Can I use Shimano hose with Magura rim brakes?

UPDATE 19/03 – no, you absolutely cannot

I've tried to get a firm answer for this online but have had no luck so far.

Can I use Shimano hose with Magura brakes (specifically MT11 rim brakes)?

I can have all the Shimano hose I want from work and begrudge buying new hose for a single job.

My crude measurements with crap callipers suggest the ID is pretty damn close.

I have a full suite of spare Magura barbs, olives etc.

Yes..to a degree; but your lever feel will likely change.
I’ve tried this on both rim and hydro brakes.
Magura hose has a bigger internal bore.
I’ve found better success with BH59 as opposed to BH90, which has a smaller bore and is a pressure based system.
At least according to my measurements and confirmation from Shimano tech.

Bore/stroke of the MC, as well as design. Magura are radial and most of modern Shimano are axial. How this ties in with hose dimensions, someone smarter could tell you.

Frankly though, it’s all a bit academic and I say fuck it. Just got for it. I did, I’m
Not dead yet.
Shit, people used to bleed their HS33’s with water back in the day.
Just plunge the whole thing in the bath and repeat the next day.

This is terrific, thank you very much. I'm amazed at how hard it has been to find this info given the popularity of Shigura setups.

The front brake is ready to get slapped on with the OEM hose, so I'll have (at least) one very reliable brake.

I'm only having to re-do the rear as it's going on a tandem. That's another reason to use Shimano hose as I won't have to stump up daft cash for metres of official Magura stuff.

I'll report back with results.

Ta kindly!

The Magura stuff isn't too expensive, but it is quite hard finding them in long enough lengths.
Alternatively, you can use Goodridge hoses, which are pretty pimp, but you do end up paying.

I do run a Shigura setup, and have tried with multiple levers and calipers to see what works best.
Curiously, it's the cheaper Shimano levers which work best with the 4 pot calipers. Lot of flex though.
It's an interesting experiment, but frankly, neither are as good as with their respective levers.
I just hate Magura lever shape.

While we're here, have you ever seen someone use one HS33 lever paired up with two disc calipers (via a splitter) to make one handed (f&r) braking? We have a disabled customer and I'm led to believe that this is a viable solution (also for cargo trikes)

Not cheap but Hope make a brake with separate levers for each brake, both on one hand

Cheers Phil, it's actually as much for trike cargo bikes, so having two levers would be a bit of a nightmare knowing our customers (one of whom uses it to transport a £200k Cello around London!). The bikes that come on these trikes seem terrible Bengal things, so we're trying to sort out a better solution. Hope ones would be nice for the disabled customer, but perhaps a bit overkill for someone with one hand who would probably get catapulted off the bike if they applied 8 cylinders of braking power all at once!

I have definitely seen a mad weight weenie single-speed MTB that ran both disc callipers from a single lever. He split the hose mid-way with a T-junction barbed thingy. I expect you could quite easily do the same with HS11 brakes. They're the ideal system for generic barbed fittings too as they run at far lower pressures than disc brakes, according to Magura.

As for me, BS90 hosing is not playing nicely with these barbs... I think I'll have to admit defeat and just order the right stuff. I've tried with both a Jagwire seating tool and malletin'. Ach well!

1 Attachment

Yes. Bure requires a lot of modding, You'll want double banjo bolt fitting (goodridge) and the right crush washers.

@JacqueLucque
Hose will always be the problem. I always went for old Hope hoses, or Goodridge.

Yes,I agree that Magura lever shape is a bit damm looking but other hand you’re trying to heavily modify most important safety component on yr bike...
“Brakes” So try to think twice of that kinda of bodge you’re want to do.
Your bike ,your call just an advice....
Like a Volvo car will not fit brake callipers from Nissan (or if -this can end up disaster when you hit road )
But like I say,not my circus -not my monkeys ....just an advice to consider...

I mean, so long as you replace all subframe, linkage, lower control arms, hubs, calipers and rotors, why wouldn't it work?
For a while, most Volvo's were essentially Ford underneath. So why not Nissan

Sarcasm aside, I get your point. On the other hand, curiosity is more interesting than my well being. Thanks

:) :) :) I love yr reply :) safety last !

I don't care at all about yours.

:)

I have an update for those following this thrilling saga.

In short, none of the Shimano hoses I tried would accept the barbed fitting. The barb would just tear the hose every time. I tried all sorts to make it work (heat etc) but no dice.

In the end, I bought 3m of hose from Trialtech.

This is cheaper than OEM Magura hose (which is very hard to find online, and I didn't trust my LBS to order the right stuff) and shipping was quick.

It's very plasticky and dipping the end of the hose in a cup of hot water helped with pressing in the barb.

Even then it was a bit of a fight. I used a Jagwire setting tool for the first two ridges but had to resort to a hammer for the last bit. All in, it's a pretty inelegant and frustrating solution. I have no idea why they don't just use a regular olive, as is done at the calliper end of the system.

And, just in case anyone stumbling on this has the same brakes as I do and also can't work out where the 'EBT screw' referenced in the Magura video tutorials is located, check out this guide.