I'ved seen alot of bikes have/use tennis wrist bands to cover their brake fluid reservoir. Is there a good reason for that? Does the suns light have an affect on brake fluids is that why?

 

No. In VERY extreme circumstances it may help keep it "cooler" but in reality.......no it does not help the temp or performance of the brakes. It is there on a race bike so that IF they have to top off the fluid, the band will catch any that seeps over the edges. That is all it is for. Otherwise.......it's poser stuff.

 

i'd hate to think how hard you would have to be riding to worry about the temperature of your brake fluid.

although, considering how potent brake fluid is, and the close vacinity between the reseviour and the nicely painted tank of our beloved cbr's, it doesnt seem like such a bad idea when adding fluid to chuck something with the same purpose on the reseviour. have you seen the affects brake fluid can have on paint? not pretty. would definately pay dividends in the event of a crash as well, i would imagine it would contain the fluid alot more than if nothing was on it.

but yeah, except for extreme cases, it is just a style thing, just as it is when 99.9% of people use them walking around in their breakdance gear carrying their vinyl mats

 

I was going to school in Texas and my bike was parked on this furnace of a parking lot with the sun beating on it all day, the front side got faded noticably, didn't test to see if it was brittle or not, so put the band on there for my new one even though I don't think I need it up here in washington. Same with the seat, had to keep it conditioned all the time, the sun beat the hell outta it too over time.

 

i use them because it looks good with my riding gear and headband once i get off the bike!

 

thanks for the info guys.

 

yeah race teams use it for those quick top-offs in the pits, they are usually in a pretty big hurry to get things done
also in a crash it can keep some brake fluid off the track

technically brake fluid can break down over time under the sun, but unless you ride for like 10 years to change your brake fluid its not really gonna do much