1. Spingeler vs Galfer vs core vs hel
I find myself in a unique situation that by force I was able to try a variety of different manufacturers of brake lines. I’d say spinegler is on par with the other manufacturers. It is nice that they include a tool to spin the heads where core tells you to use pens and galfer can’t turn. However Galfer lines come pre-rotated, so installing was a little quicker.
Spinegler build quality seems similar to the rest aside from lack of branding. A nice low key touch. However there is nothing to really differentiate these from cheap Amazon ones. Galfer has printed little yellow tags which unfortunately immediately rubbed off. Core has a stamped rubber boot with painted text which still looks crisp after a few years.
The main downside with core is lack of availability, they only have a few bikes they make lines for and very few with ABS(at the time of writing this). Galfer has a library of more fittings than the other two manufacturers so cover some unique bikes. Why I had to try them. Tried spinegler because the Galfer lines were around ~$100 more and couldn’t figure out why.
Customer service, between Galfer and spinegler I’d say Galfer wins this one. Funny enough both companies had sent me a line made incorrectly. Galfer replaced the part with over night shipping and told me to trash the faulty part. Spinegler just sent me the missing boot and had me cut it. Not a deal breaker, but would like things made correctly.
HEL: funny enough I never got to try these lines. Bought them, waited a month for delivery from the UK, got told the order never got submitted, waited another month and the same excuse, so I cancelled my order. So if you are in the US I’d avoid HEL lines.