Changing brake lines on a 2003 R1150R Non ABS
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2018 10:34 am
Had the misfortune of blowing the front brake line on a ride about 20 miles from home on the first ride after winter. Limped back home on the rear brake ...which was not so bad because both circuits are independent. MN weather can be brutal on the bike and its age did not help. The bike came with original rubber wrapped brake lines with BMW calipers. I looked for help from the wise and experienced folks on this forum but did not find much.
Replacing the lines was the only option but the availability, despite its high price - about 300 bucks for all lines- supply was non existent. The best offer I got was a 4 to 6 week wait for parts from Germany.
I took the option of getting all the front and rear lines from Galfer for 150 bucks but the first set they shipped were too long. I spoke to their very friendly Tech Guy who goes by Donny and he suggested that I send the lines I took off the bike along with the return so that they could fabricate them. They reused the metal crossover tube from the original line and recreated the rest.
They sent the lines back and I could not be happier !!! Installing them was a breeze. I reused the banjo bolts but used the crush washers that they sent. The lines look 'skinnier' that the original but the internal diameters seem to be the same. Test ride showed that the brakes were more responsive with no fading.
Happy riding
Sunil
Replacing the lines was the only option but the availability, despite its high price - about 300 bucks for all lines- supply was non existent. The best offer I got was a 4 to 6 week wait for parts from Germany.
I took the option of getting all the front and rear lines from Galfer for 150 bucks but the first set they shipped were too long. I spoke to their very friendly Tech Guy who goes by Donny and he suggested that I send the lines I took off the bike along with the return so that they could fabricate them. They reused the metal crossover tube from the original line and recreated the rest.
They sent the lines back and I could not be happier !!! Installing them was a breeze. I reused the banjo bolts but used the crush washers that they sent. The lines look 'skinnier' that the original but the internal diameters seem to be the same. Test ride showed that the brakes were more responsive with no fading.
Happy riding
Sunil