T7 BRAKE LINE UPGRADE
SPIELER STAINLESS STEEL BRAIDED BRAKE LINES + ABS
Brakes are pretty important. This is an upgrade that’s worthwhile, plus you can add a bit of style to your bike if you go with a fun color.
If you are not into getting your hands dirty, lack attention to detail, are unsure of how to bleed brakes, or do not have a good workspace—you should have a reputable shop do the upgrade. It is not the hardest job, but it is tedious and messy.
Since I am not a mechanic, I will not give a how-to guide. Instead, I will share a few time-saving tips on this specific Spiegler brake line upgrade.
Tip #1
I would plan for two days of work. Choose a rainy weekend, throw some tunes on and get to it.
Tip #2
If you have the service manual, you are golden. You basically remove all the old brake lines except for the skinny metal line that ends in front of the radiator. That one stays in place—you screw the new line into it. All other lines are replaced from the ABS module down to the calipers and master cylinders, so do not waste time tracing them like I did.
If you do not have a service manual, you are whatever the opposite of gold is. You will need to keep track where each line lands on the ABS module. Trace each line and take careful notes.
Tip #3
The banjo bolts on the front right caliper are stacked. Take special note of the stacking order.
Tip #4
Run all your lines and dry-fit them before you bolt anything down, especially on the front master cylinder. I had to change the routing on mine a few times to get the proper strain relief when the bars are fully locked.
Tip #5
Do not rush, take your time and get it right the first time. You will be thankful you did for many reasons. I did a mixture of the reverse bleed method and the standard method until I had good pressure.
Last tip:
If you feel like you are in over your head, you probably are. This is not a “good enough” type of job. Brakes are extremely important. If you cannot get it right, stop and take it to a shop. You are not going to save any money by doing this wrong. It will also defeat the entire purpose of the upgrade.
Side note:
I believe you can select a non-ABS version of this upgrade. I like having the option of ABS for pavement—specially in wet conditions—specially with knobby tires.