Braided brake hose corrosion

[sk8mutie]

2014 1200 GS TE <4000 miles.

Just noticed corrosion under the outer sheath of the front brake line yesterday. Emailed pic to local dealership but they need to take their own pics themselves and look at the general condition of the bike. This is a condition set by BMW themselves for any corrosion concerns!

Assuming lines are stainless braiding, then would it be fair to assume that the corrosion is caused by internal brake fluid leak rather than water ingress? I have cleaned the lines and checked for any external damage, but can find none.

Taking bike to dealership in couple of days for inspection, but not keen on continuing to ride bike of issue internal leak, albeit a small one.

First pic was taken yesterday evening, second pic this evening, so corrosion moving fairly quickly.

 

[Karlread]

The standard for BMW now, look at the corrosion threads. Should be replaced by them.

 

[sk8mutie]

I have been fairly lucky I think with previous GSs. I ride all year round, and up here in Scotland, a lot of it in the rain. Normally bike washed and then soaked in WD in these months and a mixture of FS365 and ACF in the winter.

I'm not big into having the bike spotless, so as long as I see no corrosion, I'm happy with a quick wash and coat it in some sort of water dis-placer. Seems to have worked thus far.

The cable still had a coating of WD on it when I noticed this. Will wait and see!

 

[Neil W]

Thing is that the braiding under the protected clear tube should be high quality stainless steel and in theory should never corrode like that .

I have unprotected Goodridge stainless lines with stainless fittings that have been on my Katana since 1984 with no sign of corrosion

 

[sk8mutie]

Neil, that's why i think it's not just a moisture thing...but I'll probably never find out...

Nothing is perfect all the time, and I'm sure it's a one off, whatever it is....you only ever hear of the things that go wrong, not the story you have of hoses lasting over 30 yrs without a trace of corrosion.

 

[duckspeed]

Almost looks like a ferrous metal has become trapped in the stainless braiding somehow

 

[Steptoe]

Neil, that's why i think it's not just a moisture thing...but I'll probably never find out...

Nothing is perfect all the time, and I'm sure it's a one off, whatever it is....you only ever hear of the things that go wrong, not the story you have of hoses lasting over 30 yrs without a trace of corrosion.

It's not a one off. It happens sometimes and to most brake pipe manufacturers not just BMW.
It's perfectly safe, my very own bike has the same corrosion which i first noticed 10 years ago on the after market hoses i fitted.
I never bothered about demanding replacement hoses from the supplier as my bike isn't new and i couldn't be arsed doing the work again

 

[sk8mutie]

Morning Steptoe. Haven't noticed any degradation as far as braking concerned, happy it's safe. Still under warranty, and only had bike since xmas so would like to think it'll be replaced.
Had crank shaft sensor replaced a few weeks ago as bike was hunting and stalled on me as I pulled away from junction...road was quiet thankfully as I was stopped in the middle of it.

So keen to having her running and looking like the 18 month old bike that it is.

Will see what BM says and post back here...but as for now, it's only a cosmetic thing...showed dealership pics of it and they say they had not seen anything like that through their doors, so just gonna go with the flow and see what the outcome is.


sk8mutie

 

[Neil W]

My view would be bollocks it is an expensive (prestige) motor bike, it is still under warranty, change the bloody pipe because it should not be showing any sign of corrosion

 

[Steptoe]

My view would be bollocks it is an expensive (prestige) motor bike, it is still under warranty, change the bloody pipe because it should not be showing any sign of corrosion

Yes, agree entirely. But no need to stop riding it in the meantime as it's not a safety issue which the OP was concerned about.

 

[sk8mutie]

Indeedy....it'll be out in the lovely Scottish rain in the next 20 mins!!!!


sk8mutie