Front Brake Lines too Short- '83 forks on '82

[NotSoLilCrippseys]

I've been working toward swapping '83 forks/wheel onto my '82 project.

From what I've read, it's a clean swap, which I found to be the case this evening - with one important hiccup: Brake line length.

My '82 project seems to have normal length brake lines. There was no odd stretching or lack of "slack" in either brake line prior to brake/fork removal. And they're the basic rubber hose lines.

After installing the '83 fork and wheel, I went to bolt up the calipers and discovered the '82 lines come up a few inches too short for actual use with the '83 fork.

I have yet to look at the caliper positions or fork lengths to see where things are off, but there's a real difference.

Not sure how frequently people do this swap - to get the stock '83 fork brace, to put '83 alloys on an earlier GL1100, etc. As I had the parts, I thought it seemed like a good "upgrade" to put on the '82.

Unless the '82 I'm working on has shorter than stock lines on it, others heading into this swap may encounter the same issue.

It's easily remedied with some custom lines. But that's not quite the clean swap.

[sparkyrasmus]

I just ordered out some braided lines from Spiegler Performance Parts for my 83 standard. They also custom made lines for me for my 98 V11EV Moto Guzzi. I just removed the lines from the Guzzi and labeled them as to position and mailed them in. I had the new lines in a week, and they fit perfectly. OK, is was a bit spendy, but new braided stainless lines give me a better sense of security than the 38 year old ones.

[pidjones]

Lines that old should be replaced anyway. Just pointing out the obvious.

[Sidecar Bob]

Yep. Those rubber lines should really be replaced every 2 or 3 fluid changes (=5-6 years) so this would be a good time to replace them with something more permanent. Modern stainless braided lines last practically forever and double the life of the fluid too.