Brake fluid flush

I service my XJ900 regularly every 6 months or slightly less - I don't put on a lot of miles/kms so a regular service and oil change just before summer and winter are ticked off on the annual calendar. However, because I thought the brakes felt OK last December I didn't bleed and flush the brake fluid. Gradual deterioration of operational components is barely noticeable over time and although the brakes felt a little squishy it just felt fairly normal considering the age of the bike and the old rubber brake lines. So, on a day off from work I decided to flush the brake fluid completely front and back and...what a difference. The brakes feel firmer and seem to require less pressure at the handle to pull up. So if you feel your brakes aren't up to scratch or haven't opened the brake master cylinder for awhile I would strongly recommend a brake bleed/flush for your upcoming summer riding safety and enjoyment.
And stainless steel brakelines are on the shopping list for me - anyone put these on their bike(s)?. I hear the improvement is substantial.

 

Servicing your bike the way you do should keep it happy for years. Even when the XJs service requirements are neglected they are Hard To Kill!

Bleeding the break system is probably one of the most overlooked items and on such an important component.

As for stainless steel break-lines there has been much talk of this (and in Aussie). The way New Zealand law works is that cheap, no name lines can not be fitted. Lines made by better manufactures have compliance marks (DOT?) on them and these markings are checked at vehicle inspection. I remember reading in the '80s (in Aussie Dirt Bike) that steel lines could not be fitted at all on dirt bikes that were competing. I think in Aussie to fit aftermarket items they need to be Aussie Design Rules (ADR) compliant? You would need to check with your local shop.

The main reason I can gather from reading on the web is that cheap lines are crap and dangerous.

 

I just upgraded my lines to SS and the difference is substantial. You want to make sure they are DOT (Department of Transportation) approved. They would have beent tested extensively, at least to NA standards.

You want to watch out for the "just for show" SS lines or dirt bike lines as they are not DOT approved.

My .02.

 

every used bike i have ever purchased got a brake flush. hard to believe all the crud that can accumulate in there over the yrs.

holy cow i hit 2nd gear.......watch out hogzzzz :lol:

 

Yeap it was DOT here.

In an atempt to make it easyer for Asian (esp. China) made stuff, including motorcycles, to be sold in NZ now no compliance is needed under NZ law.

This is good for those who do the job to a very high standard :wink: . Stainless lines that are aircraft quality e.g., Aeroquip would be fine with me (and will be soon), but there are many in the boy racer (mouth breather) crowd to whom bling and straight line horse power is all that matters who will now use unsafe cheap junk break components in said bling machine.

Hell some standard needs to be applied for saftey equipment?

8O

 

Yeah, I just put a Russel 42" stainless line on the front break of my XJ550 and cleaned out the master cylinder. With new fluid and the SS lines, the brakes are dangerous!!! They respond very well and I don't have any more sponginess!

+1 for SS lines!!

 

Thanks for the responses re the SS brake lines.

They are on my shopping list prior to the summer riding season down here in Oz just after I change my current front worn/slick tyre for a new one. Don't want vastly improved brakes on slicks and wet roads before I get a good feel for how they operate.

But certainly seems the way to go rather than simply replace the existing rubber lines like for like and not be all that much better off for a similar price.

Looking at the HEL range here in OZ - see link:

http://www.helperformance.com.au/HEL_Pe ... oducts.htm

 

I have them on my Seca, but can't comment as to how they were before...because they were on there when I bought it. I have no trouble stopping, however.
Flushing the brake fluid is, as you mentioned, very important to do at least bi-annually. I usually replace the fluid in the master cylinder every spring regardless.