Steering Damper/Rear shock/Brake fluid

I'm just getting the R1 ready for its first track day (Aust Day at QR - anyone else going?) and have a couple of questions.

Both the steering damper and rear shock are fully adjustable, but as I haven't ridden it yet I don't at what position they are currently set. Can I wind them both to the end of their adjustment and then go to the middle or are they infinitely adjustable or should I just take the steering damper off? (ie; never find the end of their adjustment). Pictures of them are below, (yes I know the steering damper is not bolted on, I was in the process of putting the tank on).

rear shock.JPG (208.46 KiB) Viewed 1006 times

Those eagle eyed of you will notice the different colouring of the R1, it now has blue upper fairing and tank and black lower fairing and mudguard, with the same red seat cowl. It will be painted in due course, but I picked all that up for $750 with good delivery cost via Pack & Send.

Also, I have some Dot 5 brake fluid at home but both bikes say to use Dot 4. Is there a difference or is brake fluid just brake fluid.

Thanks

I'm not sure but when BLURR was doing my braided lines he said the 5.1(which I'm guessing is the 5).Just has a higher boiling point to reduce fade...But I could be wrong...

The difference between the DOT ratings of brake fluid are the boiling point ranges that they achieve both dry (no water absorbed) and wet (about 3-4% water content). For DOT 3 the dry boiling point is at least 401 and the wet 284 degrees. DOT 4 raises the bar to 446 and 311 respectively. Those are the DOT ratings mind you , and there are high performance brake fluids that exceed those ratings. DOT5 is higher... If you are going to spend time on the track you want the Highest DOT rating possible...

Please note that the boiling points mentioned are in Fahrenheit, since the "Wet" is the lowest of the two I will convert those for you.

DOT 3 (wet) 140 Degrees C
DOT 4 (wet) 155 Degrees C
DOT 5 (wet) 180 Degrees C

Please note that when you first put in your Brake fluid it is considered "DRY" from an unused unopened bottle... but will become "wet" over time... Although chemically made to reject air and water, they still pick up about 3-4% water content over time.

Note there are also differences between Silicone and Synthetic DOT5 mixtures, both have advantages and disadvantages... Apparently the recommendation is to stick with the type you already have (probably silicone based) because to get the advantage of Synthetic you have to have completely cleaned the brake system of even the slightest trace of the old brake fluid...

ON A SIDE NOTE... Disregard this factual information... I have read that the Racing fraternity has shunned DOT5 because of fading. If someone could confirm that would be great.

Last edited by Stereo on Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I found this vid a while back when deciding between .. dots ... hope it helps

There you go.... Use DOT 4

I'm just getting the R1 ready for its first track day (Aust Day at QR - anyone else going?) and have a couple of questions.

Both the steering damper and rear shock are fully adjustable, but as I haven't ridden it yet I don't at what position they are currently set. Can I wind them both to the end of their adjustment and then go to the middle or are they infinitely adjustable or should I just take the steering damper off? (ie; never find the end of their adjustment). Pictures of them are below, (yes I know the steering damper is not bolted on, I was in the process of putting the tank on).

Also, I have some Dot 5 brake fluid at home but both bikes say to use Dot 4. Is there a difference or is brake fluid just brake fluid.

Thanks

You really don't need the hassle of that big fancy Ohlins ---- $50.00 posted and i'll send back a far more user friendly unit with a simple 5 position spring preload adjustment aka GSF1200. Easy



PBR DOT 4 -TIP ; never buy any bigger than a 1lt bottle 20lt drums with drum pumps ie workshops are a definite NO NO!!