Benefits of changing brakes lines

Q. When I replace the brake lines on my Yamaha FJR1300 is there any benefit (apart from cost) in braking function or performance to change the set-up from a single line splitting with a Y-piece into one for each caliper, to either a line for each side or one pipe to one side with another looping over the mudguard to the other caliper?

Roland Orton, email

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A. Changing brake hoses on a bike will not improve the actual braking performance but it would alter the feel if you went from standard to braided hoses.

In theory the shorter the lines (as in one down and one over), the better the braking feel.

But of course the up-and-over line would be a pig to bleed, so you’d probably get a better brake using straight pipe runs because you’d have more chance of getting all the air out of them.

When it comes to fitting lines it’s often worth priming them with fluid beforehand.