This saga started with my preparation for the trip to the Fall Bash. I had my bike at the shop for tires and a general check over. I do most of the work on my bike, but I like to have a second set of eyes on it every once in a while. Anyway, the mechanic noticed that when the front wheel is off the ground the brake lines are stretched tight. The lines on the bike are standard length Speiglers, but I have added heli bars and the Ohlins forks (which apparently extend more than stock when unloaded). It wasn't too bad but you don't want the brake lines being tugged on when you do those power wheelies...
Anyway, I figured 2" over stock would work. Then I noticed you can't order these at custom lengths through most guys online. So I called them and made the order over the phone. That's when I got my first set of stock length lines with the wrong banjo fittings (I have a Brembo MC). So I called them back and they said no problem send them back, which I did. That was six weeks ago and there is no sign of a credit to my card, so that's $70 plus shipping back wasted.
Then I call another supplier and got another set of gaflers marked +1" but they are the same length at the stock length Speiglers. Supplier says they are the right length, but they aren't. Supplier says well you're comparing them to speiglers and these are gaflers, so find out what the stock length of the gaflers are and call me back (seems like they would do that since I'm a customer). So I call gafler and of course the person on the line hasn't got a clue and says they will call me back. Haven't heard from them since and haven't been able to get a human on the line. Another $120 in flux.
Then I go to a local sales location and tell them what I want. It was Saturday so they could not get in contact with Speigler - had to come back. I go there on my lunch hour Tuesday - they have no record of me coming in Saturday so I go through the whole list of specifications again. I go back on Thursday at lunch - no record of me again. So I give up on them but at least I don't have any money tied up in them.
Then I try another sponsor. I get my lins and go out to the garage to install them and maybe get a ride in (73 and sunny today). I open the box and stretch out the line next to the stock length Speigler - Amazing its longer! Then I stretch out the other one - stock length! WHy on earth would someone pack to different length lines? Another $109 tied up in front brake lines and no dice
So my bike has been down since the Fall Bash. I probably missed the entire last part of the riding season. On top of that I have about $300 I have to argue with a bunch of parts people to get back, 2 of which have already said they can't restock "custom" length lines even though ther are just marked +1" and are actually stock length.
Anyway, I figured 2" over stock would work. Then I noticed you can't order these at custom lengths through most guys online. So I called them and made the order over the phone. That's when I got my first set of stock length lines with the wrong banjo fittings (I have a Brembo MC). So I called them back and they said no problem send them back, which I did. That was six weeks ago and there is no sign of a credit to my card, so that's $70 plus shipping back wasted.
Then I call another supplier and got another set of gaflers marked +1" but they are the same length at the stock length Speiglers. Supplier says they are the right length, but they aren't. Supplier says well you're comparing them to speiglers and these are gaflers, so find out what the stock length of the gaflers are and call me back (seems like they would do that since I'm a customer). So I call gafler and of course the person on the line hasn't got a clue and says they will call me back. Haven't heard from them since and haven't been able to get a human on the line. Another $120 in flux.
Then I go to a local sales location and tell them what I want. It was Saturday so they could not get in contact with Speigler - had to come back. I go there on my lunch hour Tuesday - they have no record of me coming in Saturday so I go through the whole list of specifications again. I go back on Thursday at lunch - no record of me again. So I give up on them but at least I don't have any money tied up in them.
Then I try another sponsor. I get my lins and go out to the garage to install them and maybe get a ride in (73 and sunny today). I open the box and stretch out the line next to the stock length Speigler - Amazing its longer! Then I stretch out the other one - stock length! WHy on earth would someone pack to different length lines? Another $109 tied up in front brake lines and no dice
So my bike has been down since the Fall Bash. I probably missed the entire last part of the riding season. On top of that I have about $300 I have to argue with a bunch of parts people to get back, 2 of which have already said they can't restock "custom" length lines even though ther are just marked +1" and are actually stock length.