Stop, or crash: Brake maintenance

Image: Ehsanur Raza Ronny

What's more important than having plenty of BHP and the right kind of sunglasses while riding your two-wheeler? Brakes, that's what. Modern motorbikes and scooters now mostly come with disc brakes, up front at least. These are more effective at stopping and easier to maintain. But they DO require regular maintenance which is very easy to do sitting right at home.

Bikes have up to two brake fluid reservoirs each for front and rear. They are located on the handlebars and for the typical sub-200cc bikes in Bangladesh, they look like square buckets. Both need to be checked regularly. If the fluid is low (according to the markings on the side of the bucket), you should top up from a new, sealed bottle. Why new brake fluid? Cause brake fluid is hygroscopic. Meaning it absorbs moisture from the air over time. And when that happens your brake tries to compress that moisture along with the brake fluid. Water boils at high temperature and expands. Basically, your brakes will be as good as a politician's promise to fix roads before monsoon. It just won't work.

We suggest changing brake fluid when brakes feel a little spongy or weak. Usually it's the simplest and most cost effective cure.