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Introduction to HEL Performance Stainless Steel & Titanium Brake Line Kits
Despite what the salesman tells you - every modern motorcycle has compromises normally instigated by accountants rather than engineers. One such compromise is the materials used for the brake hoses on your motorcycle. Rubber hoses or mild steel fittings are cheap but we all know how rubber hose bulges under pressure, allows brake fluid to absorb water vapour from the atmosphere and that mild steel fittings rust...
We manufacture complete replacement stainless steel brake line kits for any motorcycle fitted with an hydraulic brake system. As we only ever use stainless steel fittings for the motorcycle marketplace we can offer the HEL Performance Lifetime Warranty on all brake lines.
Our brake line kits are manufactured from the highest quality stainless steel swaged fittings permanently attached to a stainless steel braided Teflon hose.
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The HEL Performance brake line fittings offer safety, security and a slimline attractive finish. All hoses can be supplied to the FMVSS-106 standard and the kits contain all items required for a complete installation including stainless steel banjo bolts and copper washers.
Our brake line kits are provided with a pvc cover available in transparent red, red, "KTM" orange, transparent yellow, yellow, lime "Kawasaki" green, transparent green, transparent neon blue, blue, denim blue, dark blue, purple, pink, black, transparent carbo-look, silver-gray, white or clear, to protect paintwork and fairings.
This pvc cover is extruded onto the hose during manufacture so it adheres to the braid and does not ripple like heat shrink covers normally do. We only ever supply our hoses with this protective cover and since introducing them to the marketplace other companies have followed our lead and we are proud that the quality initiatives we put in place are imitated within the industry.
How conscientious is your current supplier?
HEL will NOT sell aluminium fittings for brake lines - Why not?
HEL will NOT sell Kevlar covered brake lines for your bike - Why not?
Why change your brake hoses?
Despite what the salesman tells you, every modern motorcycle has compromises normally instigated by accountants rather than engineers. One such compromise is the materials used for the brake hoses on your motorcycle. Rubber hoses or mild steel fittings are cheap but we all know how rubber hoses bulge under pressure, are porous and allow the brake fluid to absorb water vapour from the atmosphere, and that mild steel fittings rust!
Plain Stainless Steel Fittings
We only ever use stainless steel fittings for the motorcycle marketplace so we can offer the HEL Lifetime Warranty on all brake line kits.
We have again changed the industry for the better by informing riders of the dangers of using aluminium brakeline fittings on stainless steel hose. When an aluminium fitting is placed on a stainless steel hose and the two parts are contaminated by salt water a reaction takes place between the metals which corrodes the aluminium fitting - Don't settle for anything other than stainless steel...
Tell me more about the dangers of aluminium brake line fittings »
Stainless Steel Fittings: Pricing
| Stainless Steel Ends | Price (exc. VAT) |
| Single Line Kit | $45.45 |
| Two Line Kit | $90.90 |
| Three Line Kit | $136.35 |
| Four Line Kit | $181.80 |
| Five Line Kit | $227.25 |
| CBS Linked Kit (10 line Kit) | $454.50 |
Price includes PVC cover, all stainless steel fittings, stainless steel braided hose, stainless steel banjo bolts, copper washers, warranty card and stickers but exclude GST and Carriage.
Coloured Stainless Steel Fittings
We are aware that some customer's like the colour combinations offered by ally fittings but require the strength of stainless steel which is why we have brought out a new range of coloured stainless steel fittings - The only one's currently available in the world... They are available in Red, Green, Blue, Black, Purple and Gold so you can still have the full choice of colour but with the added security, strength and reliability of stainless steel. The coloured finish is also UV resistant so they won't fade in the sunlight and are backed by our lifetime warranty - So what's stopping you?
HEL Performance Titanium Fittings and Banjo Bolts
If you are looking for the most advanced materials available anywhere in the world for your bike then the HEL Titanium brake line kits are for you.
