Brake Fluid at Second Service

[wethogs]

Today, October 15th, the bike is having its first annual service, second service overall. I purchased the bike from new in September 2018. The 600mi/1000km service was done in October 2018. The mileage of the bike is 6150mi/9895km. I am a bit perturbed with the news that the brake fluid requires replacement because of 4% water contamination. Yes I understand that brake fluid does absorb water/humidity. However in a one year old bike I would have expected that the closed system of the brake lines would protect brake fluid.

Is that an unrealistic expectation? The owner's manual states that brake fluid requires a change every 36 months. I am going to quiz the service guy on how the fluid can be containment in a one year old bike.

Anyone else been caught out by this?

[mcinlb]

Thing is, they probably only dip the reservoir fluid to test(?), considering that fluid does not "circulate" is that a decent representation of the overall condition??

[Julian]

Hi wethogs,
I've done my second service last week and I had also the brake and clutch fluid changed. But I have done it at 14800 km, purchased the bike in April.
Why did you do that at almost 10k and not 15k?
I think the fluid change depend on how you use the motorcycle...

What strikes me is that they told me that at 20k-23k the chain kit will have to be changed, which seems to me very early.
And at 15k I didn't even need to stretch the chain which seems odd to me.

[wethogs]

Well without having to ask ... and not getting a good reason of why ... there was no charge on the premature, in my opinion. brake fluid replacement.

[Daveontheedge]

Check your manual, is it a calendar item? I took mine in for its first 1000 km service yesterday, and the service guy told me they were going to change the brake fluid under warranty because it was due. My bike is a 2017.

[wethogs]

My owner's manual says 36 months, page 272 in the Scheduled Maintenance Chart. The service checklist that the dealership uses says two years of which they supplied me.

[neilb]

I’m of the mind to change brake fluid every two years due to the hygroscopic nature of the stuff.

[Daveontheedge]

Originally Posted by wethogs

My owner's manual says 36 months, page 272 in the Scheduled Maintenance Chart. The service checklist that the dealership uses says two years of which they supplied me.

That was the same response my dealer gave me when I questioned them about it, they had no substantial answer to why the manual says different.

[buzzardbilly]

Yep - my dealer changed mine on the second year also