Hi all, I'm thinking of putting braided lines on my 1199. I've never had a bike with them before until I bought my track bike which is an old GSXR srad (1998). This has some Hel braided lines along with some really nice Yamaha monoblock calipers and a Ducati Multistrada Brembo radial master cylinder. The brake lever on this bike is solid, rock solid. I didn't think my 1199 had particularly spongy brakes until I started using the GSXR and now I'm thinking the lines are probably a worthy upgrade. I normally work along the lines of 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' but I reckon the standard lines could be letting down what is a stonking braking system. Don't get me wrong, the brakes are great but there is definitely a spongy element to the lever in comparison to the old gixxer. Before anyone asks, yes I have recently bled the brakes and there is no air in the system. Braided lines for the Pani are quite a significant outlay at £180 for the complete front/rear set (not that I'm fussed about changing the rear to be honest as I barely use it). So yeah, has anyone got braided lines fitted? Was it an easy job (I know you have to run them to the ABS module) and was it worth doing?
Should add that I was finding it very difficult to get the brakes properly bled on the 1199s and eventually got a garage to do it and they are as good as new again. The brakes are phenomenally good on the Panigale and definately should not leave you wanting. The only time I've had anything untoward with them was getting them overheating slightly when I was using them too much due to not knowing a new track layout.
Really? Wow! Bit odd you can buy the braided line kits then, is this for people like me who know no better?
So yeah, just doing a bit of reading and they are indeed braided. That's £180 saved guys, cheers I wonder what a garage would be doing differently? Surely if there's no air in the system they're as good as they're going to get?
I'm no mechanic but I've done enough spannering to at least do most stuff myself so it was frustrating to not be able to get a good feel. I think they plugged in the (vacuum line?) thing that they use. What ever it was made an immediate difference.
When I'm getting the front forks looked at by JHS racing I'll ask them to bleed the brakes too. I'm sure they won't charge much and might give me back that lever feel I'm missing. Thanks for the replies.
Regarding aftermarket lines, some people just want to upgrade to stainless fittings etc or simply for looks... It's a big waste of money for the road I think but hey ho! At least they are up to scratch as standard
Indeed. That's why this forum is great, I would have blindly gone and spent almost £200 on something I didn't need! Oh and I do kind of sympathise with those who wish to 'upgrade' to have stainless fittings as mine look a right mess :coldsweat:
If I remember correctly from some older threads on the ducati1199.com forum, some of the riders who built their bikes into pure track bikes and removed the ABS sytem/pump and returned the bike to a classic brake setup, experienced a more constant firm lever feel. Their theory was that the abs pump system and connected front/rear brake system either had too many nooks and crannies that potentially left small amounts of air in the system even with vacuum bleeding or that there was a design flaw in the pump that allowed a little air back in after bleeding. I am very happy with the braking performance on my 1199, but i also have issues with a slightly spongy lever :-/
Standard hoses are braided but not stainless. You'll want to change them in about 18 months time when they have gone rusty
