I thought the brakes were ok until

[xsilerating]

olebiker...

I have SS brake lines front & rear on my '80 G. Plain and simple it's like the difference between standard brakes and power assist brakes on a car.

Which would you rather have

[Crazcnuk]

If I can lock it either way, I don't care.

The pwer brakes are more for putzing around the city so your leg doesn't get sore, but I've had both.

Power just makes you work less.

[SG-Olli]

Originally posted by stereomind
[B]We put SS lines from Galfer on the XJ1100 along with a big-bore front MC from mikesxs.com.... Boy, what a difference! Both rear and front feel like they're vacuum-boosted.

The bigger the master cylinder the higher the force at the lever.
I went to a 14mm MC to get more feel for the front brakes on both my bikes.
That causes a bit more way at the lever, but it is being compensated by the SS lines.

[stereomind]

that's true, it takes a bit more force with the bigger MC, but with less lever travel. The big-bore MC was hindsight -- we ordered it before realizing that the bike had linked brakes and the front MC only worked one caliper.

Either way, right now I can stop the front wheel with two fingers.

It's weird jumping from the 750 Seca to the XJ1100... I find myself dunking the front end sometimes

[Axel]

Harder to brake

Stereomind . Interogative . Would you have installed the smaller 13mm bore M/C now knowing what you know ( hindsight is 20/20) on the XJ1100 ?
I know the 16mm is good for dual front brakes . Some change the XJ system to dual ...
Is the lever that much harder to work or does it keep you from over braking with your new stopping power ?

[stereomind]

Axel,

Honestly, if this was MY bike, I'd kill the whole link system and use the 16mm MC for both front calipers. I have a tendency to use the rear brakes on my bikes a lot for slow-speed maneuvers.

However.... Since my friend is the one who has to ride the bike, it was his decision to keep the link system and the big MC. He's quite happy with it. He's never locked the front wheel by accident.

I'd be just as happy with the smaller MC, but I doubt the difference would be that significant. It's not that it's hard to squeeze, it's just that the travel is shorter and you might think that you don't have very precise control over the front brake. Also, if you ever decide to ditch the link, you don't have to buy the MC all over again

The only reason I find myself over-braking, is because I'm used to the spongy martian-piece-of-crap MC on the 750 Seca, which I'm going to chunk as soon as I get SS lines for it, and replace it with a 16MM handlebar-mount, just like the XJ1100's.


short story long... The standard MC will probably work quite well. You'll save about 10 bucks too... The SS lines make all the difference in the world.

[tmworks]

Can anyone direct me to were's the best place( or cheapest place) to get stainless steel braded break lines?

Thaks Keith

[Axel]

fluid level switch

I'm wondering about the fluid level switch . I dont think the MikesXS master has one ?

[madmax-im]

Originally posted by tmworks
Can anyone direct me to were's the best place( or cheapest place) to get stainless steel braded break lines?

Thaks Keith

I just did my '81 XS1100SH...ordered a Galfer 3 line kit for the front and a custom ordered rear line from cyclebrakes.com...I think thats the right domain name...I'm still working on my 1st cup of coffee I also ordered 3 Speedbleeders and they are so easy to use in bleeding the brakes...no pain at all

[ELDR]

Found a supplier in Canada

Raymond at
Rennsport
3360 Midland Ave , Scarborough, ON, M1V4V7
phone (416) 291-3953
Fax (416) 291-3383

www.rennsportautoparts.com

Quoted $24.95 each for 22 inch length, Shipping in Canada $12.00 for a set of 3

Haven't ordered yet, but will in the late fall.

Ted

[strippedFJ]

Re: That's why

Originally posted by planedick
I didn't drill my rotors. The drilled rotors make the brakes more effective when wet which is just exactly what you don't want. If the brakes are wet that means the road is wet and better braking power is just what you don't need.

Drilled rotors have 2 effects, cooling, AND water dissipation. The slots actually make braking less risky in the wet. With solid discs the brakes will not grab untill water build up has been 'cleared', and can then grab very suddenly. Drilled discs do not build up water anywhere near as much, and clear what there is much faster, and do not have the same suddenness of grab, ergo more controllable and less dangerous.

One of the main reasons for developing anti-dive suspension is the same loss of traction in the wet issue. pre-anti-dive froks used to bottom out sharply when grabbing a handful of brakes, causing the front wheel to slip in the wet. Anti-dive reduces the rate of drop of the front end, and the sharp bottoming out, resulting in better stability in the wet.

[Axel]

SS lines

Thanks Ted . I sent the measurements to that site and Raymond said :
We have straight, 15, 45 and 90 degree banjo fittings only.

I wonder if they would do ? Prices are quite reasonable . PVC covering is a grey , gunmetal colour .

[strippedFJ]

Have you tried your local auto brake/clutch shop?

I get lines from them if I'm in a hurry, or don't have all the pennies for a nice color matched set.
The shops will have all the fittings you require and can make up lines on the spot. Prices are competitive with the internet, and you can get the front lines one fortnight (Which will give you the best braking improvement), and the rear line another time.

[Axel]

SS lines

From Raymond :

Alex,

Thanks for your interests in our products.

We have straight, 15, 45 and 90 degree banjo fittings only.

For the Rear line, we can use both 15 degree fittings……….$20.00

Left front line, 45 and 15 degree fittings………………………$22.00

Right front line, 45 and 15 degree fittings…………………….$36.95

Shipping to Renfrew Ont……………………………………….$13.95

Please add 13% sales tax on top of the total since you are in Ontario.

[Axel]

Ordered parts

Well I ordered the 16mm m/c from mikesxs.com ( out of 13mm) as well as new mirriors ,speed bleeders, bleeder caps and the clutch perch and lever . I have different bars on my bike so this will fix the crossthreaded mirrors a la the PO .

I am pricing 3 SS brake lines - about $100 (with shipping) from

http://www.rennsportautoparts.com

or no-frillls SS lines for $75(inc shipping & tax) from

http://www.eliteparts.com

Both are in Ontario(tax 13%). I recently measured my RF line and discovered it had been rubbibg on the steering lock and looks pretty bad . Recall my shorter bars creates a lot of extra brake line length for the RF so I specified a 5 " shorter line .
So, new brake job for the winter as well as a new Avon rear tire unless things go quicker and Fall lasts long !