XJ Stainless Steel Brake Lines - Info not found in search

[ljasonb]

Wow. I've been a forum searching maniac but still no dice. So I'll ask.

XJ owners who've switched to stainless brake lines:
1) Do you have measurements on every line you replaced?
2) Did anybody ever find a vendor that has a kit that's ready to rock?

Also, I found the tech tip thread. In this photo I see the connection of the lines from the left front caliper to the long line from the rear m/c at the join under the headlight.



Like the tech tip, I intend to replace the 3 piece setup with one long stainless line.
3) Why make the connection pictured above? Why not take the long line from the rear m/c all the way to the front left caliper?

Thanks!

[natemoen]

Chacal over on xjbikes.com has kits for them, or you can switch to a XS style brake setup where the front and rear are separate.

[ljasonb]

I'd like to keep the XJ's linked brakes.

[crazy steve]

I don't know who has kits, but you shouldn't run one super-long line from the rear master to the front caliper. Yamaha used a steel hard line for most of the distance, and switching to braided for the whole thing will defeat one of the reasons for the swap; a firmer brake feel. Any flexible line will expand some on pressure, certainly more than a steel line will...

[natemoen]

Chacal over on xjbikes.com has the kits for the lines.

[trbig]

The linked brakes are good for beginning riders, or riders that don't/won't ride much. Many inexperienced riders in a panic situation will simply lock up the back brake, which is pretty useless since the back has very little of the stopping power. Most people that have been riding a while prefer to have front brake when they need it and back when they need it since they each affect the bike differently.

You can either order the stainless kit like suggested, or take a piece of string and run it along your current lines, then measure the string, then order universal lines like I did. I highly recommend doing as Steve said and leave the solid line in place if you plan on using the linked brakes, if not for the simple reason that your right sidecover wouldn't fit running it the way the current line is. Also, with a braided line flexing held against the frame, you're going to get line movement, which is going to rub the paint off and either get you a nice rusty section on the frame or a line that's getting rubbed away... or both.

The stainless lines do make a big difference, but the best option is to get a modern master cylinder for the front brake. I came on here a while back explaining the difference between stock and the Nissin M/C I have on my '81 Special. When I said that it was also a 5/8" piston, I got a few who said, "The stock one is already a 5/8.. so I'll just stick with it!" It's equivelent to saying, "My XS has 100CC more than an R1, so I'll stick with it for racing.." A modern M/C with stainless lines will be more expensive, but the stopping power is amazing. If you want to go one step further, you can have some adapters modded up to take modern calipers as well. XSChop wants me to bring him a few of my bikes... a standard, a special, and my XJ so he can mod up some adapters to be able to use the Brembo calipers off of a 'Busa. I don't know if a guy NEEDS to be able to do stoppies on an XS, but you could easily with that setup.

It all depends on your budget and at what point you consider overkill.

[CaptonZap]

I don't know if a guy NEEDS to be able to do stoppies on an XS, but you could easily with that setup.

It all depends on your budget and at what point you consider overkill.

At that point, you better have some GOOD springs, or a lot of air pressure in the forks. CZ

[ljasonb]

Thanks a million everyone. I'm keeping the solid steel line and am now in search of the best deal on the rest of the lines.

[trbig]

Just remember, the banjo bolts are 10mm, and on the rear banjo, order one with a 22.5 degree bevel.

This place looks like a pretty good deal.

http://sandsportsunlimited.com/Custo...rake-Lines.htm


Only problem is he says he crimps the ends on... but you'll need an end to screw into the old steel line.