Help & FAQs    Search BCF    Members    Groups    Events Calendar
Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Sight glass & dip sticks?

 Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> General Bike Chat
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

mudcow007
World Chat Champion



Joined: 01 Feb 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 15:15 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Sight glass & dip sticks? Reply with quote
Prob a stupid question this but....

why do some bikes have sight glasses an others have dip sticks>?
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

barrkel
World Chat Champion



Joined: 30 Jul 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 15:38 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Bikes without centrestands often have sight glasses on the other side than the sidestand, just so you can risk the bike falling on top of you as you try to check the level on your own.
____________________
Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

WD Forte
World Chat Champion



Joined: 17 Jun 2010
Karma :
PostPosted: 16:08 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Convenience.
I reckon its because a glance at a sight glass is easier and quicker then
unscrewing and wiping a dipstick and the manufacturers hope people
will actually check the oil from time to time.
Some dont
However easy it is, some folk will still wait until the motor seizes or throws a rod then look all hurt and surprised when it does.
____________________
bikers smell of wee
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

The Shaggy D.A.
Super Spammer



Joined: 12 Sep 2008
Karma :
PostPosted: 16:28 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
barrkel wrote:
Bikes without centrestands often have sight glasses on the other side than the sidestand, just so you can risk the bike falling on top of you as you try to check the level on your own.


The Savage has a sight glass and no centre stand, I'm now used to sitting astride the bike and using one of these ;-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130982070488
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

bikertomm
World Chat Champion



Joined: 03 Jul 2010
Karma :
PostPosted: 18:59 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Shaggy that's a brilliant!

I changed the oil recently and risked instant death a few times kneeling over onto it Laughing
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

-Matt-
World Chat Champion



Joined: 28 Apr 2013
Karma :
PostPosted: 19:13 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Shaggy D.A. wrote:
The Savage has a sight glass and no centre stand, I'm now used to sitting astride the bike and using one of these ;-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130982070488
Brilliant Laughing Can't believe i've never thought to do something like that, gone are the days of calling for help/nearly dropping the bike.
Karma
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Tamsin
World Chat Champion



Joined: 07 Mar 2014
Karma :
PostPosted: 19:22 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
They are useful little things those.

Saved my bacon a few times when I've dropped things down the inside of car doors...

I have a little magnet with an LED in the middle too to help pick up the things I've spotted - not relevant to checking the oil on a bike, but still very handy
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Rogue_Shadow
World Chat Champion



Joined: 10 May 2012
Karma :
PostPosted: 19:50 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
When I got my SV, I honestly though the dipstick had snapped off Embarassed

Much prefer the sight glass Thumbs Up
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

1cyl
World Chat Champion



Joined: 04 Feb 2004
Karma :
PostPosted: 20:12 - 11 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'd hazard a guess that manufacturing cost plays a part in it too.
A SG, with its heatproof oil seal/glue and the machining involved is surely going to cost Penny Coin Penny Coin more than a plastic dipstick on the oil fill cap.

My KTM has a SG.
My Chinese butterbuilt pitbike has a dip stick.
____________________
Chase my Witch up, Catch my Snitch up.
The SMC | The Pit | Stable
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

Wonko The Sane
World Chat Champion



Joined: 20 Jan 2013
Karma :
PostPosted: 19:42 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Honda shadow 125 and the varadero 125 share the same engine but the vara has a sight glass and the shadow a dipstick
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

lihp
World Chat Champion



Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Karma :
PostPosted: 20:00 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Smiler prefers dipsticks so that he can check the oil in the dark by feeling it Thumbs Up
____________________
covent.gardens: lihp is my most favourite member ever
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

TheSmiler
World Chat Champion



Joined: 14 Apr 2011
Karma :
PostPosted: 20:17 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
PhilDawson8270 wrote:
Smiler prefers dipsticks so that he can check the oil in the dark by feeling it Thumbs Up


That is true, an might sound stupid but its a benefit of dipsticks in my opinion.

OH don't laugh yes you, with a sight glass you need light to check the oil level. Ok you don't have to check it at night but (on my dipstick bikes I checked it on every run you never know).

Anyway with a dipstick you have a cloth wipe it clean stick it back in then feel backwards, my dipsticks had grooves so I knew where the max and min was. Hence I could tell where the oil level was with feel without looking.
____________________
CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

CaNsA
Super Spammer



Joined: 02 Jan 2008
Karma :
PostPosted: 20:21 - 12 Apr 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote
Logs.

Quote:
TheSmiler: Sightglasses are crap as you sometimes need a light to check them, dipstick you can do by touch
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts
Pol Anorl This post is not being displayed because the poster is banned. Unhide this post / all posts.
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 11 years, 264 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> General Bike Chat All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
 You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 
Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.06 Sec - Server Load: 1.32 - MySQL Queries: 14 - Page Size: 82.25 Kb