Topic: Where to get braided SS brake lines made?

[Scott S]

  Slingshot seems to have gone M.I.A. again. I have a hydraulics shop near me that can make them for cheap, but they look a little industrial compared to the clean lines Slingshot has/had. Plus, I kinda want black lines for a stealth look.
 Are there other places making lines that you trust? I'll need them for my 550 soon, but this is actually for mt VF500 and there are a LOT of lines; 3 front brake, one rear and two clutch. And there are some hangers that need to be on the line. I can send the old lines in to be matched.
 

[evanphi]

There are some good outfits on ebay that I remember using.

http://stores.ebay.com/rennsportautoparts/

I used this guy before I went with Slingshot. They do custom orders, or sets for bikes.

[Ericcb750]

Hey Scott, I actually just re-built my braking system using a Black Stainless goodrich line from 4-1. It got rid of the pipe at the end (by the caliper and just mounts into two banjo fittings at the caliper and at the master.

I was going to go with Slingshot but like you said....M.I.A. I had a brand new Honda brake pipe and everything... Just be careful of the length needed, just in case. Hope that helped a little

[Scott S]

 I need a place that can make up lines. The CB550 will have an R6 front end and 400F bars, so those won't be stock CB lengths.
 The VF500 are all stock length, but have some hangers and what not.

 I'll check with the place near me. They might not be exactly the color I want or what not, but they are pennies on the dollar compared to most places that make custom lines.

[flybox1]

galferusa
spieglerusa
paragon performance
cyclebrakes
venhillusa

[edwardmorris]

Raymond Chan at Apex makes them for 750s, I got a set from him  http://www.rennsportautoparts.com/ call the toll free number or find him on facebook.

[Desert-SOHC]

G and J Aircraft in Ontario, CA did mine.

[Duanob]

I need a place that can make up lines. The CB550 will have an R6 front end and 400F bars, so those won't be stock CB lengths.
 The VF500 are all stock length, but have some hangers and what not.

 I'll check with the place near me. They might not be exactly the color I want or what not, but they are pennies on the dollar compared to most places that make custom lines.

You might have them made a tad longer than you need. I tried 400F bars on my 550 and didn't like it at all. Made my shoulders sore after 10 minutes of riding so I went to 32" low rise and all was better. FYI.

[grcamna2]

I need a place that can make up lines. The CB550 will have an R6 front end and 400F bars, so those won't be stock CB lengths.
 The VF500 are all stock length, but have some hangers and what not.

 I'll check with the place near me. They might not be exactly the color I want or what not, but they are pennies on the dollar compared to most places that make custom lines.

You might have them made a tad longer than you need. I tried 400F bars on my 550 and didn't like it at all. Made my shoulders sore after 10 minutes of riding so I went to 32" low rise and all was better. FYI.

I like the 400F bars you sold to me,I removed the black plastic end cap pieces to narrow them just a tad.
I lean-over forward out of the wind on my bike when I ride and they do help,thanks. 

[edwardmorris]

Raymond Chan at Apex makes them for 750s, I got a set from him  http://www.rennsportautoparts.com/ call the toll free number or find him on facebook.

To clarify, he will ask you for specific lengths even if its a well known model like the 750, so I'm sure he can do the VFR ones if you provide the exact lengths and other info he'd need.

[evanphi]

Raymond Chan at Apex makes them for 750s, I got a set from him  http://www.rennsportautoparts.com/ call the toll free number or find him on facebook.

To clarify, he will ask you for specific lengths even if its a well known model like the 750, so I'm sure he can do the VFR ones if you provide the exact lengths and other info he'd need.

I posted the ebay link for his place above, too.

[Stev-o]

Raymond Chan at Apex makes them for 750s, I got a set from him  http://www.rennsportautoparts.com/ call the toll free number or find him on facebook.

+1 Apex, Mo is this the same guy?

http://www.apexbrakes.com/custom.asp

He's in Canada but ships out of US rather quickly. I used him on my K3 last year when Slingshot was off.

[edwardmorris]

Raymond Chan at Apex makes them for 750s, I got a set from him  http://www.rennsportautoparts.com/ call the toll free number or find him on facebook.

+1 Apex, Mo is this the same guy?

http://www.apexbrakes.com/custom.asp

He's in Canada but ships out of US rather quickly. I used him on my K3 last year when Slingshot was off.

Yep, same guy.

[Scott S]

 I've actually used Apex before, but there are some scary reviews on Google now about Apex failures.

[Garage_guy_chris]

I used Z1's line system of pick lengths, pick ends assemble. I did two lines down to the calipers on my dual disc conversion and works perfectly.

https://www.z1enterprises.com/z1-categories/wheel-brake-tire/ss-hose.html

[DaveBarbier]

I've actually used Apex before, but there are some scary reviews on Google now about Apex failures.

