Topic: CB350F brake line options?

[jpschroeder]

Working through my CB350F semi-restoration and one of the things id like to resolve is the brake lines. The ones that are on there don’t look too healthy, I hear going with braided lines is the thing to do (im willing to sacrifice purity for safety).

The only braided lines I’ve found so far that are explicitly marketed for the 350F is from 4into1: https://4into1.com/stainless-steel-brake-line-kit-w-brake-pipe-black-honda-cb350-360-400f

Of course — I’ve also heard I shouldnt order things from there haha. Someone drop some wisdom on me? What would you do?

[bryanj]

I buy the hose and fittings from ebay and make my own, i could do it for you but postage to US would be expensive

[carnivorous chicken]

I've used the regular lines from David Silver Spares. I'm not sure how much a braided line will help you on a 350F and what kind of riding you'd be doing. But for regular riding regular lines have worked for me. And the cheaper, aftermarket lines from DSS worked just fine, at about a quarter of the price. I've used the DSS MC as well, and they work great.

I also am not a big fan of 4 into 1, but I was in a hurry and needed to get a bike wrapped up and so I used their kit for the 350F brake, the whole shebang, and it worked just fine (at least for now).

While making your own lines might be an option, I've also seen braided lines that forego the rear brake switch at the triple tree. That switch usually goes bad and doesn't work anyway, but if you want to retain it you'll want to make sure you can get (or make) the two independent pieces with the correct fittings.

[bryanj]

The most difficult union to get is the end of the flexi that connects to the steel pipe, i get round it by using a different pipe union on the steel

[newday777]

One of the members is a rep? for Apex brake hoses(braided SS) I don't know remember his name....

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

[HondaMan]

Maybe take a look here:
https://www.z1enterprises.com/brake-and-brake-parts.html
I've refitted several 750s and 550s, and plan on doing my 350F soon, using their parts. They look stock-ish, work perfectly, and you don't have to use braided lines if you don't want to: I don't like the way they fray after a few years, myself.

[newday777]

Maybe take a look here:
https://www.z1enterprises.com/brake-and-brake-parts.html
I've refitted several 750s and 550s, and plan on doing my 350F soon, using their parts. They look stock-ish, work perfectly, and you don't have to use braided lines if you don't want to: I don't like the way they fray after a few years, myself.

I've run stainless hoses for years on my goldwings and never have seen any fray.

[Duanob]

I'd go with stainless braided. less flex or expansion in the brake line for better braking power. Ive bought both Galfer and Venhill. Probably better off buying to fit your bike like from David Silver Spares or such. I'm looking at SS brake lines myself pretty soon.

[xhevi]

http://www.paragonperformance.com/
I used these guys in 2019 for my cb550. You could call them and find out if they still do custom lines. Great customer service.

Talking on the phone with them I remember being told that I could send my old ones and they would duplicate.

[jpschroeder]

I dont think david silver spares has braided lines for the cb350f (unless i dont know where to look?), although I do see the original braided lines. I suppose I could make my own, but ive never done that. At the moment im leaning towards doing the 4into1 option: https://4into1.com/stainless-steel-brake-line-kit-w-brake-pipe-black-honda-cb350-360-400f

[HondaMan]

Maybe take a look here:
https://www.z1enterprises.com/brake-and-brake-parts.html
I've refitted several 750s and 550s, and plan on doing my 350F soon, using their parts. They look stock-ish, work perfectly, and you don't have to use braided lines if you don't want to: I don't like the way they fray after a few years, myself.

I've run stainless hoses for years on my goldwings and never have seen any fray.

For me, I've rebuilt several (might be four?) 750s that had 'custom' braided front hoses (changing them back from extended front ends to normal ones), but 2 of those had frays in their middle where the bend is tightest, and one of those also at the lower end where the fitting was crimped on. I didn't do them, and have no idea where those came from, but they looked shabby on an otherwise nice, clean front end. So, I just sorta stayed with the black rubber look since then.

Which reminds me: I still have a nice set of 4" over stock front forks for a K3-K6 I could part with...