Braided brake lines?

Anyone know of the best place to get a set of Stainless braided brake lines?
Thanks

You can start here...

russellperformance.com/index_moto.shtml

(Look under the Harley stuff)
Snoop around,because a lot of brake stuff that applies(that will work)for Our bikes is not listed as being a complete,ready-to-use brake line...You have to figure out what length of line You need,and then the banjos(fittings).The banjos are the 10mm(or 3/,which is what Our bikes use(most bikes do).
I'm using Their lines,and have been a for a couple/few years now,and no problems...and they look nice!

Sweet!
Thanks for the info Sandy.
I'll look into it

I just put on a set of lines from www.helusa.com on my 650B. I finished bleeding them last night and they made a day and night difference in how the front brake feels (at least in the garage). These lines are cut to fit the specific application and if he doesn't show your bike on the site, he will make them up from your measurments (give Craig a call). The outer coating has several colors to choose from. I ordered black so they look very close to OEM. The kit includes new banjo bolts and the crush washers needed.

I think they ended up being the most economical solution that I found.

- Nate >>

Thanks Nate.
If you don't mind my asking, what did the whole set-up cost you, and what was the turn-around time for the lines to your door?
Thanks again

For the two-line kit, it was $98 plus shipping (I ordered through Old Bike Barn, but he has the same price on his site). I ordered them on the 7th and received them on the 10th USPS Priority Mail. He shows $147 for a three-line kit like for my SR. If you plan to order, it wouldn't hurt to confirm the lengths since he mostly works from Euro specs (HEL is UK based, I believe).

I have a link to pics in the "Brake line availability" thread that may be out to Page 2 by now. The pics may be offline temporarily since the KZ650.info forum is moving to a new host.

- Nate >>

For my '78 Kawasaki KZ750 Twin front brake line replacement, here's my shopping list from "Earl's Brake Line Components" from www.mgcycle.com/brakelines.html

- 8 Ccopper crush washers, $0.75 each = $6
- 2 #600503 30 degree adjustable banjo fitting - 2 x $16.50 = $33
- 1 #600803 30 degree non-adjustable banjo fitting - $12.25
- 1 #600703 straight non-adjustable banjo fitting - $10.50
- 3ft #6000031 clear plastic covered braided stainless steel brake line - 3 x $7.75 per foot = 23.25
....Total = $85

I looked at that too, Bique. Now add in 4 banjo bolts at $4.95 each and it's up to $104.80 and shipping hasn't even been added in yet while I received the HEL kits for $106 shipped via Priority Mail (gotta compare the kits all the way since the HEL kits inclue new stainless steel bolts) and I figure it's a wash. Then, a person must figure out some way to cut the line and then hope that one or more of the ends don't get ruined (or have an injury like jamming one of those wires in a finger) when trying to assemble it (which always seems to happen when I'm trying to save a buck). Then, the Earls line only comes in clear. If one wants to preserve the OEM look as much as possible then black lines are needed.

On my scale of value, the HEL kit is tilted far in my favor than doing it myself with the Earls. Same thing with the Russel lines, clear only and then only premade lengths. It looked to me that I might not have enough room for the large ends with the compression fitting and then the banjo. Plus, I couldn't find any data on how long the banjos are and the specified length didn't bother to mention whether that was to the ends of the female fittings or something else.

- Nate >>

The ends themselves:

Down at the caliper:

Be sure if you get lines and measure your old ones to go by to measure the entire hose from end to end including the banjo fittings. I assumed the measurement would be done from the hole in each banjo, which is wrong. You'll get lines too short if you measure this way. I had braided for a while on my KZ1000 and really didn't see any advantage too them and being a stock kind of guy, I went back stock. All my lines are original from 77-80. Surprise, surprise.

N0NB wrote:

I looked at that too, Bique....

What can I say? I think you've almost got me convinced for my next set of lines. I like what I read on the site, and your endorsement.

I really enjoyed building my own, it was a fun learning experience, and not hard at all. Just wrapped in tape to cut with a hacksaw, and the assemblies were easy and I only got stabbed once by the wire.

By the way, for price comparison, I bought WAY more line that I needed (3 feet!), so the price would have been $10 or so lower. And, I didn't need new banjo bolts, I just used the old ones...