Who is replacing their brake lines after 4 years?

Sierra1

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I have only had one bike long enough to be concerned about replacing the brake lines. It is my ol' FJ. I changed those early on, also attempting to increase the braking efficiency. I too did not feel any difference. They did look better though. ::001::
 

Grumpy

Getting old is not for wimps
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Many years ago I changed to braided SS on my non ABS Yamaha XJR 1300 (including clutch lines) the difference in stopping power was worth the money. Before I sold it I was toying with doing the same on my FJR, but the cost for doing 11? lines was a bit steep. I haven't looked into the cost on the Tenere, or how many lines it has:eek:
 
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ballisticexchris

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Many years ago I changed to braided SS on my non ABS Yamaha XJR 1300 (including clutch lines) the difference in stopping power was worth the money. Before I sold it I was toying with doing the same on my FJR, but the cost for doing 11? lines was a bit steep. I haven't looked into the cost on the Tenere, or how many lines it has:eek:
It does have a whole bunch of lines. Galfer has a pretty darn good deal on a full set of braided lines. I have used their lines in the past with great results. Just make sure to pay a little extra and have the 2 lines going to the Clutch/Brake MC extended if you have bar risers. Very good company to work with.

https://galferusa.com/product/yamaha-2017-xtz-1200-super-tenere-es-multiple-lines-fk003d771-9

Earls Performance Plumbing also makes good custom brake lines.
 

Streethawk

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San Antonio, Texas, United States
A little thread resurrection to see if anyone on it ever installed the Galfer steel braided lines. If anyone has installed them, how did they work out? My 2016 is due. I'm currently at 16,500 miles and prefer not to wait for that unwanted performance drop off from the rubber lines expansion. I've experienced that on my 2015 Versys 650 and it definitely makes things less fun.
 

Streethawk

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For me it's more of a performance thing than a time compliance thing. I believe in most environments, the OE rubber lines will hold up way past 4 years. In my experience however, and based on my riding style, 5 to 6 years is where I can feel that performance drop off (from the rubber line expansion). That's despite pad/rotor upgrades and master cylinder/caliper rebuilds.
 

MattR

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I’m sure there is plenty of leeway built in, otherwise we’d see loads of 4 year old bikes crashing. But who knows how much leeway?
And you’re right to say braided lines feel much better.


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RCinNC

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Aug 30, 2014
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North Carolina
Maybe I'll change mine in a few more months when I hit 100,000 miles. Of course, by then, then cost of a new set of lines plus some new radiator hoses, will be about a quarter of the value of the bike....
 

Longdog Cymru

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I think it is not so much mileage that affects the brake lines as time. If your bike is run regularly and often, is maintained correctly and racks up the miles, then I am pretty sure that it will be better and healthier than a garage queen of the same age but has a fraction of the mileage on the clocks.
 

RCinNC

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I think it is not so much mileage that affects the brake lines as time. If your bike is run regularly and often, is maintained correctly and racks up the miles, then I am pretty sure that it will be better and healthier than a garage queen of the same age but has a fraction of the mileage on the clocks.
I think that's a fair description of my bike. About 12,000 miles per year, regular maintenance, brake fluid flushed every two years.
 

MattR

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I think the main issue is degradation of the rubber by environmental conditions. Look how car tyres and brake lines ( the rubber parts) crack and degrade


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Jari

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Aug 11, 2021
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Sweden Mälardalen
Got a 2018 ES a couple weeks ago with only 6000km on it, but I think the brake performance is so poor on these bikes so I will put braided lines on it for better feel and performance.
 

fac191

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Jun 22, 2016
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London
Got a 2018 ES a couple weeks ago with only 6000km on it, but I think the brake performance is so poor on these bikes so I will put braided lines on it for better feel and performance.
I find there is nothing wrong with the brakes really. A lot of places i ride you want feel not power. I ride in lower gears than others maybe down to the roads i ride. If I come into a corner hot im nearly on the rev limiter and just back off and slow down i don't use the brakes in anger. And it doesn't overload the front. Depends what bike you have come from i suppose and your style of riding. It's only got 110 horses it's not a KTM so it has the right braking for what it is.
 

fac191

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why do you ride at the rev limiter
To be fair I'm not on it all the time. But if im having a bit of fun i will happily run it at high revs and i will bang the limiter. But me banging the limiter is the same as others over braking as i see it. The roads I ride on don't have much room they are all up down left right potholes gravel ECT. I really don't want to be loading up the front too much. I find this bike so much easier to control using the engine, when i am on bigger wider better roads of course i do adapt somewhat. But I will still try to approach a bend in the lowest gear i think i can use as i feel i have more control over it. I would not say i am a fast rider but when I'm riding like this i am picking the bike up early out of bends im not trying to get the pegs down or anything like that it's just smoother for me to ride like this rather than constantly being on the brakes then on the gas. I ride to have fun, stopped doing wheelies along time ago so I like to have a blast when I ride. Plus there are cameras everywhere here so when you get a chance you have to play up !
 
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