Reservoir Sock?
 

Why do people use them? What are they for?

Why do people on the street use them?

lol, this is going to be fun, we argue about this every year.

There are a variety of reasons people believe this trend started, but no one knows the real "for sure" reason. It's pretty that's for sure.

It adds .03 hp!!! I use them because I like the way it looks. I have a CF res cover as well.

:lmao:

Didn't mean to cause an argument....was just curious. :lol:

The reasons I can remember right now that I have seen

Sunlight damages the fluid

It protects against small leaks on the track

fashion

keep the fluid warm once it heats up

Don't know about the other three but the first one's bullshit. I did a little search and saw some crazy reasons too!

My understanding was that it was to soak up the fluid in the event of the resevoir getting cracked, but that's mainly for track use. No clue why people use them on the street, other than to look cool. It's not like it takes much effort to remove it for street use and put it back on for the track. Unless people are just worried they'll forget to put it on when they take their street bike to the track. :idk:

A quick google search shows a lot of boards (including gixxer.com and r6-forum.com) pushing the UV damage excuse, so that would explain why a lot people believe they use it on the street.

The sunlight thing is what I had always heard.

If that were truly the case the reservoirs wouldn't be translucent. :idk:

I agree, I am just stating why people use it on the street. I am more inclined to believe it's fashion.

This and isn't the boiling point something ridiculously high? :scratch:

Wrong again. Glycol based fluids are very light sensitive.

The difference between street and track use is simple,

Most people use silicone based fluid on the street which are not UV sensitive, hygroscopic, caustic, or needs to be changed...ever. No need to cover.

On the track most people use glycol based fluid because of it's better performance characteristics- better feel. Because glycol based fluids are very light sensitive they cover the reservoirs. Also because glycol fluids are hygroscopic, they have to be changed every year or two.

I use silicone based because I don't feel like fucking with it every year. I cover it because I like the way it looks.

What? :skep:

I was talking on the street. ;)

Looks like this guy got shut up when asked the same question

http://www.bikerforum.co.uk/forums/b...cover-why.html

Is there proof of this? A google search on "brake fluid UV" did not reveal any.

Yea but then you'd have to open the res to check it which would suck. The thing about UV damage is that it's much slower than hygroscopic damage... In other words, you should have changed the fluid long before sunlight may have damaged it. IMHO this is one of those holdover situations from the past that no longer apply.

It doesn't matter WHERE you ride, only what type of fluid you are using. Quite frankly, street bikes typically spend a lot more time sitting out in the sun. So if they are using a glycol based fluid you have more need of a cover on the street. Also, racers change fluids much more often than street riders so the chance of any UV damage is greatly reduced/eliminated.

You got that backwards. Silicon is for track use. Higher boiling point, but less stable and more expensive. DOT 3/4/5.1 brake fluids are glycol based. DOT 5 is silicon based, which is why they can't be mixed. You can bet mfgs will use the cheapest stuff they can find for production bikes. Glycol is the reason a lot of track orgs require you change coolant at higher levels.

I don't need no stinking sock. My reservoir is black with only a small window to check level.:wink:

Let me try.... hmmm first article that came up.

http://www.sportbikesolutions.com/mo...es/brake-fluid

Ahem... Glycol based fluids are less compressive so they deliver better "feel" and performance.

http://www.sportbikesolutions.com/mo...es/brake-fluid

That's interesting about the compressibility. Though once your glycol based fluid gets some water in it, the "pure" hydraulic nature goes out the window.

Oh for sure and that's why they need to be changed so much.

So it's one of those metal ones that weighs 2 lbs? :lol:

Would you like to contradict my "proof"?

glycol is used in most street bikes, unless the owner changes it to silicone.

glycol fluid needs to be changed every 1-2 years because of moisture intrusion, not UV damage.

I am trying to find something of substantial proof for or against UV damage as a random sportbike parts website with a simple paragraph on it is not a reliable reference by any means, it's the same as taking someone's word on a forum.

Exactly, hygroscopic means they attract water molecules and thus prone to water intrusion.

I always thought it was to prevent the plastic from degrading over time from continued sunlight exposure.

Never seen anyone use it at the track. You must be thinking of synthetic.

I merely asked if there was proof, that doesn't mean I'm a strong believer either way :idk:

But now that you mention it, how about a scientific article? The one you posted was just some sportbike website, and I doubt anyone there has a chemistry degree.

