Brake Line Thoughts

[da prez]

Over the winter I am going to replace the brake lines .
 Galfer- Spiegler-Goodridge or Russell.
                    Is one better than the other. I am leaning toward the Galfer.

                        da prez
                         

[G-Man]

Went with Goodridge once.  One of the lines had a damaged surface on a banjo thingy that a crush washer couldn't fix.  They charged me for return to them and then the shipping back to me.  I had to pay shipping 3 times for that one line because of their poorly manufactured product.

Next time went with Galfer via Cyclebrakes.com.  Much better experience.  They were all right on the money except for one banjo thingy that could have been about and 1/16 of a turn more this away, but it still fits and works like a champ.  And there are a lot of fittings on that front brake line.  I ordered mine 4" over stock because I have 4" risers and 12" of rise in the bars, but there's a lot less pullback.  I went with the basic black covers. Good quality.

[hubcapsc]

I replaced my fronts with OEM... fits like... OEM 

-Mike

[sandy]

I put Galfers on the front. Standard fit, no problems.

[donaldcc]

  I have Galfer front, back and clutch lines for over a year and think they are great.  Good customer service also with questions etc.  One of the metal connectors on the front brake line was a little scored and I sent a pic by email and they promptly sent a replacement.  Firmer in response than OEMs.

[indiandave]

I went with HEL there SS fittings and line - will not have disimuler metal coursion. Can get All black or just about any color. Put full set frount,rear, & clutch on my Interstate made a big change it feel of brakes.  Found the dealer on ebay called them and got it a little cheaper was a m/c in Cal.
David

[9Ball]

I agree that the HEL lines are top quality....I have them on my Rocket 3.  Had them made +2" from stock to account for the risers and different pullback on the replacement handlebars.  You can get the fittings in just about any color if you want something different.

Had some customer service problems with Goodridge when I put braided SS lines on the Yamaha Raider.  They didn't stand behind their poorly made product so I trashed their bad lines and went with Galfer.  An expensive lesson but one I won't make again.

[Ricky-D]

Aftermarket braided brake lines.

Comments usually are laudatory.

I put them to the same type of comments after installing a new front tire.

Reason being new brake lines are usually accompanied by new brake pads.

Naturally, they are going to feel great improvement.

And if I'm not mistaken, aftermarket brake lines for the front of the Valkyrie are not a direct replacement.

Something about where the junction occurs has to be changed or modified.

***

[vanagon40]

Aftermarket braided brake lines.

Comments usually are laudatory.

I put them to the same type of comments after installing a new front tire.

Reason being new brake lines are usually accompanied by new brake pads.

Naturally, they are going to feel great improvement.

And if I'm not mistaken, aftermarket brake lines for the front of the Valkyrie are not a direct replacement.

Something about where the junction occurs has to be changed or modified.

***

You may have a valid point regarding the Valkyrie.  However, I put stainless steel lines on a 30 year old Honda and the stainless steel lines definitely made a difference as it was the last change made (I had previously changed fluid, bled the lines, and changed the pads).

[hubcapsc]

Aftermarket braided brake lines.

Comments usually are laudatory.

I put them to the same type of comments after installing a new front tire.

Reason being new brake lines are usually accompanied by new brake pads.

Naturally, they are going to feel great improvement.

And if I'm not mistaken, aftermarket brake lines for the front of the Valkyrie are not a direct replacement.

Something about where the junction occurs has to be changed or modified.

***

You may have a valid point regarding the Valkyrie.  However, I put stainless steel lines on a 30 year old Honda and the stainless steel lines definitely made a difference as it was the last change made (I had previously changed fluid, bled the lines, and changed the pads).

I changed my 15 year old OEM Valkyrie lines with new OEM lines (and changed the fluid, pads, etc) and it made
my front brakes GREAT.

I'm not poo-pooing the braided lines... I think Ricky is right about the way they hook together at the junction on the front,
some I've seen seem downright funky to me, but there might be some nicely fitted together ones too.

I like the way the OEM lines look too, but then I changed out the chrome grips that came on my bike
for OEM grips... we don't all like the same thing...

-Mike

[indiandave]

Aftermarket braided brake lines.

Comments usually are laudatory.

I put them to the same type of comments after installing a new front tire.

Reason being new brake lines are usually accompanied by new brake pads.

Naturally, they are going to feel great improvement.

And if I'm not mistaken, aftermarket brake lines for the front of the Valkyrie are not a direct replacement.

Something about where the junction occurs has to be changed or modified.

***

Your right they should be praised, I have replaced many brake lines in my life time. And ANY new line will be better than a 15 year old line or later. I can not tell you how many time I have fixxed a brake problem with changing out the line's. The 1st thing I do is change the fluid. As it will draw mosture & should be change every 3 years, if it is not clear/yellow it is time to change it. The rubber may look good from the out side but the inside is what counts. Just split a line apart and see how it will break up, it will cause grabbing  or draging brakes, will cause spongey brakes as the line will expand when pressure applied this is where the SS line are far better. When I changed my lines - I did not change the pads, I replaced the fluild as I was awaiting for the SS lines, this helped but it but the spongies went away with the new line's.

Rubber will degrade over time weather on the bike or off. When replaceing brake line with OEM Honda Part that line could be over 15 yrs old and bad being brand new. When I working as a A&P - we inspect hyd lines all the time and change them due to age. Just look at tire today we get they will weather check at 6 years old. For this resone alone you should go for a New SS line.  To each thier leave of safety is up to them, old brake line's and old tire's are not for me.