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Ride Engineering

The first improvement to any front brake system usually starts with replacing the OEM rubber brake hose to a stainless steel braided brake line. Stainless steel is chosen over the stock rubber hose in order to eliminate the power losses due to hose expansion. When this happens the ”lever feel” becomes spongy and is difficult to define. As a result, the braking sensitivity decreases and the braking distance increases.

Ride Engineering offers a steel braided brake line that eliminates the spongy feel associated with the stock brake hose. Their brake lines also mimic the Honda's routing of their front brake. In case many of you don't know, Honda has a patent on their routing of the brake line directly to the caliper where all the other manufacturers have to take a circuitous route to the front brake.

Adrian from Ride Engineering supplied us with one their steel braided front brake kit's for our scoot to review. Here are the steps with photos on how to install one:

1. The first step is to loosen the upper banjo bolt (master cylinder). Do not remove the master-cylinder cover at this time. A small amount of brake fluid will drip out.

2. Remove the banjo bolt and copper washers from the old brake line and insert them through your new stainless steel line. Hand tighten into the master cylinder.

3. Next, remove the other banjo bolt located on the caliper. Have an oil pan or rag to catch the brake fluid that will run freely as you can see in the photo. Insert the banjo bolt and copper washers into the new stainless steel line.

4. Next we used the Ride Eng. mounting clamp because its specifically designed to hold the line in this new position and it makes the installation very clean and easy. Now take the fork guard protector and mark the drilling points with a scribe or pen where the mounting clamp will be located. Once you have your holes drilled out, thread the screws from behind the protector.

5. Now remove the stock fork guides to allow for the new routing of our "Honda style" brake line. Riders note you must do this-damage to you brake line will result if you do not remove them! Ride Eng. even offers a carbon fiber wear protector that goes in place of the stock guides to keep the un-guided fork guards from marring up your bike. Install your fork guard back on the bike and install the brake the line in the clamp.

6. Last but not least we slide the black Teflon wear guard down to wear it just touches the mounting clamp and with the two small zip ties provided, secure it by placing one around the tip of each rubber boot". "This keeps the guard from moving around when the bike goes through its travel." Now that both ends of the brake line are installed and the mounting clamp kit is in place, go back and tighten up the banjo bolts to your manufactures specifications.

7. .Finally, remove the master cylinder cover and bleed the brakes with DOT 4 brake fluid. We used a mighty vac to assist in bleeding the brakes. You can pick one up at your local auto parts store.

YOUR DONE!!!

The brake kit bolted up with ease and we ran into no snags along the way. It took no more than 30-40 minutes to complete the entire job. The front brake was noticeably firmer when applying the brakes. We took the bike out for a test ride and definitely noticed that the pucker power was very good compared to the stock unit.

If you want a stronger front brake that doesn't fade like the stock unit then do yourself a favor and purchase one of Ride Engineering steel braided front brake kits. You wont Regret it.

"Ride Engineering has lines to fit all four Japanese brands from 80cc - 500cc including 4 strokes."
"Everything you need is sold separately and can be purchased at www.ride-engineering.com."

Ride Engineering
8195 Eastport Dr.
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
1 800 805 1516

SXdirt Ranks Ride Engineering Front Stainless
Steel Brake Line Kit 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10