I thought it was to keep the wrist band industry going since people don't wear them very much anymore.

Here are a couple product safety sheets from oil companies, and they say to avoid leaving it sit in the sun, but they don't say why, which leads me to believe it could be just because they want to avoid heat buildup or container bursting. :idk: So far I haven't found anything saying that it actually degrades from sunlight.

http://www.pennzoil.com.au/downloads...d_Dot_4_AU.pdf

http://www.federalmogul.com/NR/rdonl...P_DOT_4_UK.pdf

I stand corrected, however I want proof, possible from a sportbike related website

I thought it was because Marko wanted to be Batman. :idk:

Well, glycols are always recommended to be stored away from UV radiation... Like I said before, I doubt that UV radiation damage is a legitimate reason to use a cover or to not use glycol based fluids. My main reason was service life...Oh and the fact that I didn't like carrying paint stripper everywhere I went. I bought steel braided lines to compensate for the slight pressure loss and it's all good! I'm only arguing against the notion that glycol brake fluid is not UV sensitive. It is because all glycol based products are. I totally recognize that it may take several years for there to be any real damage or loss of performance. I also recognize that the hygroscopic properties of brake fluid will have ruined your brake fluid long before UV rays even if you parked your bike under a sunlamp every night! How about this, Trip....Is there anything on the face of the Earth that isn't UV sensitive to some extent? Hahahahaha!

Dude, it says right in your link "Conditions to avoid: Avoid exposure to high temperatures or direct sunlight." It doesn't mention anything about types of packaging. Do not expose the raw product to high temps or direct sunlight.

Exactly, no one use silicone fluid in any type of racing that I'm aware of. BTW all brake fluid is synthetic these days, no one uses a petroleum based brake fluid.

Oh I agree UV radiation can take it's toll on a lot of shit, but I just doubt the use of resi socks as UV protectant because the frequency at which you have to change glycols cause of moisture damage. I am sure true race bikes get more love in the brake department than street bikes as well, so I just don't see UV as a starting point for this fad.

Basically I don't know what started it. It's been argued to death why this started and we always end up in the same place. Who the fuck knows why? LOL

Isn't that what I said? I said it says to avoid sunlight, but that it doesn't say why. Could be simply because they want to avoid the bottle bursting or something. It doesn't prove that the fluid actually degrades.

Tigger, it strikes me as strange that you're using DOT5... is your brake system compatable with that? Imho brakes [as a safety feature] are more important than anything else on your bike - as even if you blow a tire, you still need to stop. Maintaining brakes are a big deal...

orly?

See, I can quote random internet articles too :whistle:
http://www.motorcycleproject.com/mot...rakefluid.html

The one I have adds 5 hp

I have been to Federal Mogul many, many times. They ship fluids and parts out by the barrel/bin, for the most part. A MSDS is not concerned with "packaging" but only with the material itself. When a manufacturer suggests keeping a product away from any specific condition it will be solely for the purposes of safety and/or product performance. Besides, have you forgotten what we are dealing with here? Brake fluid is extremely temperature stable, otherwise it couldn't be used as brake fluid. Or do you purpose that a bottle of Dot 3 sitting on a window sill will build more heat than it will in the res of a race car?

You and I are both speculating about the intentions of the MSDS. I'd still like to see proof. How come there's not one engineering article stating that brake fluid degrades from sunlight?

Like I said, I don't care one way or another......I'd just like to see proof.

Oh btw the thing with water and silicone based fluid is that silicone won't mix with water what so ever, which leaves raw water in your system...if it were present to begin with. There is no way for water to just "appear" in a braking system, which makes that concern a bit stupid.imho.

Yea mine was from a part's suppliers website and not an "article" although I do agree with Trip that it's not "proof". Heck, as far as I'm concerned, I like Homeslice's proof of my supposition better, a MSDS/handling sheet from the manufacturer. The SBS page was the first thing that came up when I did a search. My reasons for the using a cover and for using silicone based brake fluid are my own, formulated over 25 years of riding experience...period.

1. cover-total fashion statement, almost zero function.

2 Dot 5 brake fluid.
a don't have to change it as often-according to the manufacturer
b won't eat my paint if it is spilled
c pretty purple color

Everything I've read, and my conversations with actual trained and certified mechanics are against DOT5 fluid going into a system designed for glycol [DOT 3, 4, 5.1] fluids... strange. Hmmmmmmm hope the pretty purple color works well for ya :dthumb:

fwiw, I don't care if or why people use a wristband to cover a reservoir.

