Brake Lines

[kipper]

HI TOO ANYBODY, NEW MEMBER, TRYING TOO TRACK DOWN CHRIS RAWSON , SENT MONEY FOR BRAKE LINES, CHRIS NOW???? HAVE TRYED TOO E MAIL NO REPLY. WOULD THANK ANY ONE FOR INFRO ON XS ' MOST WANTED. THANKS.

[kipper]

TTT

[REFFI]

Kipper,

I sent him money too. I heard he went back to England. Never got my brake lines or my money back. I had brake lines made locally at a hydraulic shop. Bring in old lines, pay $110 USD and get new lines an hour or so later. I'm sure they'll work mail order. They advertise in Full Throttle magazine. (An interesting publication, but poorly edited.) You may also be able to find someone locally who can do the work.

Ralph

[Red Tarrents]

Brake Lines

Hey Kipper,
Sorry to hear about your brake line problems.

I also wanted brake lines from Chris Rawson, but I could not make contact with him to confirm my order, and cost. Fortunately I decided not to deal with Chris due to difficulty in communicating with him.

First, I went to a Yamaha parts shop and priced SS hoses thru them. Ya don't even wanna know what the shop wanted for aftermarket brake lines!

I also went to a hydraulic hose shop. The fellow there was real accommodating. He took my old brake hoses, and cut the banjo ends off.

Then, he welded the banjos onto other hose barbs and inserted the "NEW" banjo fittings into some raw SS covered lengths of hydraulic hose. The fellow made no allowances for the angle of the banjo to its mating surface, and the hoses were forced into a kink. Needless to say..........I did not accept them.

What I did do, was consider the fact that I needed a shop that sold stuff to people like myself, that either enjoy, or have to work on their own scoots.

There is only one shop that fits that description, that I know of......... Harley.

I put on my cap with the XS1100 logo on it, and threw my dirty, old lines in a plastic grocery bag, and went to visit the local Hog Heaven.

There were several dudes standing around, leaning on the parts counter, shooting the ****. When I dumped those lines out onto the counter, and asked about SS replacments, the parts guy said sure, we got 'em.......what model is your bike. I looked him square in the eye, and said...... "XS1100"!

By this time the dudes shooting the **** looked my way, and the parts monkey said, XS1100, whut's that?? It is a Yamaha.......an XS1100 Yamaha!

Upon hearing the explicative "Yamaha!" uttered within the sanctity of Hog Heaven, they all looked the other way. Seemed to be a typical, symptomatic case of Yamaha revulsion..........

Oohhhh! the parts dude replys. He was not bothered at all. The brake lines and parts are right over here, and he leads me right over to a humongous brake hose, and fitting assortment display . Help yourself, man. If ya need me yell, he says and walks away...... Talk about Hog Heaven, I was there!

I was able to take my time, and select exactly what I needed to match my stock XS11E's lines, by myself, without anyone hovering over me.

I had a choice of various lengths of SS lines, clearcoated, or not. There was a choice of Chrome, or Black finish on the hose hardware. There were several banjo angle configurations offered also. New copper crush washers/gaskets, new banjo bolts.

Since this was a new experience for me, I asked the parts dude about returning purchased parts......

I explained that I intended to buy several different angled banjo fittings, as well as several hose lengths aside of my actual needs, just so I am sure I have everything necessary on hand to complete the job.

The parts man said no problem......just be sure and keep the receipt and original packaging.

A few days later, I returned the excess lines, and fittings, and was given a prompt refund!

All things considered, it was a positive experience.......!

I got my brake lines at the same time I paid for 'em, and without any BS, or waiting!

If ya need any info as to make, line lengths, etc. let me know.

I hope I was not too long-winded......lol!

[nashville_bill]

That sounds like you have a pretty nice HD dealer there. I just wonder, how much did it cost? Also, could you post the part descriptions that you used?

[Pat Kelly]

I take it you didn't pay in Yen?

[Red Tarrents]

GOODRIDGE SS Brake Lines

OK, XSives, here is what I have in my files.......

The local Harley store here In Vancouver, WA, USA, is Columbia Motorcycles.

The SS hose brand they sold back in March of 2003l is (was?) GOODRIDGE. They appear to be of very good quality.

The hoses are described as a "clear coat universal hose" w/ a Chrome female compression nut on each end, and a red plastic cap-plug temporarily installed for cleanliness. Very sanitary!

