Upgrading brake lines

[Toto]

Anyone know of good source to upgrade 02 1150RT to Stainless Steel Brake lines? I've maintained my wheel/control circuits well over the years but now at 42K thinking it's time to change out the rubber lines for steel. Comments?

[ltljohn]

If you search the threads a couple people here have done this. Spiegler seem to come up often in brake line threads.

Spiegler Website

[OoPEZoO]

Your other option is Galfer lines. I installed a set on my bike about two years ago. They function just fine, but I wasn't happy with the overall fit. Here is a link to the install on my 1100. LINK

 

If I did it over again, I would go with the Spiegler lines.

 

As a note, your rubber lines are probably still fine (mine were still fine at 97k miles), but I guess it is a little bit of piece of mind that you shouldn't ever have to mess with them again.

[outpost22]

If I did it over again, I would go with the Spiegler lines.

 

As a note, your rubber lines are probably still fine (mine were still fine at 97k miles), but I guess it is a little bit of piece of mind that you shouldn't ever have to mess with them again.

 

First I ordered Galfers and they never were shipped by some shoddy outfit in Florida. Then I ordered Spieglers. Very nice lines. They aren't marked as to which line goes where, but you can figure it out looking at the subtle bends in the fittings.

 

And like Keith says: it was all about the piece of mind. My brake lines were original from '96. It was definitely time.

[11101110]

I got my Spieglers from Lynchburg BMW (formerly hammersley) at a very attractive price. Order from them before they close (stoopid management decision and not from lack of business).

[mikeR1100R]

I did go with the Galfer lines and was quite happy with them. It was one of the most worthwhile upgrades I have done. The improvement in braking was much more than I had hoped for.

[Selden]

Were the Galfers for an R-bike? How was the fit (in light of Keith's comment)?

 

I just contacted Lynchburg BMW, since they don't seem to list brake lines on their web site.

 

I got a quote from Cycle brakes last month for Galfer Stainless Steel Braided Complete 5 Line Kit, part #FK003D173-C for $180. But, since I'm not going to be riding or wrenching for a few months, I held off placing an order.

[OoPEZoO]

Selden.......my only complaint about the Galfers was with the front lines. If you look at this pic

 

 

You can see that they replace the front two lines and crossover piece with a single line. The problem is that they don't provide any way to properly mount the new lines to the forks. I managed to modify the one side to reuse the factory mount, but the other side is still being held in place by two zip ties. For the amount of money I spent on them, I think that should have been addressed. The Speigler lines reuse the factory crossover hard line, and are a direct placement.

[Peter Parts]

Yes, it is an opportunity to re-think the way the lines lay.

 

Spiegler nice folks but make mistakes now and then. DAMHIK. They have knowledge of various BMW models.

 

Their lines are extra thin and come in colors in the event that you just happen to be some kind of radical, commie, or even support Canadian type health insurance, and don't like black.

 

I routinely change to stainless steel and routinely am compulsive (and patient) about bleeding. I think I can feel the difference and like it a lot but there's no compelling good reason to switch just for that.

[mikeR1100R]

That is pretty much how my Galfer lines look, but I guess I didn't mind the zip ties. The zip ties are in back of the headlight shell and I don't notice them too much.

 

Again, the gains in braking performance I got far outweighed the unsightly method I had to devise to secure them. I think that despite the way they may look, they are more efficient than the OEM lines.

[11101110]

I just contacted Lynchburg BMW, since they don't seem to list brake lines on their web site.

 

 

They don't. You have to call them and sometimes their voicmail box over flows and they won't get your message. In my case I just walked in . While they don't stock them they beat any price I found online. Of course being local I did not have to pay shipping but the sales tax made up for some of that.

[Unhofliche_Gesundheit]

other posters have listed sources of lines - i would go back and look at the root question...

 

to wit / re; thinking it's time to change out the rubber lines

comments.

 

comment is - i don't know that you really need to change the brake lines on a bike of that vintage - unless perhaps lines have seen hard use and/or a lot of sun.

 

i am roughly the same vintage and am pushing this job out into the future... was thinking i would change mine when i got closer to 160kkm...

its time and effort to do the change (and dont we have lots of other things to do and spend money on...?)

 

some advantages of the swap might be improved brake feel (however my current brake feel is excellent) - extended brake flush interval from one to two years (this could be nice) and of course reduced worry about your brake lines. however if you end up with a kludge (tie wraps) that is not so great - you would not reduce the worry factor. bleeding and install could be a challenge. not sure how much the new lines cost. say 300$?

 

so if you are looking for jobs and you have the bucks... go for it i guess. in my case i am waiting - my expenditures spreadsheet for this toy (r1150rt) is shocking.

 

 

[AndyS]

other posters have listed sources of lines - i would go back and look at the root question...

 

...

comment is - i don't know that you really need to change the brake lines on a bike of that vintage - unless perhaps lines have seen hard use and/or a lot of sun.

 

+1.

From my perspective, my brakes are stock and are excellent - with good feel and acceptable modulation.

 

I have no sign of perishing and/or debris in the flushed out fluid.

 

So, unless I suspected I had a problem I'll leave well alone.

Andy