We manufacture a complete replacement stainless steel braided brake line kit with titaniumfittings and titanium banjo bolts for any motorcycle which is fitted with a hydraulic brake system. They are manufactured fromTitanium fittings permanently attached to a stainless steel braided Teflon hose. The HEL Performance Brake Line fittings offer safety, security and a slim line attractive finish - And with the addition of our new range of titanium fittings can save you weight as well. Our Titanium fittings save you 60% weight compared to our stainless steel fittings. Check out our titanium brake line kit pages for more information »
HEL Performance Titanium Fittings and Banjo Bolts: Pricing
| Titanium Ends | Price (exc. VAT) |
| Single Line Kit | $90.90 |
| Two Line Kit | $181.80 |
| Three Line Kit | $272.70 |
| Four Line Kit | $363.60 |
| Five Line Kit | $454.50 |
Price includes PVC cover, all titanium fittings, stainless steel braided hose, titanium banjo bolts, copper washers, warranty card and stickers but exclude VAT and Carriage.
PVC Protective Covers : 18 colors now available
Our brake line kits can also be provided with a pvc cover available in transparent red, red, "KTM" orange, transparent yellow, yellow, lime "Kawasaki" green, transparent green, transparent neon blue, blue, denim blue, dark blue, purple, pink, black, transparent carbo-look, silver-gray, white or clear, to protect paintwork and fairings.
The pvc cover is extruded onto the hose during manufacture so it adheres to the braid and does not ripple like heat shrink covers normally do. We only ever supply our hoses with this protective cover and since introducing them to the marketplace other companies have followed our lead and we are proud that the quality initiatives we put in place are imitated within the industry.
Coloured Stainless Steel Fittings
We are aware that some customer's like the colour combinations offered by ally fittings but require the strength of stainless steel which is why we have brought out a new range of coloured stainless steel fittings - The only one's currently available in the world...They are available in Red, Green, Blue, Black, Purple and Gold so you can still have the full choice of colour but with the added security, strength and reliability of stainless steel. The coloured finish is also UV resistant so they won't fade in the sunlight and are backed by our lifetime warranty - So what's stopping you?
HEL Performance Brake Line Kit Layouts
- S: Standard Kit. As per the original brake line layout on your bike.
- F: Full-Length "race" kit. Two Full Length Lines both running from master cylinder, one to the right hand caliper and one to the left hand caliper.
- O: Over-the-mudguard. One full length line runs from master cylinder to the right hand caliper and the other connecting right and left calipers by routing over the mudguard.
Stainless Steel Fittings: Pricing
| Stainless Steel Ends | Price (exc. VAT) |
| Single Line Kit | $45.45 |
| Two Line Kit | $90.90 |
| Three Line Kit | $136.35 |
| Four Line Kit | $181.80 |
| Five Line Kit | $227.25 |
| CBS Linked Kit (10 line Kit) | $454.50 |
Price includes PVC cover, all stainless steel fittings, stainless steel braided hose, stainless steel banjo bolts, copper washers, warranty card and stickers but exclude GST and Carriage.
HEL Performance Titanium Fittings And Banjo Bolts: Pricing
| Titanium Ends | Price (exc. VAT) |
| Single Line Kit | $90.90 |
| Two Line Kit | $181.80 |
| Three Line Kit | $272.70 |
| Four Line Kit | $363.60 |
| Five Line Kit | $454.50 |
Price includes PVC cover, all titanium fittings, stainless steel braided hose, titanium banjo bolts, copper washers, warranty card and stickers but exclude GST and Carriage.
HEL Performance Brake Doctor - Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use any fluid in the braking system?
What types of brake fluid are available?
What are the boiling points of brake fluids?
What are the pros and cons of fluids?
Do -02 lines give more pressure than -03 lines?
What is the difference in performance between two full length front lines and an over the mudguard front kit?
What's better - three front lines using the oem splitter, two full length fronts or an over the mudguard front kit?
Brake Doctor - Can you use any fluid in the braking system?
No you cannot. The fluid in the braking system must be a designated brake fluid which meets with certain specifications - DOT3, DOT4, DOT5 or DOT5.1 are the most common, and your owners manual will inform you of the fluid used as standard in the system. Don't use aircraft hydraulic fluid (even if you can get hold of it) - it isn't the brake fluid equivalent of Avgas, and do not use the mineral based fluid formulated for Citroens either.
Brake Doctor - What types of brake fluid are available?
