Biker News - Regularly updated

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Category: Other

  1. What is brake fluid for?

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    A hydraulic braking system without proper brake fluid is a bit like a heart without blood. The brake fluid is what transmits the force applied to the brake lever to the front and rear brakes, stopping the motorcycle. As you pull the lever, the bike’s master cylinder is activated, creating hydraulic pressure. As the fluid is pushed through the brake lines, this pressure is transferred to the pistons in the calipers, which then press the pads against the brake discs. The friction created as the pads come into contact with the metal discs causes the wheels to slow down, converting kinetic energy into heat energy.

    This hydraulic process requires a non-compressible fluid with a high boiling point so that it is able to effectively transmit pressure and withstand high braking temperatures. It should also effectively protect the metal components. The viscosity also has an impact on braking performance. Low viscosity brake fluid is often the preferred option for modern anti-locking braking systems (ABS) as a thinner fluid can easily travel through the small passageways and channels in the system.

    Types of motorcycle brake fluid

    Rating

    Dry boiling point (no water)

    Wet boiling point (with water)

    DOT 3

    205° C

    140° C

    DOT 4

    230° C

    155° C

    DOT 5

    260° C

    180° C

    DOT 5.1

    260° C

    180° C

    Nowadays, the vast majority of motorbikes use DOT 4 products. For example, the ATE brake fluid 03.9901-6202.2 is a popular choice for motorcycles and sports vehicles. The Typ 200 racing-quality product comes in a 1-litre can. It is compatible with other glycol-based types. Thanks to the high-quality metal container, the product has a long shelf life, and the additives in the formula protect against corrosion and deterioration. DOT 4 also offers significant advantages over DOT 3 fluid and is cheaper than DOT 5.1 products.  ATE Brake Fluid, a popular choice for motorcycles

    When to change your motorcycle brake fluid

    As mentioned before, glycol-based fluids attract water over time causing them to deteriorate. Although some brake fluid formulas last longer than others, most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the fluid every 2 years, just to be on the safe side. Signs that it needs to be replaced include a spongy or bouncy brake pedal, strange noises or odours when braking, poor braking performance, and an illuminated ABS dashboard light. The type of fluid required is normally specified on the master cylinder reservoir cap.

     

     

     

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  2. Sunra study highlights exceptional affordability of EV two-wheelers

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    Following the completion of an internal study at Sunra UK, where the team set out to understand owner habits better in a climate where the cost of living is ever under scrutiny, the two-wheel EV brand is pleased to bring some encouraging findings, highlighting the exceptional value of small EV motorcycles and scooters in the process.

    Conducted by the same team responsible for bringing the forward-thinking electric brand to the UK market, the group looked into rider habits, costs of ownership and comparable social spending habits, uncovering some interesting insights in the process.

    Logan Black of Sunra UK commented, “It’s been interesting to learn more about the habits of our customers and at the same time look more at the affordability picture too. Not only do we understand our customer base better, but it’s been interesting to see how running and finance costs are considered alongside daily purchases, such as something as simple as a cup of coffee.”

    In the study, the team looked at a variety of daily, weekly and monthly outgoing costs for typical users, understanding priorities and how users had rationalised their spending to fund or run an EV bike such as a Sunra.

    Aside from looking at the cost of purchase, the team looked at the cost to recharge and run, providing very real-world insights into making the switch to electric.

    Black continued, “Discussing how our customers use their bikes gave us a great insight into their habits, allowing us to look more closely into typical running costs. Based on an official government survey*, we were able to calculate 3300 miles as a typical yearly average for use in this segment, before looking at energy costs and real-world range to understand this better. Under current energy pricing, we found that an electric bike equivalent to a ROBO-S model can cost as little as £55 per year in electricity costs, or less than £5 per month for example.”

    As well as looking at plug-in recharge costs, the team also considered general ownership, looking at finance too and comparable daily living allowances that customers make.

    Looking at direct consumer outgoing comparisons further highlighted the low cost of ownership of two-wheel EV machines, with typical monthly payments* half that of some rail travel cards, while even the comparison of a typical household outgoings, such as a satellite TV subscription were surprisingly similar too, with Sunra EV bikes available for as little as £77 per month, with sensible deposits.

    “We were keen to make sure everything we looked at was comparable to real life”, added Black. “Finance is popular with our customers, so we looked at typical monthly costs based on our own program to understand comparable costs. The comparisons and consumer rationale, combined with impact in the rise of cost living, gave us some interesting insights that further demonstrate what exceptional value an EV two-wheeler brings.”

  3. Steps to Better Track Your Monthly Expenses

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    Nobody wants to put themselves in a situation in which their money is disappearing down the drain every month, but they do not have a clear idea of exactly where it is going in the first place. To combat this potential problem, it will be worth accurately tracking your monthly expenses. Here are a few steps that you can put into action to make this a realistic prospect.

    Keep an Eye on Account Statements

    If you have never had a clear budget before, the first step you will need to take is to keep a closer eye on your account statements to see what is going on here. This way, you will be able to see exactly where your money is going every month. If you notice any unnecessary or even excessive spending, your statement will show it – and you can take action in these areas once you know about them.

    Many people spend a lot without noticing until they look at their statements, which is why monitoring them and checking them regularly is one of the keys to successful budgeting and expenditure tracking.

    Put Your Expenses into Categories

    The next step you can take is to put your expenses right there into categories. The most obvious one of these is going to be essential and nonessential spending, but you can also break it down into areas such as office spending, travel, entertainment, etc. You can then think about ways to cut back on areas that need it the most.

    Ultimately, even the essentials category can be looked at as it will include areas such as food, broadband, utilities, etc., and you may be able to grab a better deal elsewhere. Even essentials can be cut or replaced with more affordable alternatives, which is what many people are doing these days, given the extreme rise in living costs society is currently facing.

    Use Budgeting Tools

    While some people still prefer to do things the old-fashioned way with a pen and paper, there are all sorts of modern budgeting tools out there that can be highly useful in terms of ensuring that you are tracking your overall spending in real-time. There are also individual accounts and tools that you can use, such as a Shell fuel card to monitor and save on essentials like petrol and diesel. Another one is using supermarket loyalty cards and accounts for clocking up points and discounts on your shopping. Whatever the expense, it will be worth experimenting with different tools to see how much and how often you can save money and stay in line with your budget.

    Conclusion

    Tracking your monthly expenses does not have to be an overly complicated task, but it can prove to make all the difference if you want to put yourself in a situation in which your costs

    are much lower than your outgoings. Overspending without noticing is all too easy – and most people are guilty of this at some point in life. However, by properly monitoring and sticking to a budget, unnecessary and excessive spending can be reduced and managed.

     

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