The GOODRIDGE banjo fittings I bought are nicely Chromed, but they also come in a Black finish too, suprisingly, at a higher cost than the Chrome.

The banjo fittings come in several different configurations, (straight, angled, etc.) with a 3/8" threaded, male conical seat.

My scoot is the XS11E. 'Way back in 1980, I installed buckhorn style (Special?) handlebars so I could sit up straighter, and hopefully reduce my riding fatigue.

When I installed the new h'bar, and my original hardware, and grips, I found that my front brake hose was slightly too short to allow me to position the brake lever as I wished without pulling, and straining the upper brake hose.

I purchased a slightly longer than stock upper, front, hose to accomodate the new length now increased from the stock OEM length (??"), to 21".

The two(2) LOWER FRONT hoses are ea. 19" in length, with angled banjos.

The OEM REAR line was a 3 pc. assembly, approx. 16" O.A.

The S.S. hose lengths, as I indicated below, are WITHOUT banjo fittings installed.

The new banjo fittings are approx. 2" in length.

So....., to match the old FRONT UPPER hose, I used a new S.S. 17" UPPER hose, with an angled banjo at the m/c, and a straight banjo on the "Y"junction.

With a 17" hose, made-up to the two, 2" banjos, the hose assembly, 17" + 4" = 21" O.A. assembled length.

The two(2) LOWER FRONT hoses are ea. 19" in length, with two angled banjos at the "Y"junction and a straight banjo on ea. front calipers.

Using straight banjos on the calipers allow the lines to curve smoothly up into the hose support/clamps at the fender support. 19"+ 4" = 23" O.A.

I tried the angled banjos on the front calipers, but they created too much of an angled bend going up to the hose support/clamps.

The same logic applied to the m/c's upper hose. The angled banjo at the m/c allowed the line to run straighter to the "Y", and terminated with a straight banjo for the same reason.

The REAR line is a single hose, 16" long, and has a straight banjo at the m/c, and an angled banjo at the caliper.
I attempted to use a straight banjo at the caliper, but it created a too sharp an angle going into the clamp on the swingarm..... 16" + 4" = 20" O.A.

I reused the old bolts for the time being, although I may buy some chrome ones later, to use where they are visible, like at the calipers, etc.

I installed 2 new crush washers on all bolts, 'cept the lower front Y-junction bolt that requires 3 crush washers.

Being able to pivot the fittings, and hose to get the proper approach to the bolts is great. No line twisting, or kinks due to mis-orienting of the banjos.

I loose fitted everything till I was satisfied, then tightened everything up.

I could have, probably, used a 15" line on the rear instead of the 16" and had slightly less slack to contend with, but the line looks OK as it is......

Now, for the details..... Again, as I indicated previously, the line lengths I have been quoting here, is the length of the line only, WITHOUT any banjo fittings installed.

The banjos are each, approx. 2" in length. The hose is stretched, and measured from about the BACK or Rear of one compression nut to the BACK or Rear of the other end nut.

For example, the front upper line is 17". With the two 2" banjos installed, the length is approx. 21" in length, overall. The remaining lines all fitted out, are each increased by 4" also. I hope I am not confusin' ya.....

Now here are the length/ description/ part number/price (untaxed), as of about March, 2003.......

Hoses:
1 ea. 16" Fem-Fem Clear Coat Universal Hose p/n 03-6114 @ $17.45
1 ea. 17" Fem-Fem Clear Coat Universal Hose p/n 03-6115 @ $17.95
2 ea. 19" Fem-Fem Clear Coat Universal Hose p/n 03-6117 @ $18.95

Banjos:
4ea. Banjo Male -03 Str to 3/8 p/n 03-6061 @ $ 8.45 ea.
4ea. Banjo Male -03 20 degree to 3/8 @ $9.95 ea.

3/8 Crush Washer p/n 03-6066 (Need 15 pcs.)

I bought several extra straight, and angled banjos so as to have enough on hand to try all the variations. I will return whatever is left over, as I had discussed with the clerk previously.

With tax, I paid about $179.00.

Later......., After returning the extra hoses, and banjo fittings, I received a $51.00+ refund.

When that amount of $51.00 was subtracted from my original cash outlay of $179.00, I was left with a total cost of $128.00 for all my brake lines, banjos, and crush washers. (No Bull****!, & No Waiting!!)

I hope I covered everything for ya without being too XSively wordy..... I tried to not leave anything out.