so, the single best upgrade i have made to the bike thusfar: stainless braided front brake line from Russell.  braking is sooooo easy now.  the old line had a hairline crack and would drip fluid on the disc, now, everything is dry and working great.

if you don't have braided lines, go get some.  i doubt the rears need it (they lock up pretty easily as it is), but the fronts definitely need it.

Does it help the pressure needed to clamp the brakes down very much or just make it smoother?

the bad thing.....
now you really notice how much the front dives
and you can see the forks flex, if you are bored

less pressure needed, MUCH smoother input.  it's worth it for the confidence factor alone.

I have the front lines too. Now i can brake with 2 fingers just as hard as with 4 fingers with the old line. I don't think rear needs it.

And all of you get some progressive or better springs to the front. Makes world of difference.

Where can I buy Russell brake kit from?

Jenya

i got a set of good ritch lines on my bike , you can defo tell the diff, even with the bakc, its just smoother , more predictive breaking , the Kat front end , also has Duel SS goodritch , , they look alot better if u think u cant telll the difference lol

Jay

QuoteWhere can I buy Russell brake kit from?

i got mine from someone here in a classified ad.  try google.  i think they are pretty easy to find. 

FWIW, i installed a late-model GS line on my 1989 "E" and it works fine, just a little long.  i pushed the excess up behind the headlight, making sure not to kink the line, and it looks super.

I got mine from flatoutmotorcycles.com.  You have to use the search engine on the site to find it.  It took about 6 weeks to ship, but I also ordered jets and weird OEM screws and crap that probably took them a long time to find.  Anyone who resells Parts Unlimited should sell it.

I am about to place an order from flatoutmotorcycle.com.

Do I understand it correctly that they have only the front kit? Does the kit come with everything that I will need.  The kit I am looking at is $26.95. Is that they right one?
-----------------------------

Just called flatoutmotorcycle.com and they told me that Russell lines were discontinued and they wouldn't be able to get them for me. So much for that.


Jenya

I did mine before I even rode it so I have no idea how it compares, but it brakes nice I did the rear too, maybe I shouldn't have, during emergency braking practice the rear locks up really easily...

Quote from: Jenya on May 31, 2007, 03:26:38 PM
Do I understand it correctly that they have only the front kit?

You probably don't want a rear steel brake line.  Some people purposely bleed air into the line to help prevent the rear locking up.

Quote from: Jenya on May 31, 2007, 03:26:38 PM
Just called flatoutmotorcycle.com and they told me that Russell lines were discontinued and they wouldn't be able to get them for me. So much for that.

Crap.

Quote from: Chuck on May 31, 2007, 03:50:10 PM

Quote from: Jenya on May 31, 2007, 03:26:38 PM
Just called flatoutmotorcycle.com and they told me that Russell lines were discontinued and they wouldn't be able to get them for me. So much for that.

Crap.

I got mine from HEL - http://www.helusa.com/

They cost more than the Russell's but you get your choice of colors for the line and the fasteners. I don't like the actual look of stainless steel lines so I went with black ones with plain ends, looks pretty much stock

the only things you should need: the brake line with fasteners attached at the factory, 4 crush washers. 

total install took 30 minutes, including bleeding the line.

Quote from: debtman7 on May 31, 2007, 04:04:21 PM

Quote from: Chuck on May 31, 2007, 03:50:10 PM

Quote from: Jenya on May 31, 2007, 03:26:38 PM
Just called flatoutmotorcycle.com and they told me that Russell lines were discontinued and they wouldn't be able to get them for me. So much for that.

Crap.

I got mine from HEL - http://www.helusa.com/

They cost more than the Russell's but you get your choice of colors for the line and the fasteners. I don't like the actual look of stainless steel lines so I went with black ones with plain ends, looks pretty much stock

I went with Hel.  I'm not happy with them.  I asked, specifically, "is the clear UV-stable, or will it yellow with time."  I was assured that it was stable.  A year or so later, my brake lines look like they're rusted anywhere they're exposed to the sun....

Replacing the rear brake hose with a stainless line actually improves control, just as it does in the front. Braking is much easier to modulate and the bike squirms a bit to warn of impending lockup, too--not a luxury offered by the old rubber rigatoni! 

Quote from: Egaeus on May 31, 2007, 06:12:28 PM
I went with Hel.  I'm not happy with them.  I asked, specifically, "is the clear UV-stable, or will it yellow with time."  I was assured that it was stable.  A year or so later, my brake lines look like they're rusted anywhere they're exposed to the sun....

Yeah, I wouldn't advise clear... I also got the plain fasteners because I figured the painted ones would peel and fade. The advantage to HEL (other than mine seem extremely well made and came with great customer service) is that you can get a variety of colors if you are so inclined. I wanted ones that looked as stock as possible, and they're one of the few companies that offer plain old black wrapped stainless steel lines.

i'll try to post a picture of the one i used.  it is a bit long since it is made for the newer-style handle bars, but works just the same.

My ones were really long , i dunno why