This from a guy with a GT380 on the SOC boards, copied with permission..........

"Had a worrying incident yesterday. Changed the brake fluid in my 380's front disc, and took it for a quick spin on the local mad mile. All seemed to be fine.

When putting the bike away, I gave the brake a good squeeze to make sure it was firm, and that there was no air trapped, leaks from the bleed nipple etc.

Something goes pop, and the lever comes straight back to the twistgrip. Turns out the gland nut holding the braided brake hose to the caliper banjo had exploded into four pieces, causing the hose to pop off the caliper.

If this had happened 3 minutes before, I would have been approaching a roundabout at 80 with no front brake, a crap rear drum and zero engine braking.

I haven't touched this nut since having the bike. On checking, the braided hose & nuts aren't stainless (like Goodridge) but the nuts are some cheap monkey alloy. Proper stainless job now on order."

I don't fancy having that happen.  :O


Nice warning FF.  :buttrock:

Ive heard of this before , as far as i can remember the nice coloured anodised alloy corodes and as you say falls to pieces.
Stainless is the way to go no alloy for me thanks.

This very thing happened to me - thankfully while the bike was sitting still. I didn't know any better and had bought the bike (a Honda Bros) with a stainless front brake line and the "purdy" red and blue anodized fittings already on it.

I was down at the caliper and noted some white stuff at the point where the brake line enters the caliper. I went to flick it off and flicked half the anodized nut off. Oops.

These little swines rot from the inside out. On the surface they look fine, but they corrode (with the merest whiff of salty water) and a white oxidation occurs. I fitted a new stainless line with standard stainless fittings and all was well. These "purdy" ones are generally advertized "not for road use" or "race use only" - cos that's all the length of time they'll last. They are not meant to withstand the onslaught of weather we get in the UK. ("Fit for use" ring a bell for anyone?)

If you've got them, get rid of them and get the plain old boring stainless lines and fittings.