R6 brake fluid reservoir... Now hard to read.

Binary Jay · 04-19-2007, 10:12 AM

So I get to work, and then smart me decides hey I should have checked my brake fluid level before I started bandying about the city. I was a bit too excited to even think of it before now.

Anyway, I got to work, it's pretty sunny out today (not complaining) and I found it hard to tell if I had any fluid in the reservoir at all. I mean, it's supposed to be clear plastic... the bike was on the side stand, I expected to see the level on a slant in there but no matter how much I moved it around or shook it I saw no movement... the actual colour of the plastic looked about right, as if it was filled with a transparent golden liquid but I figure that could be anything from plastic degeneration to fluid clinging to the side.

So, I haven't noticed any leaking fluid anywhere... brake performance is fine and feels good. Have I got anything to worry about? I don't really want to open up the reservoir and have a peek inside of it because I'd rather not introduce any new air to the fluid but I guess it might be the only way to put my mind at rest.

david223 · 04-19-2007, 10:16 AM

Having had many brake problems in the past on a variety of vehicles... I would guess that if you were that low on brake fluid, you would notice it immediately in the amount of travel on your brake lever before you stopped, as well as a probable spongy feeling in the brakes. With the amount that you've ridden that bike, I'm sure you would have felt the difference. I would guess that you just can't see it through the plastic...

david223 · 04-19-2007, 10:18 AM

... or if your brake pads are low, your visible level drops (or at least it did in my car and van) because it has to push further, therefore creating more room for the fluid in the lines and cylinder...

Don't know if I'm making any sense, but I have nothing better to do right know than to post things.

Magseal · 04-19-2007, 12:30 PM

forget about brakes jay, just hit the throttle and go around everyone

tilejerky · 04-19-2007, 12:54 PM

Nah, I'm sure you're fine. I just swapped out the FZ6 master cylinder for an R6 one last week. If you fill the level up to the top, then you can't see a line between the fluid and the air when the cap is on (due to the black rubber protrusion on the cap).

If you were that low on fluid you'd know immediately. After I swapped the master cylinder and bled the brakes the first time I could pull the lever to the bar with some effort (this shouldn't happen with my stainless steel lines). I decided to bleed them again, and sure enough, plenty more air came out. That firmed up the lever feel nicely.

If you were so low on fluid that you couldn't see any in the resevoir then you probably wouldn't hardly have any braking left at all. It doesn't take much air in the lines to notice a difference (sponginess).