Delboy777
Registered user
Ok i was always led to believe you should NOT use Stainless Steel Bolts to hold brake calipers on. What are the collective thoughts of the "experts" on here about doing so ? 
SS fasteners
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Myke Rocks
Registered user
My guess is:
People who make that comment are probably worried that the tensile strength of a stainless bolt may be less than the tensile strength of the original.
Sounds logical until you remember what the bolt is screwing into. Then you remember that the bolt strength is irrelevent, because any loads on the bolt will strip the threads our of the alminium long before the bolt shears.
Myke
People who make that comment are probably worried that the tensile strength of a stainless bolt may be less than the tensile strength of the original.
Sounds logical until you remember what the bolt is screwing into. Then you remember that the bolt strength is irrelevent, because any loads on the bolt will strip the threads our of the alminium long before the bolt shears.
Myke
I have used them on numerous bikes over the years, no problem.
I think that's right. I used SS bolts in my calipers for a while but have since reverted to OEM bolts for the calipers. a) they were designed specifically for the job b) in the event of a "big one" some inspector may just notice non standard bolts which may effect any insurance issue. People use SS bolts because they don't rust but on calipers what price do you put on safety?
Delboy777
Registered user
The reason i ask is because i was going too fit these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281186217100?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649 and the add says SS bolts included. The OEM ones obviously wont be long enough.
Blimey, how many bikes have smashed their front brake callipers.... Whilst not smashing anything (and everything) else important at the same time?
The 'protection' world seems to have gone berserk.
The 'protection' world seems to have gone berserk.
Delboy777
Registered user
Ffs min, dont you get the whole "Personalise your bike" concept then ? Obviously not. Its bling pure and simple, but the point being its MY bling.
OK, it was interesting to find the real reason why you wanted to change your calliper bolts to stainless.
I had never seen caliper protectors, so wondered what really useful service they performed, given the usual general levels of destruction metered out to motorcycles in a serious enough mishap.
Seems they are just bling; which is fine.
Bling away; people make money from it, it boosts the economy and keeps foreigners in employment.
PS. Rather like personalised number plates, I have never really got the whole 'personalise' your bike thing. Anything I have fitted served a purpose, but even that got tedious after a while. Less is more in my world now. I have taken up (or more honestly, rediscoverd) the delight of touring on an outright sports bike, unblinged except for a simple generic GPS mount and an option to fit some Ventura luggage. It came fitted with heated grips, which seem to work, so even those don't need to be worried about. One lead for a heated vest and all is good to go for two thousand miles, rain or shine.
Exhausts and all that old malarkey, I now leave as is.
Aftermarket fuelling aids, re-maps and other must-does? I find it easier to turn them into don't-does.
If I were to change / 'improve' anything? It would probably be the suspension on many bikes but the new 'smart' electric systems are getting pretty good, straight out of the box. My 1600's is getting a bit saggy at 32,000 miles which is not unexpected on a 320 kg bike that is worked pretty hard. It will either be staying BMW's own (it's been OK, just left on two-up, sports setting) or maybe a look at the comparative price of some alternatives, like Wilbers.
PPS The only bit of (useful) after-market add-on that I have in mind for the sports bike is an oil cooler radiator guard. I have never bothered with one before. The oil cooler sits naked, very low down behind the front wheel. After 6000 miles it is showing signs of the peppering it is receiving from road debris, flung up.... Not a problem on a track, unless you hit the kitty-litter... One decent sized stone and bingo... You can bi-pass the oil cooler in an emergency... But (sensible) prevention may well be better than several hours of cure at the roadside.
I had never seen caliper protectors, so wondered what really useful service they performed, given the usual general levels of destruction metered out to motorcycles in a serious enough mishap.
Seems they are just bling; which is fine.
Bling away; people make money from it, it boosts the economy and keeps foreigners in employment.
PS. Rather like personalised number plates, I have never really got the whole 'personalise' your bike thing. Anything I have fitted served a purpose, but even that got tedious after a while. Less is more in my world now. I have taken up (or more honestly, rediscoverd) the delight of touring on an outright sports bike, unblinged except for a simple generic GPS mount and an option to fit some Ventura luggage. It came fitted with heated grips, which seem to work, so even those don't need to be worried about. One lead for a heated vest and all is good to go for two thousand miles, rain or shine.
Exhausts and all that old malarkey, I now leave as is.
Aftermarket fuelling aids, re-maps and other must-does? I find it easier to turn them into don't-does.
If I were to change / 'improve' anything? It would probably be the suspension on many bikes but the new 'smart' electric systems are getting pretty good, straight out of the box. My 1600's is getting a bit saggy at 32,000 miles which is not unexpected on a 320 kg bike that is worked pretty hard. It will either be staying BMW's own (it's been OK, just left on two-up, sports setting) or maybe a look at the comparative price of some alternatives, like Wilbers.
PPS The only bit of (useful) after-market add-on that I have in mind for the sports bike is an oil cooler radiator guard. I have never bothered with one before. The oil cooler sits naked, very low down behind the front wheel. After 6000 miles it is showing signs of the peppering it is receiving from road debris, flung up.... Not a problem on a track, unless you hit the kitty-litter... One decent sized stone and bingo... You can bi-pass the oil cooler in an emergency... But (sensible) prevention may well be better than several hours of cure at the roadside.
Delboy777
Registered user
All you had to do was ASK 
All you had to do was ASK
Had I done so, the response would still have been....
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