V7 brake/fuel line replacement?

[tonUPRacer]

So I was just checking my 2013 V7 owners' manual because my 6,000 mile service is coming up and I notice that they recommend replacing brake lines every 4 years and fuel lines every 3. Do you guys follow this? I've never replaced brake or fuel lines on any of my bikes before.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I would replace brake lines only if they show signs of wear or cracking, my 84 Cali II still has original ones.
Replace fuel lines if they become hard or start to leak. I see a lot of guys using clear plastic lines, I think you should use braided nylon or the special fuel line rubber.

[Kev m]

For the mere few decades I've been involved with motorcycles I have marveled at some of the ridiculous maintenance recommendations.

Some I routinely double.

Some I ignore completely until something arises requiring a repair (and I cannot think of a single one that has required a repair so far).

It's especially ridiculous on the brake lines of the new V7s as they are steel-braided and then coated with plastic on top of that. I mean, seriously WTF is going to happen to them catastrophically?

IIRC there was one manufacturer (maybe KTM or someone like that) who had things like Piston and Connecting Rod replacement on the maintenance schedule at regular intervals (and REALLY low mileage intervals to boot). As if it was going to be used for racing only.

So I think you know where I stand on this.

[MGPilot]

You wonder if some of those recommendations were written by their attorneys rather than the engineers/mechanics.

[tonUPRacer]

OK, that's good enough for me, I always thought just inspect for leaks and wear. I suspect that is CYA attorney input.

[Kev m]

You wonder if some of those recommendations were written by their attorneys rather than the engineers/mechanics.

I have LONG thought this and often professed my belief in it, ESPECIALLY in the entire contents of the Owner's Manuals.

Related story, when I started writing for Chilton 20+ years ago I was given a list of rules. Things like every single time we mentioned fuel we had to add a caution about not smoking around it (because the lawsuit from the family of a customer who burnt to death smoking while laying under his car and changing his fuel filter) or how we were FORBIDDEN from using the word "screwdriver" because of the guy who lost an eye prying out a freeze plug with one when it shattered). For a decade I had to type "small suitable prytool" and/or "suitable driver" instead of screwdriver or prybar.