Brake Solution

I have not been impressed with the performance of the OEM brakes.

First I tried substituting a set of HH sintered pads and that helped somewhat but not nearly enough.

I just installed a Galfer braided steel front line and it completely transformed the braking performance. Huge bang for the buck IMO.

I'd suggest starting with the Galfer line as I think the OEM pads are basically OK. It seems to be that long spongy rubber brake line that is the source of most of the problem.

My last bike was a KLR, so I think these brakes are amazing For off-road riding I actually prefer a weaker brake. My ex-girlfriend (admittedly an unexperienced rider) had a BMWF650GS and accidently locked the brakes up several times in the gravel. YMMV.

See my avatar as to why I think the WRX brakes blow.

Cool! I'll have to see how your brakes feel compared to mine.

I've been OK with mine, but like derm75, my other dual sport is a KLR so even Fred Flintstone brakes feel good by comparison.

Still, better braking is, well, always better.

hmmm... ya know, my front brake is wicked powerful the way it is? solid as a rock when ya pull it, or at least i think so? my buddies yz450 has a crappy feeling front brake, so ive felt way worse. it doesnt have that sharp edge feeling, but mine does....
so what would be different with a ss line? i assume its like 1/10th of 1% stiffer than mine compared to that yz450?
i havnt been able to talk myself into one, ive looked at em a few times, but damn.... my front brake is bad ass! i just cant see the ss line making much difference? if my brake was spongy i could see it, but its not...
im glad to hear your feedback, in theory i know its better. its just hard to talk myself into the $60!

The brakes are definitely weak. Of course I'm used to sport bike brakes. I definitely want some braided lines.

I just ordered the Galfer steel line for the back brake as well.

CDNSXV wrote:

I just ordered the Galfer steel line for the back brake as well.

Could you tell me which galfer lines you ordered? I'm primarily interested in getting a front line.

Thanks,
Hugh

I ordered a Hel front line (the stealth one, all black) from 1tail.com. I'm hoping it will make a big difference. Kinda funny how you can see the stock one flex so much when you pull the lever!

bhmax wrote:

I ordered a Hel front line (the stealth one, all black) from 1tail.com. I'm hoping it will make a big difference. Kinda funny how you can see the stock one flex so much when you pull the lever!

I am just going to throw this out there in case this was supposed to be funny and I did not get it, but I believe that it is the suspension flexing that you see.

duanew wrote:

bhmax wrote:

I ordered a Hel front line (the stealth one, all black) from 1tail.com. I'm hoping it will make a big difference. Kinda funny how you can see the stock one flex so much when you pull the lever!

I am just going to throw this out there in case this was supposed to be funny and I did not get it, but I believe that it is the suspension flexing that you see.

I'm referring to when the bike is stationary. On my X when the lever is pulled, the hose, mainly between the master cylinder to the first white hose guide, flexes/moves quite a good bit.

Oh ok. I will check out how much mine moves when stationary. I can see why you would want a more powerful brake on the X. On the R I have more front brake than I need to be using off road.

Quote :

I can see why you would want a more powerful brake on the X. On the R I have more front brake than I need to be using off road.

Well cause X's get ridden mostly on the pavement and the stock brakes SUCK! When you do the kind of things with an X that I do, (see my avatar) you need to have decent brakes.

I changed both my front and rear brake lines to SS lines. They feel great now

How much did you guys pay for your SS lines?

$59 shipped for the front stealth line from 1tail.

I payed $39.95 with shipping