Havent had them yet...probably will on my next new ride. How are they to maintain and repair?
Dave
Dave
Not sure about that...if you can feel a difference, I'd say you've got a great career ahead of you teaching Braille to the blind. This discussion comes up often on motorcycle discussion boards in regard to hydraulic clutches. When they first started showing up on European dirt bikes a few years ago, everyone expected them to have a wonderful feathery-light, one-finger pull. When they didn't, guys tried all sorts of fluids to make the clutch pull lighter, but the fact is, you're using fluid under pressure to complete a task. You're just not going to feel much (if any) difference between oil, water, milk, or beer (although you might feel a slight difference between, say, oil and Mrs. Butterworth's).Originally posted by oldfart
I think you can lighten lever feel with a lighter fluid. I think some early Magura Martas had problems with too thick a fluid. Last time I bought DOT4 at the motorcycle shop the guy told me DOT5.1 was a thinner oil and lever feel was lighter. maybe some one else can confirm that?
That about hit it right on the nose... I wanted to expand on it a bit, though.Originally posted by KaTooMer
Not sure about that...if you can feel a difference, I'd say you've got a great career ahead of you teaching Braille to the blind. This discussion comes up often on motorcycle discussion boards in regard to hydraulic clutches. When they first started showing up on European dirt bikes a few years ago, everyone expected them to have a wonderful feathery-light, one-finger pull. When they didn't, guys tried all sorts of fluids to make the clutch pull lighter, but the fact is, you're using fluid under pressure to complete a task. You're just not going to feel much (if any) difference between oil, water, milk, or beer (although you might feel a slight difference between, say, oil and Mrs. Butterworth's).
I think this concept gets confused with how thicker or thinner weight oils affect suspension damping. With damping, you're forcing a volume of oil through small openings, in and out. A heavier oil is more resistant at moving through those holes, meaning the heavier stuff gives more damping. But brake fluid isn't getting held up by small openings. In fact, it only travels through the brake line far enough to compress the piston in the caliper...an eighth of an inch, maybe?
I'd have to say the guy who told you DOT 5.1 will give you a lighter feel was just trying to sell you the higher-priced stuff. If you have the means, though, it is good stuff. I use 5.1 in my KTM's brakes because I have a tendency to drag the rear brake. Higher boiling point less chance of boiling-induced brake fade.