Period Maintenance - Brake Hoses

[BlueStar]

Hi All.
My owners manual states that the brake hoses need to be replaced every 4 years. I have only 9000 miles on my 2017. Any comments or suggestions? How often have you changed your brake hoses?

Thanks.

[N4HHE]

[PhilJet09]

My ‘09 has 165,000 miles on it and I’ve never changed the brake lines.

[FJRoss]

Hi All.
My owners manual states that the brake hoses need to be replaced every 4 years. I have only 9000 miles on my 2017. Any comments or suggestions? How often have you changed your brake hoses?

Thanks.

I had 185,000 miles on my '07 when I sold it two years ago. Original brake/clutch hydraulic lines. Same with my 2011 with just under 100,000 miles. No ballooning, drying or cracking. I don't know anyone who changed them because they had to. (Same with cooling hoses)

[N4HHE]

My 2003 KTM RFS 450 manual says to change all engine and transmission bearings every 45 hours if raced, 90 hours for trail riding.

Am told Honda CRF250R specifies replace piston and rings every 15 hours.

[Steel_Gin]

Of all the reading I have done on the FJR forums I can recall only one person changing brake hoses and that was years ago. It wasn't for maintenance either, he wanted Stainless Steel hoses. I thought it looked pretty nice, gave it a subtle and unique look. If I had to lengthen the lines or had a failure, I liked it enough I would going with Stainless but wouldn't go there voluntarily.

I have 75,000 on my 2012 and like many others, all I have done is change the fluid.

[rbentnail]

138,xxx miles here on my '07 and still with the original hoses.

[Intech]

Wasted money and time. Change the fluid annually no matter the mileage.

[bill lumberg]

No fluid sees a year in my bikes. No hoses get changed unless they are failing. Over a decade, I might consider changing, but maybe not even then.

[BlueStar]

Thanks everyone. I kinda figured I would get these responses as they support my initial reaction as well.

[Bounce]

Of all the reading I have done on the FJR forums I can recall only one person changing brake hoses and that was years ago. It wasn't for maintenance either, he wanted Stainless Steel hoses. I thought it looked pretty nice, gave it a subtle and unique look. If I had to lengthen the lines or had a failure, I liked it enough I would going with Stainless but wouldn't go there voluntarily.

I have 75,000 on my 2012 and like many others, all I have done is change the fluid.

A bunch of us did this with Gen1 bikes as a group buy through Spiegler (sp?).

[CollingsBob]

I learned the hard way that some dealers (Wildwood) here will refuse to safety a bike if it doesn't have oem brake lines on it..I also found out that any aftermarket brake line must have a DOT label on it in order to be safetied..

[bigjohnsd]

I have seen very few hydraulic lines, brake or clutch, fail. That said, the FESTAR Strom suffered a deteriorated clutch line which dirdctly impacted the clutch operation on our trip to Alaska. The deterioration of the line introduced enough crap into the slave cylinder that it continuously leaked. We had a new line manufactured and all was good. 02 VStrom in '19

[morecowbell]

I'm one of the weird guys that replaced the brake lines. In 2016 I installed a Galfer s/s line kit on my 2012 FJR with 30000 miles on it. That's complete overkill, but I figured I'd do the work early and never have to mess with the brake lines again. The installation was a bitch, and a buddy with a 3D printer fabricated a hose holder for near the steering head since the Galfer kit didn't include one. I'm not sure I would do it again knowing how much work it is. I change the fluid on my Yamahas every two years, and every year on my BMW.