Brake Lines and Caliber Paint

[Napahkiin]

Rebuilding the rear and eventually the front master and Caliber on my 80 xs11 MNS. I was gonna purchase some nicer braded brake lines. In the rear can I just use the OEM brackets to mounts and pass the new brake lines through? Wouldnt be a tight fit but they wouldn't be hanging there at least.

Since I'm taking the calibers off I thought I would paint them while I'm at it, strip the paint off of them and prime and paint them. What's a good paint that you guys would recommend?

[Bax]

Napahkiin when I did mine a few years back, I originally planed to keep the hard tube center but ended up adding a short flex to replace the tube. The mounts capture the connectors rather well so it's mostly like the original design. I'd suspect that a single run with some reworked grommets to bite the hose will be just as good. Just make sure the flex relief is held close to the pivot and not able to slip in the mount and bulge toward the tire.


---Bax

[Radioguylogs]

Paints I have used for calipers:

(1) Rustoleum semi-gloss
(2) POR15

The POR 15 is is more durable and impervious to the brake fluid,... but if it does starts to peel, it comes off in big thick flakes like a plastic film.

[bikerphil]

The Dupli-color caliper spray paint can from auto parts store works well too.

[cajun31]

Napahkiin when I did mine a few years back, I originally planed to keep the hard tube center but ended up adding a short flex to replace the tube. The mounts capture the connectors rather well so it's mostly like the original design. I'd suspect that a single run with some reworked grommets to bite the hose will be just as good. Just make sure the flex relief is held close to the pivot and not able to slip in the mount and bulge toward the tire.


---Bax

Like Bax... I went with straight lines and just added some shrink tubing on them where needed to be able to reuse the stock mounting to hold them in place.

[jetmechmarty]

The Dupli-color caliper spray paint can from auto parts store works well too.

Yes, that's what I used. My calipers and master cylinder look good several years running.

[jetmechmarty]

XJ4Ever has perfect plug-n-play lines if you are willing to pay for getting it right the fist time.

[Napahkiin]

XJ4Ever has perfect plug-n-play lines if you are willing to pay for getting it right the fist time.

How do you actually order from the website? I found the part number I needed and everything but that's about it.

[Napahkiin]

Also does anyone have any experience with ordering brake lines from HEL? I found these lines here and they seem nice. A little cheaper I believe than xj4ever
https://us.helperformance.com/yamaha...ed-brake-lines

[jetmechmarty]

How do you actually order from the website? I found the part number I needed and everything but that's about it.

Just send an email to Info@xj4ever.com. He responds very quickly. He ships right away as well. Everything I have purchased from him has been first rate, NO JUNK! FWIW. if you replace the rear brake line, it's much easier to do so with the single piece braided line. I've done both the single line and three piece reproduction, so my recommendation is based upon experience.

[Napahkiin]

Just send an email to Info@xj4ever.com. He responds very quickly. He ships right away as well. Everything I have purchased from him has been first rate, NO JUNK! FWIW. if you replace the rear brake line, it's much easier to do so with the single piece braided line. I've done both the single line and three piece reproduction, so my recommendation is based upon experience.

Yeah if I was gonna do it it would be the single line connecting the master and the caliber. Much cleaner look. Thank you for the information

[cajun31]

just to add my 2 cents... I also use the duplicolor caliper paint. Supposedly is a ceramic based paint and may be a bit more resistant to brake fluid. If you can afford it then powder coating would be the way to go. Thought about doing mine that way but was easier to just paint them and keep the touched up as necessary.

[LenB]

Bought here with great success! (Much cheaper, too) After rebuilding all calipers and master cylinders and installing new braided lines, the old girl stops better than it did off the showroom floor.

https://www.technafitstore.com/YAMAH...amxs1100sf.htm

[bikerphil]

Yes, that's what I used. My calipers and master cylinder look good several years running.

Yep, I also baked the calipers (all rubber parts removed) in the toaster oven at 225F to cure them faster.

[kboehringer]

Napahkiin,

It is THE #1 priority for me to replace all the OEM brake lines on my machines with SS early in the restoration process. Typically before the very first ride!

There are literally dozens of sellers offering brake lines for the XS11's (and any other machine you may have). The HUGE differences in price relate to the overall quality, testing, and MOST IMPORTANTLY construction to DOT standards. Any hydraulic shop can fabricate a brake line but few can apply a DOT certification label or offer the assurance that the lines were to built to or tested to the degree necessary to meet DOT standards. I've a variety of SS lines on my variety of bikes and have found some suppliers lines to be improperly oriented, too long, too short, and of overall crap quality. Galfer and Ipex are GARBAGE.

Having worked closely with LEN at XJ4ever, I can assure you all of his lines are of extremely high quality, fit and orientation are correct. That said, I also use GoodRidge lines on my other bikes which carry the certifications to meet US DOT and every requirement in Europe (which are much more strict than USA),



Whatever line(s) you purchase, you're making a long overdue repair & upgrade from 40+ year old garbage. Just make sure the seller if providing the assurance (and hopefully the certification) that the lines meet or exceed DOT standards!

Sincerely,
KURT