I used Apex as well and Raymond is a really nice guy. Can you link to more bad reviews? The only one I can find is this one from 2010 and as you read the page it may have not been a brake line failure but the suspension pulling out the lines from the fittings (this was on a car at a track). If there's more evidence to lines failing I'll have to take a look at mine and consider new ones.

http://rennlist.com/forums/racing-and-drivers-education-forum/576388-warning-defective-brake-lines.html

[madmtnmotors]

I used Z1's line system of pick lengths, pick ends assemble. I did two lines down to the calipers on my dual disc conversion and works perfectly.

https://www.z1enterprises.com/z1-categories/wheel-brake-tire/ss-hose.html

+1

I have used these on two different builds as well.

[754]

Just buy the fitting adaptors, and -3 line from Earls Supply or Summit, and make your own.
 This way will guarantee the lengths are right. Its not real hard, and you can always make a shorter line  out of a long one.

[Scott S]

 Just found a set of Galfer lines for my R6 swap on the local Craigslist for only $50! Sweet! Brand New and in black, just like I wanted.

[riverfever]

I forgot I needed a line because I've been so fixated on wiring but then remembered the other night. Shaun was great a few months ago about communicating with me. This is unfortunate.

[Tews19]

Does anyone have the length and size we need for a 1970 750? Mine came with an extended one

[flybox1]

Does anyone have the length and size we need for a 1970 750? Mine came with an extended one

If you dont get any replies, use a piece of Cat5 or the existing line to guestimate...

[Bankerdanny]

The braided lines I put on my 550F last summer came from Apex. I did the custom route to get the exact length I wanted. They fit perfectly.

[Tews19]

The braided lines I put on my 550F last summer came from Apex. I did the custom route to get the exact length I wanted. They fit perfectly.

I'll call them

[Stev-o]

The braided lines I put on my 550F last summer came from Apex. I did the custom route to get the exact length I wanted. They fit perfectly.

I'll call them

Call?  I've just ordered from the website....

http://www.apexbrakes.com/custom.asp

[Tews19]

The braided lines I put on my 550F last summer came from Apex. I did the custom route to get the exact length I wanted. They fit perfectly.

I'll call them

Call?  I've just ordered from the website....

http://www.apexbrakes.com/custom.asp

I don't know the sizes I need.

[slikwilli420]

Buy fittings and make them yourself. Goodridge has quality stuff.

[PeWe]

Buy fittings and make them yourself. Goodridge has quality stuff.

Tools?

[madmtnmotors]

Buy fittings and make them yourself. Goodridge has quality stuff.

Tools?

All you need are wrenches. A JIC fitting (typically female) is provided on each end of the hose:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JIC_fitting

You just pick the end treatment that you need for each end (male JIC to banjo, male JIC to flare, etc...) then thread the hose onto the selected end treatment and tighten. EZPZ 

[PeWe]

OK, thanks! Good to know.
Something like this? https://www.goodridge.co.uk/collections/buildaline-kits
There are other options https://www.goodridge.co.uk/collections/hoses-fittings

This is good to be able to make home. The upper part depends on the bars, lower no problem only if the pipe should be used or hose all the way down to the caliper.
I use pipe fittings on calipers since a hose sits very tight and tricky for the right additional brake side.

Fittings and some meters of hose on the good to have pile then!

[madmtnmotors]

OK, thanks! Good to know.
Something like this? https://www.goodridge.co.uk/collections/buildaline-kits
There are other options https://www.goodridge.co.uk/collections/hoses-fittings

This is good to be able to make home. The upper part depends on the bars, lower no problem only of the pipe should be used or hose all the way down to the caliper.
I use pipe fittings on calipers since a hose sits very tight and tricky for the right additional brake side.

Fittings and some meters of hose on the good to have pile then!

Yep. I had to do some digging to figure out how all the components worked together. At first I thought the fittings were standard "flare" connections until I learned about the JIC connections. Definitely makes construction of custom brake lines easy once you figure out the proper end connections. I've only ordered one wrong end connector so far, but the price of the end connectors is pretty reasonable so it didn't break the budget. Simply ordered the proper one and moved on. 

[Bankerdanny]

The braided lines I put on my 550F last summer came from Apex. I did the custom route to get the exact length I wanted. They fit perfectly.

I'll call them

Call?  I've just ordered from the website....

http://www.apexbrakes.com/custom.asp

That's what I did, just used the website. Just take a look at your originals before you order to make sure you have the fittings clocked correctly.

[Don R]

  I got some from Speigler, they were nice but I tried to buy local and my dealer wasn't a great communicator. I ended up with a dual disc set for my 76F that was too short for an otherwise stock bike. I eventually made the pieces work here and there because we couldn't return the crazy special order black hose with silver fittings. Who would want that?

[pjlogue]

It's easy to make your own.  Earl's has both fittings and AN-3 hose.  I made a set for my GL1000 front and back.  I used the stainless banjo fittings.  All that's needed is a hacksaw, tape, vice and wrench or a couple of wrenches.  The stainless braided Teflon lines make for a very solid feel on the brakes.  This is what my GL rear lines look like:

-P.