I need to replace the brake lines on my T3 California project bike. I need at least the flexible parts as I might be able to make, or get made the steel sections. There are sites online that show varying differing stainless flexible pipes but none that show original rubber lines. I am not sure if any of the parts I have found are the correct pattern (length or ends) and are pretty pricey.
Does anyone know of a company that they have had successfully purchased replacement lines either made up or bought whole, that are familiar with Moto Guzzis of this era.
I have had new flexi lines made up for my Spada by a company called Furore Products. You measure the lengths and specify what fittings you need on the ends etc and they make them up. With a bit of digging, I could probably find the email for the order.
Alternatively, companies like HEL will supply brake line kits for a T3.
You are right to be cautious. I bought a ākitā a few years back and most of it didnāt fit. You have to wonder about the bike they used for a ātemplateā.
On my T3 Cali, which was absent the ābundy tubeā sections (right name?) I ended up carefully measuring with cut bits of cheap rubber tube, and then ordered made to order from HEL Lines? (Again, it was a while ago).
I would be cautious about buying a āsetā.
Edit: because I was without the final section of steel tube (again, bundy tubes?) I was also thoughtful when ordering lines about the angle of pipe to caliper fittings - 45Āŗ? 90Āŗ? - somethng else to bear in mind.
John, i would give up on the idea of obtaining the original ārubberā type hoses. If you find NOS they will be 40 odd years old. S/H will be worse!
Modern ābraidedā hose is available with a Black covering so really looks, in my opinion, better tha original, plus you can use all Stainless fittings. A good upgrade!
As for manufacturer. There are HEL, Venhill, Goodridge + others. My personal choice is HEL. They have a Hose builder thing on their website so you can customise what you want or you can buy a set for your particular bike. The other advantage with HEL is you can ārotateā the Banjos in the hose. Sounds dodgy but works. I can vouche for it as i have them on my bikes!
None of these āsetsā are cheap You are going to be paying Ā£100 give or take, but what price your life!!!. Brakes and tyres are probably the most important āsafetyā feature on a bike!
As for the āBundyā pipe issue. Most manufacturers will assume that the Calipers are fitted behind the Fork Leg as in later versions of the same model, so if you are to untilise the Bundy pipes make sure you check with the supplier!
I am currently restoring a customers T3 Cali and just about to fit up the Brakes in the next week or so. I will let you know how i get on!
Hel only list the California 3 1988 to 93 or the standard T3 1976 to 80. The T3 California has wider bars than a standard T3 so they wouldnāt be suitable and the Cali 3 is different so off the peg kits are unlikely to work.
When I replaced mine, I used Furore Products custom lines and specified each line length and each end fitting. It takes a while to go through, but you do get just what you want.
Hi Don, thanks for your input! I was trying to avoid having to be responsible for buying the right parts as I am almost guaranteed to get it wrong. I dismantled the whole system some months ago and need to check out the metal pipes so I can reuse them if possible. Remembering what goes where will be a challenge. Rain and hurricanes have put paid to getting on with it at the moment as I have roofs to repair - if it ever stops raining. I did have a quick look at the front calipers the other day and removed the pistons from one with compressed air, but the second one seems to be corroded solid and Iām not sure how to remove them, if it is worth it. The whole bike has been a battle and not really a wise purchase! Cheers John.
Or do as I did. Buy a ākitā and donate all the parts that didnāt fit anything at all on my own T3 California to a mate who builds specials and who was able to make use of them. Then, start measuring and get onto the HEL lines website.
Edit: with my own ākitā purchase, I came eventually to understand that the absence of ābundy tubesā on my own example might be a factor, but then checked the fittings - bundy tube compatible? No. And that didnāt explain the fact that not one of the hoses was capable of connecting the rear master cylinder to the splitter on the other side of the frame, nor was any one hose the right length or fitting to go from splitter to rear master cylinder. Again, based on my own experience (and others here) - go to HEL (or similar), measure and buy what you need.
Its a shame Barry youāve had such a negative experience with this. Personally iāve bought LM 2 , SP1000 and T3 kits from HEL. BMW kits from Goodridge. All have fitted perfectly. At the end of the day we are all just trying to help each other and all come to the show with different experiences and opinions and hopefully somewhere we will come up with the solution!
Iād say a ādisappointingā experience, Nik, rather than a negative one. And I hope that sharing that experience helps the OP to make their own decision about whether to go with a ākitā or otherwise.
My own purchase was a Goodrich kit. Casting no aspersions here but it was largely wasted money. I concluded that this was likely because the donor bike, on which they presumably based the ākitā was somehow not representative (of the T3 California), or perhaps someone just boxed up the wrong items one Friday afternoon!
Either way, the best I can do here is offer up my experiences for consideration. And in my case, at the time, the ākitā was an expensive disaster, and the HEL lines āmade to measureā orders were, for me, very satisfying in that they looked the part and did the job.
OP would be wise to understand that not all CaliT3 bars are the same length, either. Iāve seen a few examples, earlier than my own, with a significantly longer āpull backā to the bars. Which leads me, again, to conclude that āmade to measureā is a good way to go.
Thanks again. I think I will source the flexible pipes, not sure from where yet and either re use the metal parts or make new sections myself. I am shocked at the price of the flexible lines, but I have no choice but to bite the bullet and have them made to measure - unless Gutsibtsā lines are the correct length and in stock. I replaced the lines on my Convert some years ago with all braided and donāt recall falling off my chair when I saw the price then!
Would be great if this worked out well for you both in appearance and cost! and any info you can provide would be great for others in a similar position best of luck mate!.
Well it did work out, got all the hoses for Ā£70 or so, with 8 screw ends for the metal pipes which I have made. I have new seals, dust caps and pads in my calipers, so brakes are sorted and added to the pile of parts ready to go. The weather is now more conducive to painting so finishing all of the parts I started last year is under way.