Who's still running on their original brake lines?

[DAVINCI]

Scariest thread I ever did see...


For those of you who think your 30+ yr old lines work just fine, try this. Grab one of the lines with one hand and squeeze the brake lever with the other. Feel that swelling? That's braking power lost. If that doesn't scare you into getting new lines, stainless or otherwise, man nothing will.

[Brent]

Scariest thread I ever did see...


For those of you who think your 30+ yr old lines work just fine, try this. Grab one of the lines with one hand and squeeze the brake lever with the other. Feel that swelling? That's braking power lost. If that doesn't scare you into getting new lines, stainless or otherwise, man nothing will.

Oh Randy, contrair,
Having spongy brakes that lack feel and require more effort is easy to get used to, gradually. Squeezing harder builds stronger muscles...

When the line bursts...That will scare you into making a change.
In the mean time always aim at a clear spot (between lanes or pointing toward side) when stopping with OLD lines.

[Courtney]

Man up guys, doing hospital time is a sign of masculinity.
I also look down the barrel of my Browning Hi-power to see if it's loaded too.

JK, of course it's a roulette game using old lines, and I am currently chatting with someone about a complete rubber replacement set. I was just curious to see who else has had their lines last this long besides me.

[Cuda 69]

Mine are original,with under 15K,but it is on the bucket list for the bike to get braided.It still stops well,but I know............look ma,no brakes

[Schming]

When I dismantled my calipers, with only 23k on my '80G, there was bits of black rubber hose inside.
For those who still run their original lines, they may look and feel good with no cracks on the outside as mine did, but it's what you can't see that'll kill ya

Seriously, SS Braided lines are costly but at least get new rubber lines.

The odds for us riders are stacked against us already, why make it worse ?

[Diskman01]

Where can I find a set of rubber brake lines? Who has the best bang for the buck at the moment?? 1978 E.

[unicorncomputer]

How do I tell if I have original brake lines? My bikes has 22k miles on it. Guess that would be a good thing to do when I do the brake pads this spring as well.

[Schming]

Where can I find a set of rubber brake lines? Who has the best bang for the buck at the moment?? 1978 E.

Here ya go: http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=40222.html

How do I tell if I have original brake lines? My bikes has 22k miles on it. Guess that would be a good thing to do when I do the brake pads this spring as well.

Are they black rubber hose?
If so look for markings.
There should be a date labled on them in whitish grey paint or ink.
If it's too hard to read or locate they're in need of replacement.

[trbig]

Where can I find a set of rubber brake lines? Who has the best bang for the buck at the moment?? 1978 E.

Here ya go: http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=40222.html

That's $115 for rubber lines for his '78. $169 for stainless for it. You can get the universal stainless lines off Ebay for about half or less than the price of those rubber lines, and buy them a few pieces at a time.


But, it's your money.

[Diskman01]

That's $115 for rubber lines for his '78. $169 for stainless for it. You can get the universal stainless lines off Ebay for about half or less than the price of those rubber lines, and buy them a few pieces at a time.


But, it's your money.

Yup. I did the math already. Its 169ish for ALL my lines (rubber). I can order the stainless ones on eBay for less than half. At least I got somewhere to start! Thanks for the original link!

Now I gotta find my banjo end diameters, angles, lengths and layouts to order SS lines.. sigh..

[Schming]

Actually that's the only place I could find the rubber lines.
Yes, pricey but beats dead, and that was what was asked for.
Myself I'll never go back to rubber lines.

[trbig]

Yup. I did the math already. Its 169ish for ALL my lines (rubber). I can order the stainless ones on eBay for less than half. At least I got somewhere to start! Thanks for the original link!

Now I gotta find my banjo end diameters, angles, lengths and layouts to order SS lines.. sigh..

The banjo bolts are 10mm. And yeah, some of the banjo angles were weird. Seems like I had a 22.5 degree bend on one of my banjos. (1/2 a 45 degree) Just look at what's there already and it should be a piece of cake. Just remember on the front to allow an inch or two in your measurements for when your suspension extends out all the way. Or... run a string along your old one, then measure the string.

The bikes with the linked brakes like the XJ will be more involved, depending on what you want to do. I've disconnected mine, so the rear brake pedal only operates the rear brake. But honestly, in an emergency stop, the rear brake is pretty much useless anyway, so if you have to choose, get the front brakes done first, then you can figure out what you want to do to the rear.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Oem

So after 33yrs, I'm looking at my brake lines and seeing them looking pretty good with no cracks, and flowing pretty easily, as opposed to my 43yr old VW bug brake lines which have swollen up inside and stopped fluid from returning to the master cylinder. Awesome way to have a line locker, but not what you want.

So who's comfortable riding on their antique original brake lines?

Mine are OEM from 1979, I ride like an old man, cuz I am an old man The manual says replace every 4 years due to Yamaha not wanting to be responsable for any I will replace with SS lines for the better brakeing and the years on these lines, but I must give Kudos for lines that are 34 years old and still working fine The posabilty of a line blowing out under hard breaking is real, and is reason enough to replace and if you are replacing, the SS are not much more $$$

[Nubian]

Man up guys, doing hospital time is a sign of masculinity.
I also look down the barrel of my Browning Hi-power to see if it's loaded too.

JK, of course it's a roulette game using old lines, and I am currently chatting with someone about a complete rubber replacement set. I was just curious to see who else has had their lines last this long besides me.

Browning Hi-Power, sweet, classic, single action, well balanced nine!

[skids]

Ok I admit it. On two of my 3 runners I have original rear brake lines as far as I know...