Custom front brake line: Banjo fittings and routing question.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 10
Unless someone can talk me out of it, it looks like I'm going to be using a 'modular' 2-piece front brake line (like the stock set up), as HD does not offer a 1-piece for my application (2007 FXSTC). Again, I want to use HD parts for this project.
I'm still struggling with what angle banjo fitting to use on the front brake line, where it meets the front master cylinder. Apparently, the fittings come in 0*, 35*, and 90* angles.
I think I presently have a 0* front brake line fitting. However, when I look at pics of Folks' bikes with braided cables, there always seems to be an awkward looking gap, or asymmetry, when they use a 0* or 35* fitting.
Won't using a 90* fitting cause the front brake line to look just like the clutch cable does, exiting the lever straight out? To me, this seems like the obvious choice.
When I imagine what a 90* fitting would look like (symmetrical w/the clutch cable), I can't see why anyone would even consider using a 0* or 35* fitting. Is there a disadvantage to using a 90* fitting that I'm just not seeing?
I've tried attaching a pic of what I'm describing below.
I'm still struggling with what angle banjo fitting to use on the front brake line, where it meets the front master cylinder. Apparently, the fittings come in 0*, 35*, and 90* angles.
I think I presently have a 0* front brake line fitting. However, when I look at pics of Folks' bikes with braided cables, there always seems to be an awkward looking gap, or asymmetry, when they use a 0* or 35* fitting.
Won't using a 90* fitting cause the front brake line to look just like the clutch cable does, exiting the lever straight out? To me, this seems like the obvious choice.
When I imagine what a 90* fitting would look like (symmetrical w/the clutch cable), I can't see why anyone would even consider using a 0* or 35* fitting. Is there a disadvantage to using a 90* fitting that I'm just not seeing?
I've tried attaching a pic of what I'm describing below.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 695
Likes: 50
From: South Carolina
I don't understand how you woud think that 90* angle banjo is going to exit the lever straight out. The clutch cable has a 0* angle causing the cable to exit the lever straight. A 90* angle would exit the lever at a...well...90 degree angle. The cable would go straight down, not arch outward. I don't see how you are thinking that a 90* banjo and a 0* banjo would look symmetrical.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 10
Wow. In my haste, I've confused my basic geometry applications. You're correct, the clutch cable exits at 0*, not 90*. Thanks for clearing that up (before I placed my parts order).
So, can anyone see any disadvantage to routing the front brake line at 0*, so it's symmetrical with the clutch cable?
Thanks.
So, can anyone see any disadvantage to routing the front brake line at 0*, so it's symmetrical with the clutch cable?
Thanks.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 10
I don't understand how you woud think that 90* angle banjo is going to exit the lever straight out. The clutch cable has a 0* angle causing the cable to exit the lever straight. A 90* angle would exit the lever at a...well...90 degree angle. The cable would go straight down, not arch outward. I don't see how you are thinking that a 90* banjo and a 0* banjo would look symmetrical.
The clutch cable does, in fact, exit the housing at 0*. However, in order to get that same symmetrical effect for the front brake line, I would need to use a 90* banjo fitting. A 0* banjo fitting would direct the front brake line straight down.
The online HD parts catalog shows a nice picture of what I'm trying to describe, too.
Thanks once more.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: England, Feltwell area
I'm measuring to have a custom front brake line made up and had a couple questions...
First... I'm running 14" apes. How do you folks route the line from the master down to the caliper?
Next... It seems that the line would "flow better" with the shape of the bars (Fly'in Apes) if I were to have a 90* banjo at the master, then curve the line down to the top triple. From there go straight down to beneath the lower triple to the clamp there. Then curve it down to the caliper. Are there any possible issues with going with the 90* at the master as opposed to the straight one?
First... I'm running 14" apes. How do you folks route the line from the master down to the caliper?
Next... It seems that the line would "flow better" with the shape of the bars (Fly'in Apes) if I were to have a 90* banjo at the master, then curve the line down to the top triple. From there go straight down to beneath the lower triple to the clamp there. Then curve it down to the caliper. Are there any possible issues with going with the 90* at the master as opposed to the straight one?
Hope this helps.
A 90 degree would have been better I think but I did not really get a choice when I was ordering them, if I ever do again I will request to have it 90.
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Mar 27, 2010 08:51 AM
