Found a great price on custom stainless steel brake lines that are within pickup distance from me. Wouldn't mind ordering a pair, but they need me to supply dimensions for the build.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-GS500E-CUSTOM-STAINLESS-STEEL-BRAKE-LINE-HOSE-/190886717489?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c71bc2831&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1 (http://www.ebay.ca/itm/SUZUKI-GS500E-CUSTOM-STAINLESS-STEEL-BRAKE-LINE-HOSE-/190886717489?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c71bc2831&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1)
Does anyone know length/angles for this? It would be great if I didn't have to take off the old ones to measure as I'd be out of comission for at least a few days. I'm worried if I try and do it with them on, I'll mess up the length or the angle or something.
Bike is GS500F 2006
The thread below covers the same topic pretty well for you. I would still measure yours specifically, since some have found differences among the years.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=59885.msg687618#msg687618
- Bboy
There are 2 lengths for rear brake lines. Use the longer length - that does the loop around for more free-play but that loop does make bleeding harder. Longer is the later years.
There are different lengths for the front, too. 89's with clip-ons was shorter than stock bars. On front, Important on the front is the bend in each connection. There are different bends to make the line fit. Also the rotation between the two ends. SS lines do not twist like rubber can. So the rotation between the handle bar and the brake caliper is important. And that rotation can vary depending on the angle of your handle bars.
I have their lines on a couple of my bikes, I plan on using them again for the GS. Good stuff.
As far as measuring goes.... it's not difficult, use a string or similar and run it the length of the line. It might help to tape the string to the old line as you go so it will follow the curves. The tricky part is getting the angles and offsets right. It might help to make a little sketch to bring to the computer when you place the order.
The last one I ordered from them I screwed up and had one of the angles wrong. I called them an hour after placing the order and they got me the right one. Good stuff.
FWIW, I just measured one off the bike and it's 75cm eye to eye .... pre 2000, stock bars (not clips)
(Almost forgot about this thread, lots of projects on the go :) )
Thanks for the help guys. I didn't even think about this before, but I've got custom clipons one of the previous owners installed. I'm guessing the stock rubber lines have enough play that they didn't need to be changed, but if I get stainless lines w/ the same dimensions I'm going to have problems with the length and angles.
I guess I should grab some string and take a stab at it measuring things myself..
Ended up taking some shoelaces and measuring them myself. It was easy. With my clips ons I went for:
FRONT
Length: 26" (could probably have been 25)
Top Fitting: #3
Bottom Fitting: #3
Rotation: 45 Degrees (there are 2 possible orientations for this, I think he refers to the one I wanted as 315, though it's not on his diagrams)
REAR
Length: 30"
Top Fitting: #3
Bottom Fitting: #1
Rotation: 0 Degrees
Placed the order Monday night at about 10pm. He got back to me at 11pm (I know, who's working at that time of night?) asking about which orientation I wanted for the front. He also offered a swivel end so it would rotate to any orientation, but I had enough faith to go with what I measured. He also doesn't do pickup during the summer, so I had to get them shipped.
Shipping label and tracking number were registered Tuesday. Item was marked as in the mail Wednesday, and it got delivered Thursday. $50 and < 3 working days later I had at my door and in my hands 2 stainless steel brake lines, 4 new banjo bolts, and 9 crush washers (an extra).
Installed everything last night. The only issue I had was not all the banjo bolt threads are the same? Didn't expect this, but the bolt to connect hose to the front caliper had a much bigger thread pitch than the other 3. Not sure if that's normal and stock, but I had to reuse the old banjo. After I was done, I took the bike for a quick spin and I'm very happy with the increased feel through the lines. Also, my old ones had a manufacturing date of 2005 stamped on them, so I needed something either stainless or not.
If anyone is thinking about pulling the trigger on these, I say do it.