Oil in frame

[Fladdem]

I've been wondering lately, bikes with dry sumps, with the oil in the frame.

What happens when the frame snaps? I know it's not very likely on a road bike. \but I have snapped the frame on my TTR250, near the left footpeg, so oil may not have been there anyway.

However, the WR250F has oil in the frame, if that snaps, would the oil go everywhere? Knackering the engine as well as the frame? OR is it a sort of thing, that,generally, if the frame snaps, lots of damage would have been done anyway?
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

If you're in the kind of impact where the frame has snapped, chances are the engine wouldn't still be running anyway.
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[Fladdem]

That was my thoughts on the matter, but I snapped mine from taking her round an MX track, I bottomed the suspension out and the frame cracked.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Snorty]

Never knew some bikes held oil in the frame! Pretty cool how does that work?
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Irn-Bru]

DRZ's do as well, must be an enduro bike thing. Never really thought about it, oil filler is next to steering head above radiators, uses a dip stick to check the level.
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Fladdem]

In a similar manner, but oil flows from the frame into the bottom of the engine. It's to reduce the depth of the engine, increasing ground clearance as well as possibly centralising mass better.

I believe a pipe or something connects the frame to the engine.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Some Buells stored the oil in the swing arm too.
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[Rogerborg]

Heck, some bikes use the frame as a fuel tank.

I saw it on American Chopper, therefore totally legit.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Fladdem]

Would the oil in the swinging arm affect, (or is it effect?) The action of suspension?

Although I guess a stronger spring may solve the extra unsuspended mass. Or don't do any corners.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[1cyl]

My time with a WR led me to conclude that the oil in frame setup was not something I would wish for again in a hurry.

I found it made changing the oil an extra faff, especially if you are looking to check all the screens. Furthermore it results in more pipes and nooks and cranys for the old oil to lurk in.
None of this is useful on a bike with short service windows

I much prefer all my oils to remain within my engines, simplicity prevails.

As for damage issues. A head on crash that snaps your headstock would just about do it. But I was more concerned about rust around the base of the frame tank.
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Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[Amber Phoenix]

My wife had an ex who had an old Triumph Bonnie with an oil bearing frame. Bonnie's are normally a nice bike, but this one sounded a wreck. Had a crack in the frame somewhere, had to keep topping it up regularly, dunno if he ever gave it an oil change, doubt any oil in was older than a month! Fine until he tried welding up the frame, without draining it of oil first...
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