Dude, a MSDS is not the Bible and subject to interpretation. When ever a MSDS states "Do not expose too________" the product is either hazardous to, as in," Do not expose to skin", reactive to, as in, "Do not expose to oxidizers" or denigrated by, as in, "Do not expose to direct sunlight". They are always talking about the raw product itself without any consideration to packaging.

Material Safety Data Sheets are for (get this) Material Safety. They list things that are important for humans to know what risks there are and how to protect against them. If it says do not expose to high temps or sunlight, then it's a good assumption they are worried about the combustible danger it has to humans, not what will degrade the usability of the product in it's intended function. It's where you look when you want to see what danger the product holds to you as an individual and workplace, not what will degrade the intended use of the chemical.

Never heard of "reservoir socks" and originally thought from the title that this thread was going to be about birth control devices.

I label thee thread fail.

I've been using silicone based fluid in this bike since 2006, which is also the last time I changed it btw and I've been using it in every bike since at least my '01 or '03 GSXR, I'm not sure. The requirement is that you flush your system completely, since I only make the change while replacing my brake lines, I'm pretty safe. BTW there isn't any reaction between the actual fluids but there can be between the different additives used.

Yea Trip but he posted a combination sheet which covered both.

On another note, what are the supposed dangers of switching to Dot 5? Do people think that the seals are different in dot 5 designed systems? The only real reason I can find for the manufacturers NOT using Dot 5 is cost. AFAIK, HD is the only company that does and again, afaik Harley brakes aren't special in any way. Hey Buell guys, are you Dot 4 or Dot 5?

dot 4.

thanks.

One of the articles (can't remember which now) said DOT 5 was designed to work with ABS systems that require a thinner viscosity fluid to perform properly or to their maximum potential. I may have read that on wikipedia, can't remember. ABS systems rapidly increase and decrease the brake pressure when they are "working" so a lower viscosity fluid will react or flow faster each way to keep up with the system fluctuations. There is no other reason to use it, especially in a normal system that will lose brake pressure by using it.

That is DOT5.1 not DOT5. :wink:

Oops! Reading retention FTW Azoom!! :D

What's my name?

Bob. :eightball6:

My KTM cam with a resevoir sock Black with Orange KTM on it. I am sure not going to use it as a sweat band on one arm...

Thanks! I couldn't remember ;)

I'm gonna go with keeping the plastic from degrading (I've seen a bunch of sun damaged resevoirs) and soaking up what ever leaks out the cap.


My reservoirs are metal so I dont give two shits what ya'll rice rockets do to your bikes. Bitches.

I use one so everyone knows how fucking awesome I am. Fuck you.

Oh fuck.

Not this shit again... :lol:

JC

Well I use one because after reading several of these debates on various forums no agreed upon conclusion ever comes about...plus it looks cool. :lol:

I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it plus just in case I need it for anything else while out on a ride it's as good of a place to keep it as anywhere else. :idk:

How about Who gives a Fuck???

That would be too easy. Then none of these fuckers would have anything to argue about.

I havent found one i like yet...but I like the look of them...Its merely a fashion statement for me...A sweat band is not gonna soak up all that brake fluid in the case of a failure...Just ask Dave how well his worked out for him when he cracked his reservoir.

Well that applies to almost every thread on most forums.

Sure as hell looks better than what looks like a urine test sample.

Those are just spare powerbands.

I use them to hold my magnum on when I shoot my .454 casull :idk:

It's not to soak it up from a cracked reservoir. It's to soak it up if it over heats and leaks out.

But I don't give a fuck. :lmao:

Cracked...Overheating...Either way if its seeping out at a significant rate...that little piece of fabric aint gonna do shit.

Stop it! Remember....you don't give a fuck! :tremble: ;)

I dont give a fuck, But I have to put my .02 cents in where I see fit ;)

It is the way of the internet forum, after all.

How can you see the pretty colour if it is covered with a sweat band?:?:

Now you are just being a doucher. lol. And there is no "u" in "color."

:lol:

:lol: True

Canadians = :zowned:

And you should know that a Jordan logo takes priority over pretty purple fluid.

That was the Dot 5 portion of the debate, read what I quoted.

From an old road racer:

Vented brake caps?

Yep, the cap is vented. But everything these days has a rubber diaphragm between the fluid and the outside air.