

FFF
 
The ones for cutting bicycle gear cables work well too.
http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Park-Tool/CN10-Pro-Cable-and-Housing-Cutters/JB?gclid=CKWNiJy888YCFQnLtAodnRkKzQ
 
Paul H said:
+1 on making your own, Padders. But some Goodridge fittings plus a long length of hose. Easy to cut the hose with a slicing disc on a dremel (tape wrap over braid). This way you can get the length exactly right. +/- 10mm makes a big difference to the sweep of the lines.

P
Click to expand...



I used to make up my own lines, but the last time I tried to order seperate hose and fittings I was sternly told that selling components to the public was forbidden! I only needed a single line so I didn't ask questions and ordered the line made up.

Was I being bullshitted?

H. (In the UK FWIW)
 
padlock said:
Hi, is anyone using twin front brake lines from the master cylinder?
Click to expand...

You have remembered to allow for a brake light switch, haven't you?

I only ask because the only bike I ever had dual lines from the master cylinder was a 500 race bike which I converted to a 1=>2 splitter when I put it on the road.

A dual length banjo with a switch looks pig ugly on the handlbar master cylinder IMHO.
 
Harry Lime said:
You have remembered to allow for a brake light switch, haven't you?

I only ask because the only bike I ever had dual lines from the master cylinder was a 500 race bike which I converted to a 1=>2 splitter when I put it on the road.

A dual length banjo with a switch looks pig ugly on the handlbar master cylinder IMHO.
Click to expand...

I would suggest using a master cylinder with a switch built in instead of a hydraulic switch. May require a bit of extra wiring but the brake hoses are simpler.

Cheers,

bazzee
 
bazzee said:
I would suggest using a master cylinder with a switch built in instead of a hydraulic switch. May require a bit of extra wiring but the brake hoses are simpler.

Cheers,

bazzee
Click to expand...

Ah! The stuff you can get these days. I'll happily admit that I'm completely out of date with things.
 
Harry Lime said:
Was I being bullshitted?
Click to expand...

Possibly (edit) Probably. I've never had anyone tell me I can't buy the components and tools to make my own hoses. I've bought some stuff from Venhill in UK with no questions asked. But since they're sending stuff to me in Australia they can hardly quote UK regulations to me.

What's the difference between you assembling the hoses or some spotty-faced apprentice in a shop? The difference is that you'll be riding the bike so you'll make sure it's done right.

Anyway, you might be needing the hose for something other than brakes, like a clutch, or water supply to your espresso machine ...

Try buying from Stein Dinse.
 
The Earls distributor in Sydney wont make brake hoses these days,he isnt licensed or so he said.Same bloke made a full set for a mate 30 years ago for an 860 Bevel.Enzed wont as well.
 
Dellortoman said:
What's the difference between you assembling the hoses or some spotty-faced apprentice in a shop? The difference is that you'll be riding the bike so you'll make sure it's done right.
Click to expand...

in Aussie brake lines are supposed to have swaged ends as far as I am aware, that is what my brake line man tells me anyway
 
They're supposed to have a manufacturer's band around them too, with some kind of approval marking on them. But the roadworthy tester I go to never looks at the brake lines. I don't think he knows what's required, and I'm not about to enlighten him.
 
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