fitting Goodridge brake lines

[icenian]

I was going to fit my Goodridge brake lines today, but couldn't figure out how they fitted! This is either gross incompetance (perfectly likely) or I have been supplied with the wrong set. I'm hoping someone has fitted some and can help me out...

It's a 2001 bike, UK model, standard 'bars.

First off, the fittings for calipers and master cylinder look fine, just like the OE items. There's a 515mm line from the master cylinder to a splitter (with a hole to it can be mounted someplace) and then (obviously) two lines, one to each caliper, one of which is longer than the other: 610mm and 805mm.

The question is: where does the splitter fit? The OE brake lines have a rigid section, secured in three places: at the top of the right fork leg, and then two at the bottom yoke by the right and the left fork legs. These all look like sensible places to secure the Goodridge splitter, and I can't see anywhere else it could be fitted.

The uppermost point is too high: the lines wouldn't reach the calipers.

The lower point on the right fork leg is well placed. The line from the master cylinder is just a little longer than necessary, i.e. perfect. The two lines to the calipers are slightly different lengths, so the shorter one could go to the right caliper and the longer ones could go accross to the left caliper (though both appear a bit longer than necessary). This looks right, except that the caliper-end fittings are wrong: these have a bend in them, and the bends are the wrong way, so there would have to be a 180 degree twist in each line, which is obviously wrong.

So: if the fittings are matched to the calipers, the longer brake line must go to the right caliper. This only makes sense if the splitter is fitted to the bottom yoke by the left fork leg (this uses the third of the 3 possible places I mentioned above). This is possible, though with the bars on full lock one of the barke lines is pressed hard into the radiator. Worse, the line from the splitter only just reaches the master cylinder: I think I might just work, but it would be pulled tight, which is surely wrong.

If the brake lines I have are the correct set, I'm missing something big!!!

[Dilbert]

Icenian
the splitter can be mounted wherever it best fits or self supported as the stainless braided hoses will be quite rigid in use (pressurised), if you don't mount with a bolt clip back with cable ties.
if the originals mounted with a banjo bolt the a 90 deg bend on the end if the new ones suggests it fastens straight in, does it have a threaded end?
whatever you do when fitted make sure there are no bends, twists or kinks and all the lines are at least long enough, a bit of slack is best, and yes make sure you can still easily get full lock.
if you're still stuck phone the distributor and make him explain the fittings he has an obligation to sell you something that is fit for purpose and must be able to prove to you that they are, if he can't explain ask him for a contact at Goodridge's technical department, this is a huge company with a very good technical resource.

[DaveS]

Icenian I've just got a set of Goodridge hoses coming, how did you get on with fitting yours?
Can you post any photo's of the routing?

[mal]

I fitted HEL brakelines to my@, they came as two seperate lines, the only problem i had was bleeding them, try borrowing a pressure bleeder it makes them far easier to bleed.

[Northy]

A bit late now but I've got Goodridges fitted but I dumped the splitter and just got two long hoses and longer banjo bolt for the master cylinder . It works out cheaper that way and sounds like a lot less hassle.


Northy

[DaveS]

I've got the 4 line stainless kit coming. I'll see what I think when it gets here.
Wez the chap who supplied it wants to sell us more kits and I'll be building a page much like the mug page so that you buy directly from him.
He doesn't charge P&P and his prices are the cheapest I found on the internet.

[icenian]

I've got the 4 line stainless kit coming. I'll see what I think when it gets here.
Wez the chap who supplied it wants to sell us more kits and I'll be building a page much like the mug page so that you buy directly from him.
He doesn't charge P&P and his prices are the cheapest I found on the internet.

Sorry, have neither fitted nor got back to Wez with query yet...

Dave, could you let me know if your front lines turn out to be the same as mine? Mine have a 515mm line from the master cylinder to the splitter, and then one 610mm and one 805mm line from splitter to caliper. The fittings are such that the longer (805mm) line needs to go to the RIGHT caliper (the fittings have a bend so can only attach to calipers one way round, and since you cannot twist the lines this determines which line fits to which caliper).

If two of us order the same lines and they differ, Wez will have to admit one of them is wrong! If they're the same and neither of us can figure out how to fit them, he'll have to help us out if he's going to sell any more Seemed like a genuine bloke though, sure it''ll resolve itself...

[Dilbert]

Guys, if you get stuck post up some photo's and a description of the sizes of the connections and I will check them out with Goodridges fittings catalogue, I get involved in hydrualics at work so I may be able to help.

[DaveS]

The kit has arrived and I think is just like yours.



I haven't had time yet to see how it might fit but I'll report back when I've had a look.

[DaveS]

Ok. I've just offered the front set up and it seems to fit fine.

The brake cylinder line obviously can only fit one way. Then the longer line goes to the left and the shorter to the right. The T junction thingy fixes to the back of the forks and then that ensures that the angle of the banjos are fine for the calipers.

The packet I received also clearly stated Africa Twin 90-03 on the bottom as well. Wonder if you have the right set?