Stainless steel brake lines upgrade: Difference between revisions

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Here's why SS is better: The rubber lines expand with pressure. The SS lines don't (at least nowhere near as much). When you squeeze the brake lever on a stock line, some of that energy goes into expanding the rubber, instead of squeezing the brake pads together. With the SS line, that energy is no longer wasted. The end result is a brake that feels crisper and more definite. It makes the system feel much more precise and high-quality, with a greater sense of control.

"Just the front?" you ask? ~~Well, here~~ are ~~some opinions~~:

"Just the front?" you ask? Opinions are somewhat divided:

*[https://www.ninja250.org/Jim%20Race Jim Race]: Yes, since the majority of your braking power comes from the front anyway.... Although, if you like matching sparkly bits, go whole hog and do the rear as well. Most of the manufacturers these days have colored covers to match your bike's color. Think first about how the extra stopping power out back will affect your riding.

*[https://www.ninja250.org/Wes Wes]: When you have rear SS lines, you have a direct connection between your foot and the brake pads. It's like a rod. When you have rubber lines, they flex outward as you apply pressure, on a slight time delay. So, it's like a rod on a spring. The older the rubber lines, the springier they are. SS lines give you ''control''.

*[https://www.ninja250.org/IanJ IanJ]: I installed SS lines both front and rear on my first bike, and liked it, but didn't really notice much difference in rear feel. It was better, but not a lot better. On my second bike, I opted to skip the SS rear line and haven't regretted it.

*[https://www.ninja250.org/agradzki agradzki]: I have HH sintered pads on the rear and I haven't even locked up the rear yet (despite epic braking power) because you can feel the wheel speed in your hand and foot so easily! With the rubber lines there would be NO FEEDBACK until you started fishtailing!

*[https://www.ninja250.org/BrianM BrianM]: In the past when I used SS rear lines, I had to bleed air ''into'' the system to get the rear LESS touchy. Before doing that, I'd encounter situations where I'd lock the tire. Since I use the rear brake quite a bit, having the rear wheel lock up with very little foot movement was a headache and resulted in less smoothness, not more.

*[https://www.ninja250.org/IanJ IanJ]: I installed SS lines both front and rear on my first bike, and liked it, but didn't really notice much difference in rear feel. It was better, but not a lot better. On my second bike, I opted to skip the SS rear line and haven't regretted it.

==Brake lines need to be replaced anyway...==

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 Here's why SS is better: The rubber lines expand with pressure. The SS lines don't (at least nowhere near as much). When you squeeze the brake lever on a stock line, some of that energy goes into expanding the rubber, instead of squeezing the brake pads together. With the SS line, that energy is no longer wasted. The end result is a brake that feels crisper and more definite. It makes the system feel much more precise and high-quality, with a greater sense of control.
-"Just the front?" you ask? Well, here are some opinions:
+"Just the front?" you ask? Opinions are somewhat divided:
 *[https://www.ninja250.org/Jim%20Race Jim Race]: Yes, since the majority of your braking power comes from the front anyway.... Although, if you like matching sparkly bits, go whole hog and do the rear as well. Most of the manufacturers these days have colored covers to match your bike's color. Think first about how the extra stopping power out back will affect your riding.
 *[https://www.ninja250.org/Wes Wes]: When you have rear SS lines, you have a direct connection between your foot and the brake pads. It's like a rod. When you have rubber lines, they flex outward as you apply pressure, on a slight time delay. So, it's like a rod on a spring. The older the rubber lines, the springier they are. SS lines give you ''control''.
+*[https://www.ninja250.org/IanJ IanJ]: I installed SS lines both front and rear on my first bike, and liked it, but didn't really notice much difference in rear feel.  It was better, but not a lot better.  On my second bike, I opted to skip the SS rear line and haven't regretted it.
 *[https://www.ninja250.org/agradzki agradzki]: I have HH sintered pads on the rear and I haven't even locked up the rear yet (despite epic braking power) because you can feel the wheel speed in your hand and foot so easily! With the rubber lines there would be NO FEEDBACK until you started fishtailing!
 *[https://www.ninja250.org/BrianM BrianM]: In the past when I used SS rear lines, I had to bleed air ''into'' the system to get the rear LESS touchy. Before doing that, I'd encounter situations where I'd lock the tire. Since I use the rear brake quite a bit, having the rear wheel lock up with very little foot movement was a headache and resulted in less smoothness, not more.
-*[https://www.ninja250.org/IanJ IanJ]: I installed SS lines both front and rear on my first bike, and liked it, but didn't really notice much difference in rear feel.  It was better, but not a lot better.  On my second bike, I opted to skip the SS rear line and haven't regretted it.
 ==Brake lines need to be replaced anyway...==