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Stiffest brake hose

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#21 ·
I'm looking into steel braided lines. The Hope plastic lines kink as they exit the levers. Then I fell down the rabbit hole after finding all the Ti fittings for the Hope steel braided lines. And for the calipers. I have a sickness.
 
#22 ·
Again, the steel braided lines are the worst thing I have on any of my bikes. They might win my award for the worst possible upgrade ever. I'd need to think about it but they'd be a contender for sure. They are a PITA to cut and fit housing, PITA to route and I can detect literally zero performance benefit. I'd love to see someone run a test to show that anyone could as I find it highly unlikely that almost anyone could. In summary, they suck and that's the reason that I never buy any brake that has them again.
 
Discussion starter · #23 ·
Mudguard said:
What is the actual issue with your SRAM hoses?
I don't think there's any noticeable performance difference by switching. I liked the braided look when it came out twenty years ago but not now. Good ridge used to make them. But you'd have to trim them perfectly plus any rubbing is going to eat a frame.
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They are certainly not as stiff and deform easier in the hand. I can squeeze them but not the shimano bh90s
 
#25 ·
BunniBoi said:
I have Hope stainless on one bike. They look great, but I'm not really sure they do anything significant for braking sensitivity. They absolutely have no effect at all on braking "power". (Which is 99% myth anyway.)
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Yep, agree.
 
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#26 ·
Az2Au said:
Again, the steel braided lines are the worst thing I have on any of my bikes. They might win my award for the worst possible upgrade ever. I'd need to think about it but they'd be a contender for sure. They are a PITA to cut and fit housing, PITA to route and I can detect literally zero performance benefit. I'd love to see someone run a test to show that anyone could as I find it highly unlikely that almost anyone could. In summary, they suck and that's the reason that I never buy any brake that has them again.
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I have Goodridge braided hose and your complaints are the exact opposite w/ my Goodridge. Coated braid, super flexible and replaceable stainless fittings. Only problem I have is purchasing in the US.

 
#27 ·
keen said:
I have Goodridge braided hose and your complaints are the exact opposite w/ my Goodridge. Coated braid, super flexible and replaceable stainless fittings. Only problem I have is purchasing in the US.

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That’s the same hose that comes on the Trickstuff Maxima brakes. I have two sets and on both bikes they were an absolute effing PITA to route. Also cutting them to the appropriate size and keeping that POS hose from fraying is the worst. I used Knipex cable cutters that are basically brand new for both and both had the same issue. I got them to work but it was so much harder than every other one I have ever dealt with that it was annoying.

I have Trickstuff brakes on all of my bikes (9 at the moment) and think they are one of the rare products that justify the price but there’s a 0.0% chance I’d buy another set of Maximas with that hose. This is why most of my bikes have Direttissimas instead. Now you can get them without the braided Goodrich hose so I will likely buy another set for the bike I just ordered. Otherwise, no chance I would buy them again. All pain, no benefit. Perhaps the hose you have is different but mine seems like something that someone decided would be better in theory while ignoring reality. TBC, I’d still give the Maximas 5*s because this is a several minute problem that is never seen again after install but my hatred of that hose during install is definitely still there.

Conservatively I’d say I’ve installed 200 sets of brakes in my MTB life and those are the only ones I can recall having any anger towards. If they had some performance benefit I’m sure I’d get over it. I don’t believe they do or at least it is too small for virtually anyone to notice if so.

Other than those complaints, they are fine 😂
 
Discussion starter · #28 ·
Az2Au said:
That’s the same hose that comes on the Trickstuff Maxima brakes. I have two sets and on both bikes they were an absolute effing PITA to route. Also cutting them to the appropriate size and keeping that POS hose from fraying is the worst. I used Knipex cable cutters that are basically brand new for both and both had the same issue. I got them to work but it was so much harder than every other one I have ever dealt with that it was annoying.

I have Trickstuff brakes on all of my bikes (9 at the moment) and think they are one of the rare products that justify the price but there’s a 0.0% chance I’d buy another set of Maximas with that hose. This is why most of my bikes have Direttissimas instead. Now you can get them without the braided Goodrich hose so I will likely buy another set for the bike I just ordered. Otherwise, no chance I would buy them again. All pain, no benefit. Perhaps the hose you have is different but mine seems like something that someone decided would be better in theory while ignoring reality. TBC, I’d still give the Maximas 5*s because this is a several minute problem that is never seen again after install but my hatred of that hose during install is definitely still there.

Conservatively I’d say I’ve installed 200 sets of brakes in my MTB life and those are the only ones I can recall having any anger towards. If they had some performance benefit I’m sure I’d get over it. I don’t believe they do or at least it is too small for virtually anyone to notice if so.

Other than those complaints, they are fine 😂
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Wow quite the experience. Do you have any idea if there is objective data on any brake hoses? Seems like it’s a mystery.
 
#29 ·
karl1402 said:
Wow quite the experience. Do you have any idea if there is objective data on any brake hoses? Seems like it’s a mystery.
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I’ll give you a serious answer even though you don’t seem to want one. No objective data on performance good or bad. As noted, I believe that one exists in theory but have doubts about the reality of it.