There are basically two types of fluid: glycol-based and silicone-based. You can use one or the other, but NEVER mix the two fluids. If you want to use a different fluid than the one in your system (glycol to silicone / silicone to glycol) then you will need to flush the system before changing. Brake fluid is available in different specifications to meet American Department Of Transport (DOT) requirements. These DOT regulations are occasionally updated but basically the higher the DOT rating the higher quality, higher boiling point and more expensive the fluid. DOT3 is the basic brake fluid. DOT4 is a higher standard and both of these fluids absorb water - they are hydroscopic, but DOT4 fluid contains additives which prevent water affecting the fluids performance to the same degree. DOT5 was originally formulated for silicone based brake fluid although there is now a new DOT5.1 standard for glycol based fluid which has some of the desirable properties of silicone fluids. Both types - glycol based and silicone, have different pros and cons though.
Brake Doctor - What are the boiling points of brake fluids?
Brake fluid works in a harsh environment being close to the heat generated by the braking system the fluid heats up and under extreme conditions such as racing this can lead to the fluid boiling. This manufacturers found that by increasing the boiling point the fluid performed better in use as when fluid boils it leads to cavitation within the system and loss of braking pressure. The boiling points are as follows:
| Minimum Specification | Good Brand Min Spec | |||
| DRY | WET | DRY | WET | |
| DOT 3 | 205°C | 140°C | 220°C | 150°C |
| DOT 4 | 230°C | 155°C | 260°C | 170°C |
| DOT 5 | 260°C | 180°C | 270°C | 190°C |
| DOT 5.1 | 260°C | 180°C | 270°C | 190°C |
Wet figures above show the drop in performance when the fluid has a certain water content (less than 3%). For example when DOT5.1 is contaminated with 3% water (which is considered a lot) performs almost as well as basic DOT3 in prime condition. The most important thing to do is regularly change your fluid - we suggest every three months but manufacturers suggest at least once every twelve months. After six months use a typical DOT3 fluid may have had it's boiling point lowered from 205°C to about 165°C.
Brake Doctor - What are the pros and cons of fluids?
DOT3 and DOT4 are hydroscopic - they allow water to be absorbed into the fluid. This means that when heated up a fluid with water in it will boil more quickly (water boils at a lower temperature than brake fluid) which will lead to cavitation. DOT5 does not absorb water and will not strip paint work but as the water is not absorbed it simply sinks to the bottom of the system which is usually the caliper where operating temperatures are very high. Water in the caliper is bad as it can cause corrosion within the caliper although silicone fluids contain corrosion inhibitors and as water has a lower boiling point than fluid (100°C) there is more chance of boiling under relatively light braking. Glycol based fluids can strip paintwork where as silicone based do not. Silicone fluids also have a very long life which is why it is used in military vehicles which may be stored for years without use but be expected to be ready for action at a moments notice.
Brake Doctor - Do -02 lines give more pressure than -03 lines?
No - the fitting of the smaller dash 2 hoses sold by some manufacturers makes NO difference to the pressure produced at the caliper as is commonly believed. There are no substantial benefits associated with the use of dash 2 hoses except that the manufacturer can charge you more for them. The only way to increase pressure coming out of the system is to increase the pressure going into the system. 500 psi in equals 500 psi out - fluid cannot be compressed to a lesser volume, no matter how high the pressure and pressure is equal over all surfaces of the containing system.
Brake Doctor - What is the difference in performance between two full length front lines and an over the mudguard line kit?
Nothing except for the way the system looks. Both systems operate in exactly the same way and give you the same performance. As the system is a closed hydraulic system without air in it when the fluid moves at one end the same movement takes place at the other end. Because they have different lengths doesn't mean that the system will work slower at one end than the other. Imagine pushing two sticks away from you which are both 6" long - the ends both move at the same time. Now imagine pushing two sticks - one is 6" and the other is 36" - the ends still both move at exactly the same time. So the over the mudguard gives the same performance as the 2 full length - it's just which you prefer.
Brake Doctor - What's better - three front lines using the oem splitter, 2 full length fronts or 2 fronts with one over the mudguard?
As we have said above the three systems give the same performance but the three line front has an additional 2 possible leak points in the system, is heavier and harder to bleed than 2 front lines. It is easier to fit though as you follow the oem setup. Another thing to remember is do you race or use the bike on track days? If so go for the 2 full length front as in the UK one of the ACU rules states that you are not allowed an over the mudguard system unless it is an original system.
Contact us if you would like an faq of your own posted here via faq and we will put it on this page - Thank you.
