• Welcome to the Yamaha FZ1 Forums. Member registration disables ads and allows you to post and share. Register Here.

lengthened R1 lines for front end switch?

rossy

rossy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
69
Location
Pasadena
Visit site
I'm switching to the 04-06 R1 front forks and brakes, and I'm having a hard time finding brake lines that have the right bend for the R1 master cylinder, but the length of the FZ1 line so it will reach. For those of you that have made the switch, what did you use for brake lines? Also, if you got lengthened R1 lines, where did you get them? Maybe I have just called the wrong places.

Thanks
 
i went with the 07/08 r1 front and used the standard brake lines and master cylinder to start with, you dont get any great gain with the r1 master cylinder it is 16mm bore. i now run with a brembo 19x20 master cylinder and hell brake lines. the banjo comes out from the bottom of the mc so again the angle is diffrent for the brake lines. also now running the race set up one line to each caliper doing away with the splitter.the hell brake lines are on ebay spoke to the person making them sent me what i needed.good luck which ever way you go brembo not cheap but night and day compared to standard.
 
I do believe the R1 master cylinder is radial in design while the FZ one is not. The 07/08 R1 MC (perhapsthe earlier ones as well?) is a Brembo unit. I would expect there to be some advantage to the R1 piece. . . .If you are using the stock risers and handlebars for the FZ you could probably use stock or stock length aftermarket FZ1 lines. Yes the banjo fitting location on the master cylinder is different for the R1 but I am pretty certain that many who have done this swap simply ordered aftermarket FZ1 lines and it worked just fine. Use your FZ1 set a test fit. . . .In my case, I have a set of wide Easton exp bars on my bike and needed lines 2 inches longer than stock FZ1. I ordered a set of Spiegler lines from Motomummy. These were the FZ1 lines but I requested +2" of length which did not effect cost. The Spiegler lines have the ability to rotate the fittings so I was able to adjust the MC fitting to remove all stress on the line. Hope this helps!
 
Last edited:
the term radial relates to the way the calipers are mounted on the forks in relation to the front axle and are designed to create less flex under braking,the 07/08 master cylinder is a brembo but is only a 16mm bore so will not give a great deal of improvement.the benifits come from the radial set up itself. for further gains upgrade the mc.
 
I just used lines made for the FZ1. Using an 09 R1 MC and 08 R1 complete front end and had no problems. Lines just need some care when lining them up. It's only a 90 degree bend, they can cope.
 
johnnyontherocks said:
Take some photos of the build... and don't forget your cateye reflector mount.
Click to expand...

I definitely will take pics. It's in transit, but isn't scheduled to arrive in cali here till the 7th, so hopefully it will be a next weekend project. I'll have to check my mountain bike at home to see if there is a reflector mount i can snag off it. :)
 
colin said:
the term radial relates to the way the calipers are mounted on the forks in relation to the front axle and are designed to create less flex under braking,the 07/08 master cylinder is a brembo but is only a 16mm bore so will not give a great deal of improvement.the benifits come from the radial set up itself. for further gains upgrade the mc.
Click to expand...

Not quite sir! "Radial" also refers to the design of the master cylinder and they are distinctly different in design from "conventional" longitudinal ones. Here's a blurb from OPP racing

"Hey, let's stop and take a look at this lever design - it'll explain why most aftermarket master are radial. Notice the direction of the plunger and the direction that the lever travels. With a radial master cylinder, the plunger travels in the same direction as the lever. In a "conventional" master cylinder, the plunger actually travels perpendicular (or pretty close to perpendicular) from the direction of the lever. It makes sense that you can get a better feel for the lever if it's going in the same direction as the piston and plunger (radial) rather than going off on some funky angle (conventional). This is the main advantage of the radial design."

In my experience the R1s radial MC offers an improvement that you can feel . . .
 
Last edited:
eurban said:
I do believe the R1 master cylinder is radial in design while the FZ one is not. The 07/08 R1 MC (perhapsthe earlier ones as well?) is a Brembo unit. I would expect there to be some advantage to the R1 piece. . . .If you are using the stock risers and handlebars for the FZ you could probably use stock or stock length aftermarket FZ1 lines. Yes the banjo fitting location on the master cylinder is different for the R1 but I am pretty certain that many who have done this swap simply ordered aftermarket FZ1 lines and it worked just fine. Use your FZ1 set a test fit. . . .In my case, I have a set of wide Easton exp bars on my bike and needed lines 2 inches longer than stock FZ1. I ordered a set of Spiegler lines from Motomummy. These were the FZ1 lines but I requested +2" of length which did not effect cost. The Spiegler lines have the ability to rotate the fittings so I was able to adjust the MC fitting to remove all stress on the line. Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

some corrections here:

FZ1 uses OE brembo MC as well.. :)
 
the fz1 uses a 16mm master cylinder and the r1 uses 16mm master cylinder so without upgrading the master cylinder what gains are you going to get. i agree that you may get a better feel of the brakes by the direction of which the piston travels,
 
Well I guess one of gains you will get is better feel, no? I'm not sure what upping the size of the master cylinder has to do with better performance? The cylinder is sized for the application . . .Things like single or dual disc, number and volume of pistons in the caliper(s) etc. Perhaps the stock R1 MC was improperly sized by Yamaha or perhaps it was deliberately "dumbed down" for the average street user? Why did you decide on the larger bore MC? Certainly there are better / sexier parts than the stock R1 pieces but its seems a bit over the top. Bottom line is that the stock R1 radial MC is well suited to the task of operating the R1 calipers. Also, if you have gone to the trouble of upgrading the front forks its seems like a no brainer to me to use the complete R1 brake system rather than using the FZ mc.
 
your not sure that upping the size of the master cylinder has to do with better performance? give brembo a call ask them why they sell them and why so many riders use them. size does matter my friend, sun is out going for a ride.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top