Changing motorcycle rubber brake lines to Stainless steel brake lines do they perform better then rubber brake lines. Is that change worth the money?
I've put the stainless lines on both of my touring bikes and they are definately worth it. I hate to disagree with jek, but apparently he hasn't put as many miles on as I have and hasn't ridden for as many years as I have. As the hoses age, they get soft and balloon out ever so slightly. As a result, you can mash the brake lever all the way to the throttle grip and still not get good braking. The stainless likes are actually braided stainless over a teflon liner and were orginally developed for use as hydraulic hoses in aircraft. Take a look inside of a helicopter and you'll see them everywhere. My experience has been that depending upon use, the OEM hoses will last for maybe 5-7 years before getting spongy. The stainless hoses will last forever. My oldest set is over 20 years old and the brake lever is still solid as a rock. They aren't cheap, but the $150-200 you spend could save you being in an accident.
By worth it I'm assuming you mean performance. As far as performance goes, it's only worth it if you are planning on taking the bike to a race track and actually putting the brakes to performance use. As you turn laps, the rubber hoses heat up and expand. This means not all of the pressure goes to the breaks. This results in the brake lever having to be pulled in further and harder to get the same results. Steel lines eliminate brake fade and keep the lever the same over time. So, it's really not worth it for any normal road use. Unless you just want to get them.
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Braided Brake Lines Worth It
Better performance. Rubber hoses will swell/expand under braking pressure. The harder you clamp the binders, the more so. Steel brake lines won't expand, causing the otherwise lost energy to transfer to the brake caliper. Braided stainless lines still have a hose/liner inside, but the braiding cuts the expansion.
