Hi
my 2003 R1 has been in a heated and dehumidified garage for the last month, unused - too cold and icy! Its also under a sheet, when I checked over it the other day the front brake reservoir connecting tube was coated in blobs of brake fluid which upon wiping off seemed to be a much darker colour. I think the fluid may have leached through from inside the tube to the surface.
Its not the original tubing, it is the longer tube that came with the Gilles Vario bar handlebar kit.
Could it be that they have supplied me with some crappy tubing?
seems strange that I have been using the bike over the summer and not had this problem before.
Any ideas?
Ian

is it clear hose? if so they ALL sweat!:fact :(

Originally posted by blur1
is it clear hose? if so they ALL sweat!:fact :(

but would it sweat in a heated garage?

Its black rubber. So this has happened to other people then. There is no safety issue I presume?

I would replace the tubing with one that doesn't suffer from this problem. The Brembo tubing (available from the yoyodyne website) has always worked best for me.

Originally posted by ianmagson
Its black rubber. So this has happened to other people then. There is no safety issue I presume?

its the first ive heard of black hose sweating, make sure the hose on barb angle is correct and clamps are tight, if all else fails get genuine hose. btw its not really a "safety" issue but might damage paint etc. :thumbup

Originally posted by blur1
its the first ive heard of black hose sweating, make sure the hose on barb angle is correct and clamps are tight, if all else fails get genuine hose. btw its not really a "safety" issue but might damage paint etc. :thumbup

I've seen inferior black hose do it, and worse, actually swell and contaminate the fluid within it.

I would say it's a safety issue; if the fluid can leach out of the tubing then air and moisture can leach into the fluid (the air and moisture that the brake fluid absorbed from the atmosphere is why the brake fluid on the outside of the tubing was darker) and contaminate it. Brake fluid will absorb any moisture in the air that it is exposed to which will make your brake fluid more compressible and compromise your braking abilities. If you haven't ever experienced this before then count yourself luck because it is very unpleasant and depending on the situatin can be very scary as well.

I'm with the other on replacing the tubing with some quality stuff that won't have the same problem; you probably can't go wrong with the Brembo stuff.

Originally posted by blur1
is it clear hose? if so they ALL sweat!:fact :(

actually my Brembo clear hose is holding up rather well, no sweating since I switched to zip ties. Its even been out in sub zero (F) weather for a couple days, than brought in doors, and still didn't sweat.

all the problems I originally had with the clear yoyo tubing I created-

1. over tightened screw type band clamps put minute slits in tubing causing sweating

2. in an effort to get a more pliable rear section, I seperated the coextruded tubing

I'd still like to find some of the blue/green tubing that didn't sweat, or require changing bi-monthly :yesnod

I have noticed since I started using clear that after a season the fluids appear darker, no longer clear, like weak tea, I assume its from heat cycles & UV exposure. Never noticed it before with black tubing :confused:

Originally posted by rorlow

I have noticed since I started using clear that after a season the fluids appear darker, no longer clear, like weak tea, I assume its from heat cycles & UV exposure. Never noticed it before with black tubing :confused:

From what I understand, you are correct!

Originally posted by bigkvn1
From what I understand, you are correct!
:iamwithst i've heard the same thing

Originally posted by rorlow
actually my Brembo clear hose is holding up rather well, no sweating since I switched to zip ties. Its even been out in sub zero (F) weather for a couple days, than brought in doors, and still didn't sweat.

all the problems I originally had with the clear yoyo tubing I created-

1. over tightened screw type band clamps put minute slits in tubing causing sweating

2. in an effort to get a more pliable rear section, I seperated the coextruded tubing

I'd still like to find some of the blue/green tubing that didn't sweat, or require changing bi-monthly :yesnod

I have noticed since I started using clear that after a season the fluids appear darker, no longer clear, like weak tea, I assume its from heat cycles & UV exposure. Never noticed it before with black tubing :confused:

ahh i stand corrected on the sweat thing, hmmm, now to solve the discoloring thing then.:thumbup

Could I replace it with a cut out section of my old original brake hoses?

Originally posted by ianmagson
Could I replace it with a cut out section of my old original brake hoses?

just buy new hose its cheap as dirt.