need to swap front master cylinder ['80 gl1100]

[jml74]

The PO of my GL1100 put some flat tracker handlebars on the bike, but he put the angled OEM master cylinder back on there, so when the wheels are full left the reservoir is pointing toward the ground. I'd like to put something flatter on there, does anyone know of any other OEM or aftermarket m/c that would be a plug-and-play replacement? I'm also considering swapping out the rubber brake lines with braided stainless at the same time; Randakk's/Dime City has a kit with all three front lines plus the rear line, but a) it's $200, and b) it's out of stock. They claim they'll be getting more back in stock, but there's no telling when that will be. Does anyone else make a kit that might be more reasonably priced?

[Oldewing]

Apexbrakes.com is my choice of guys for lines. I use the master's off Ebay ,https://www.ebay.com/itm/143616415056?h ... SwlepezuQX from China, but I have tons of miles on them. I have put them on bikes for years with no failures. And they come with a rebuild kit, but I have never used it..

[jml74]

Thanks for the vote of confidence on the eBay m/c, I didn't want to go that route without some confirmation they're not just going to explode the first time I brake hard. That link's actually a hydraulic clutch lever, but I found the equivalent brake cylinder. Re: lines, it looks like Apex focuses mainly on autos, do you know if they have pre-made lines for bikes, or do I have to measure and order?

[Rat]

They have all sorts of kits.
Guy’s name is Ray.
Phone him and he’ll fix you up.
If you want custom lines, the website is great, for kits, it’s easier to phone.
Gord

[BlueThunder]

Use any 5/8" master cylinder. I suggest 4into1 as they have brand new ones that look OEM.

[Oldewing]

sorry bout that, just ran to ebay and grabbed one link quick..


Greg( 8 track guy) Jones.

[jml74]

I emailed Apex earlier and got this reply:

We have the 4 line set ( 3 front 1 rear ).
Comes with banjo bolts and crush washers for $132.00 shipped.
11 colors to choose from and also your choice of silver or black fittings.

I like that much better than the $200 at Randakk's. Randakk's kits are sourced from Paragon Performance, who I don't know anything about, but if anybody knows of a meaningful difference between Apex and Paragon, I'm all ears.

[Track T 2411]

I've used the Apex lines on three bikes so far with no issues whatsoever. They will also make custom lines...

[jml74]

I've used the Apex lines on three bikes so far with no issues whatsoever. They will also make custom lines....

I had some back and forth with him and he seemed hesitant to provide a whole lot of guidance (I can't really blame him, I wouldn't want to be on the hook for a line that doesn't fit right when some jagoff on the internet asks the wrong questions), but I ordered a kit yesterday and am waiting on the result. He gave me a shorter-than-stock length to deal with the low handlebars and rotated one of the banjos 90 degrees for me because the replacement m/c I got had the outlet port on the front instead of the left (whoops), and didn't charge me any extra for either.

[Rat]

Well ... his stock kit is for a stock bike, natch ... stock handlebars, stock mc ... he can hardly guess at line lengths and orientation if yours is not stock.
His web site lets you create exactly the lines you want if you don’t want stock ...
I've always found him extremely helpful, but he needs specifications
Gord

[tlbranth]

Apexbrakes.com is my choice of guys for lines. I use the master's off Ebay ,https://www.ebay.com/itm/143616415056?h ... SwlepezuQX from China, but I have tons of miles on them. I have put them on bikes for years with no failures. And they come with a rebuild kit, but I have never used it..

I put this M/C on my '75 and it's worked well for the couple of years I've been using it. One flaw I've found, though, is the rubber gasket under the lid. It looks like it is deteriorating over time and leaking a tad.