Brake and Clutch Reservoir Caps: Safety Purposes and Benefits
All those who are serious about motorcycles know that they need top quality brake fluids for their safety. Unfortunately, these quality brake fluids are very sensitive to ultraviolet light. To keep the fluid safe from the environment, they usually put a sock on the reservoir cap to prevent UV rays from damaging the brake fluid.
Since there is a lot of discussion on the subject of brake fluid degradation by UV rays from the sun, perhaps we can add that looking at MSDS (material safety data sheets) states that brake fluid should be stored away from the sunlight, also this is why they are not sold in clear bottles, but brake and clutch fluid reservoirs on most sport bikes are opaque, allowing sun/UV rays to reach the brake fluid, thinking aesthetically that these will also cover up the ugly plastic brake and clutch deposits.
Reservoir sock covers also help prevent spills or leaks from brake or clutch reservoirs. These are basically designed as wrist wraps that wrap around the brake and clutch reservoirs to absorb any fluid that may spill or seep from the cap of the brake and clutch fluid reservoirs as in cases of hard braking. And yes, brake fluid expands and anyone who is very hard on brakes will know this. The danger is that the highly corrosive fluid can damage the paint, the metal frame and get into riding gear such as the visor, which could cause real visibility problems. For those who like motorcycle racing, the tank covers will also keep the tank caps firmly in place during racing and/or spirited driving. It can also help keep brake fluid from becoming contaminated with dust or dirt by keeping brake/clutch fluid reservoirs clean and away from dirt.
Many of the brake fluid sock covers are made from cotton and manufactured in such a way that each sock fits properly as you don’t want them flying off the road or track. When it comes to clutch fluids, it’s basically the same principle. Clutch and brake fluid reservoir sock liners prevent the fluid from being degraded by the environment, which can eventually lead to poor shifting and braking performance. And since most of those who wear these tires are involved in motorcycle racing, the bike’s poor braking and shifting performance and brake fluid spillage wouldn’t help at all on the track.
For those wondering if you could buy generic wrist straps for your brake or clutch fluids, you can do so at your own risk. But wrist wraps tend to be very loose and will eventually fly off the road or track. Obviously, bike buffs would probably be horrified if they saw their precious Honda, Yamaha or Ducati motorcycles dressed in low-quality, ill-fitting products. They would want to get matching Yamaha reservoir sock covers for their Yamaha and Ducati, instead of having an ill-fitting wrist brace with a running shoe brand covering their brake and clutch reservoirs.
Many of these motorcycle brake and clutch covers can be purchased online or at reputable motorcycle stores. They are relatively affordable; generics are particularly cheaper but of lower quality and have hot-pressed logos that tend to peel off after a few months. Higher quality tank sock covers will be made from high quality cotton, made specifically to fit your motorcycle application and have embroidered matching logos.