My objective data is that running lines that thick is a PITA for me. I’ve seen it noted in reviews as well. It can be done in most cases and if you’re running them externally on something like a DH bike then it is irrelevant. Also, depending on fittings as I’ve noted, it is extremely annoying to deal with the immediate fraying. I have been able to solve that every time but it involves a lot of cursing and patience. Something I’ve never experienced on any other hose type because I use extremely sharp clippers that are the correct item for the job. On these I’ve used both the guillotene types and Knipex cable cutters. Initial cut is clean but inserting them back into the fitting forces you to deal with fraying.

In the end, I generally go top spec on damn near everything. Even if I perceive the performance benefit is small or none. These hoses stand out as being the only thing that I can think of that fits that category and that there’s a zero percent chance of me ever buying again. It seems one person had a better experience but I wonder how many times they installed them on different bikes.
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
Az2Au said:
I’ll give you a serious answer even though you don’t seem to want one. No objective data on performance good or bad. As noted, I believe that one exists in theory but have doubts about the reality of it.

My objective data is that running lines that thick is a PITA for me. I’ve seen it noted in reviews as well. It can be done in most cases and if you’re running them externally on something like a DH bike then it is irrelevant. Also, depending on fittings as I’ve noted, it is extremely annoying to deal with the immediate fraying. I have been able to solve that every time but it involves a lot of cursing and patience. Something I’ve never experienced on any other hose type because I use extremely sharp clippers that are the correct item for the job. On these I’ve used both the guillotene types and Knipex cable cutters. Initial cut is clean but inserting them back into the fitting forces you to deal with fraying.

In the end, I generally go top spec on damn near everything. Even if I perceive the performance benefit is small or none. These hoses stand out as being the only thing that I can think of that fits that category and that there’s a zero percent chance of me ever buying again. It seems one person had a better experience but I wonder how many times they installed them on different bikes.
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Is absolutely do want a serious answer and appreciate your experience. Just trying to mix and match for the best setup
 
#31 ·
karl1402 said:
Is absolutely do want a serious answer and appreciate your experience. Just trying to mix and match for the best setup
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Here’s something that I hope will come across in photos, first pic is the steel braided hoses on my Firebird. In person you can see that it is a strain for it to fit in cable port. Not sure it is really visible in the picture. Second is the Kevlar hose on the Direttissimas I have on my Switchblade. They seem just as firm and the hose fits with no problem.

Image

Image
 
#32 ·
OldN00b said:
Hayes Dominion brake hoses are burly, stiff and reinforced with Kevlar.
hayesbicycle.com

Dominion Hydraulic Hose Kit

Our proprietary hose kit is reinforced with Kevlar for strength and durability. Kit includes: 200cm rear hose and all fittings. PN: 98-36138-K001
hayesbicycle.com hayesbicycle.com
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^^^ This ^^^
 
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#33 ·
I have EZMTB Kevlar K28 lines

they are excellent
and fit all 'normal' frame paths and clips

www.uaecycle.com

EZMTB Hydraulic Brake Hose K28 4 Layers Pro Teflon-Kevlar

Compatible with all brake systems from: Shimano, SRAM, Magura, Avid, Tektro, Formula and Hayes The name 'K28' refers to the 28 threads per inch in the braid, which means that this new hydraulic hose has 40% more Kevlar than EZmtb’s standard 4-layer hose, reaching the highest braiding density...
www.uaecycle.com www.uaecycle.com

Image
 
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#34 ·
127.0.0.1 said:
I have EZMTB Kevlar K28 lines

they are excellent
and fit all 'normal' frame paths and clips

www.uaecycle.com

EZMTB Hydraulic Brake Hose K28 4 Layers Pro Teflon-Kevlar

Compatible with all brake systems from: Shimano, SRAM, Magura, Avid, Tektro, Formula and Hayes The name 'K28' refers to the 28 threads per inch in the braid, which means that this new hydraulic hose has 40% more Kevlar than EZmtb’s standard 4-layer hose, reaching the highest braiding density...
www.uaecycle.com www.uaecycle.com

View attachment 2110626
Click to expand...
Have you tested the "bulletproof" claim?
 
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#36 · (Edited)
Jayem said:
Have you tested the "bulletproof" claim?
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the kevlar is bulletproof when woven into a bulletproof vest or into sheets

the marketing term bulletproof is used only to indicate and remind that kevlar
fibers have high tensile strength

of course these small hoses will get wrecked if impacted by a bullet
 
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#37 ·
So not bulletproof
 
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#38 · (Edited)
Jayem said:
So not bulletproof
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where does it say on EZMTB marketing materials that these lines are bulletproof ?


you seem to know so much about it and your questions seem to hinge on bulletproof-ness or not...

so please inform us ...which retail or commercial MTB hydraulic lines are actually bulletproof ? none ? thought so

to go further, bulletproof or not...what type of bullet, grain, cartridge type, muzzle velocity can you
tell us needs to be tested/passed for whatever mystery bulletproof standard you are pulling from your arse ?
 
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#39 ·
Well they are the one saying it.
 
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#40 · (Edited)
Changing to larger hoses will also chamge the bite of the brake(s) as more fluid needs to be moved by the same size piston in the lever. I paired my XT 8120 with jagwire hyflow hoses and the brakes have less of an on/off feel now with slightly better modulation, which is exactly what I was aiming for. 🍿
 
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