I ve read some stories about the XT 660 X's front brake fading under heavy use and causing some nasty crashes. Since Im gonna take her to the track, I dont fancy thumpering down the straight, only to find my brake not working ;(

so I was taking a look around for steel braided lines. But now Im confused: is the stock front brake line steel braided? It seems to be but Im not sure.

Here s a pic of my bike. that front brake line looks stock as they come:



Yet it seems to be braided?

So my question is: is the standard XTX front brake line steel braided?

and if not, does anyone have some steel braided lines fitted? Im wondering how much they'd improve braking power.

Hi there, my two cents worth on front brakes in general is:
The brake line when changed to performance braided steel can not provide more brake power but changes the feel at the lever to a more positive firm feel due to the line not expanding under pressure of brake application.
The second thing that will effect feel at the lever is the pad compound. Performance sintered pads and race pads generally have a firmer feel at the lever but take a few applications to warm up and work properly (after the bedding in process is complete) softer less performance pads generally have good initial bite from cold that fades away as they get hot.
Better performance pads will provide better stopping power.
And the final thing is brake fluid, it should be changed once a year at least as it is hygroscopic. Secondly it is the most important thing you can change to prevent brake fade, performance and race brake fluids have a far higher boiling point making them far more resistant to brake fade. (the fluid boiling is what causes brake fade)
Hope this helps
Have fun at the track

Hm, ok. so braided lines won't improve braking power but only reduce 'spungeyness' from the lever.

I might have to look at getting better pads and brake fluid then.

Thats a after market stainless braided brake line...
standard ones are black rubber with a wire
braid inside same as the rear one on your bike...

__________________
Harley Davidson..
The easyest way to turn gasoline into noise with out the side efect of horse power...

Allright, cheers for that. So I already have steeld braided after market brake lines. Good.

Then I can focus on the brake fluid and pads. thanks!

You will need one of these.



And one of these.

Ahhh yes an up graded radial master cylinder would help. I'm not sure how much difference the disc would make unless it was iron or carbon steel instead of stainless steel.

What diameter piston / bore is your radial master? I may have to get me one

Stock disc showed signs of wilting with a stock master cylinder at 3000 miles that EBC has done double and still no signs of warping.

19.

If yer going to use it on the track..
You can go to a wave rotor to help stop it warping when hot...




.

__________________
Harley Davidson..
The easyest way to turn gasoline into noise with out the side efect of horse power...

What you really want is a fully floating disc as in Beringer or PFM