For the avid biker, brake fluid is something they deal with on a daily basis. Still, despite its common occurrence, brake fluid is considered as a toxic substance. Therefore, it is important to dispose of this compound properly. If you are uncertain how to deal with brake fluid, be sure to read through our convenient guide.

What Are The Dangers Of Brake Fluid?

There are several reasons why brake fluid is characterized as a dangerous substance. However, the two most important properties that make brake fluid hazardous are toxicity and flammability. So, improper disposal of this compound can have serious consequences.

When you try to dispose of brake fluid without taking any special measures, you may be fined. This is the best-case scenario, because it can also lead to accidents and even the contamination of ground water. It is therefore important to dispose of brake fluid in the proper manner. Below, we will discuss various methods you can use.

What Is Brake Fluid Used For?

Before we elaborate on the disposal process for brake fluid, it is important to know what brake fluid is used for. Brake fluid is a special compound that helps to transfer physical pressure to the brakes; this enables a vehicle to stop. You can find brake fluid in motorcycles, but also in cars and other motorized vehicles.

Brake fluid is something that needs to be checked on a regular basis; this can be done at the garage. However, brake fluid can be contaminated, in which case brake fluid must be replaced as soon as possible.

When dealing with any kind of brake fluid, it is important to remember that this compound contains alcohol, which makes it quite flammable. Contaminated brake fluid can also become toxic, this through the absorption of heavy metals. So, bikers should take additional care when removing and disposing of contaminated brake fluid.

Can I Get Rid Of Brake Fluid At Home?

Before we provide you with a method to dispose of brake fluid at your home, it is important to realize that environmental laws can be different by the area you live in. In some areas, home disposal of brake fluid is not allowed. If this is the case, please refer to the other brake disposal methods below.

When you are allowed to dispose of small amounts of brake fluid inside your home, then you can use the cat litter method. First, grab a wide box and fill it with cat litter. You should at least have a height of half an inch of cat litter before proceeding. Once you have filled the box, pour the old brake fluid over the litter.

Once the brake fluid has been added to the litter box, always keep this box away from children or pets. You should also keep this box away from any open flames, as the fluid is still flammable. Then, let the cat litter and brake fluid stand for at least four days; this causes the alcohol to evaporate and the remaining fluid to be absorbed by the cat litter.

When four days have passed, check the litter box for any remaining fluid. If no fluid remains, you can discard the litter with your regular waste. However, always check carefully before you add litter to the garbage bag.

How Can I Recycle Brake Fluid In My Area?

Recycling brake fluid is always the better choice, as most areas require you to do so. In some states, home disposal of brake fluid is illegal. Therefore, be sure to use the recycling method if this applies to your area.

Before you can take the brake fluid to a recycling center, you will need to store it safely; this makes the compound suitable for transport. Ideally, you want to store any additional brake fluid in a plastic bottle or jar. The bottle or jar should also have a suitable lid, which can be closed securely to prevent any spillage.

Once you have stored the old brake fluid properly, you will need to find a local recycling center that accepts brake fluid. If you have no idea where you can recycle brake fluid in your area, simply visit Earth911 and enter your zip code to see the available recycling centers. Please note that the recycling of brake fluid is usually accompanied by a fee; this is usually mentioned on the website of the respective recycling center.

Even though a fee is usually charged at recycling centers, there are some rare occasions where the recycling center offers free collection. If such an event is scheduled in the nearby future, you can enquire by contacting your local recycling center.

So, what do you do if there is no recycling center nearby? In this case, you can inform about recycling services offered at your local car repair garage or auto part stores. Not all take old brake fluid, but there are some that do for a small fee. It is also important to remember that these locations will not accept old brake fluid if it is mixed with other discarded compounds.

Please note that some states will require you to transport old brake fluid in a special container. If this is the case, you should be able to pick up such a container from your local recycle center.

Cannot find a recycling center or a car repair location that takes old brake fluid? You can still find a suitable recycling spot by using Google. Simply look for locations that take and recycle hazardous waste.

How Much Will I Pay For Brake Fluid Disposal?

The price for brake fluid disposal can be quite variable, as this once again depends on the area you live in. The average price for brake fluid disposal is determined at $15, but this can be significantly more in urban areas. If you are uncertain, you can contact the recycling center beforehand.

Most recycle centers provide you with several possible payment methods; this includes cash, credit card, debit card and in some rare cases cheques.

KTM stands for Kronreif, Trunkenpolz, Mattighofen. It is a motorcycle brand, with the abbreviation pointing to the two founders Ernst Kronreif and Hans Trunkenpolz. Mattighofen refers to a city in Austria, which is where the factory is situated.

There is lots to say about KTM, especially those who are into motorcycles. So, let us take a closer look at the company and the exquisite bikes it has to offer.

The History Of KTM

KTM is a company with loads of history. The company was founded in 1934 by Johann Hans Trunkenpolz. He started out in a small car repair shop in Mattighofen. Originally, he began selling some big brand motorcycles such as DKW. He also sold some Opel cars.

Trunkenpolz only considered selling his own motorcycles after the second world war. While they survived during the war by repairing diesel engines, their first bike prototype – the R100 – came to fruition in 1951. Interestingly, the only components that were not produced by KTM were the Rotax engines.

When Ernst Kronreif because one of the bigger shareholders within the company in 1953, the company eventually got the name Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen (KTM). The company would book great success after the creation of their first prototype, as the R125 Tourist, The Grand Tourist and the Scooter Mirabell would quickly follow.

KTM continued to do good across the world until 1988, when the sales of their scooters and mopeds tanked. Trunkenpolz would also die one year later, which led to a takeover of the company by creditor banks and an Austrian politician.

Several years later, the company would be divided in several sub-divisions including KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH, KTM Fahrrad GmbH, KTM Kühler GmbH, and KTM Werkzeugbau GmbH. The company would no longer produce motorcycles alone and add radiators, tools, and bicycles to their arsenal.

KTM In Motorsports

KTM does not solely focus on the sale of regular motorcycles, they put their attention to motorsports too. The brand became a serious competitor in motocross racing, obtaining their very first championship in 1974. The win would be attributed to their 250cc bike and take the World Championship.

Since their start in motocross, KTM has enjoyed many victories. With 96 titles in the MX-Series since 1974 and a whopping 114 titles in the E-series since 1990, the KTM brand remained a big competitor in the world of motocross.

In 1994, KTM put its sights on the Dakar Rally. For their debut, the company took the second and the twelfth place, which was quite impressive considering the harsh nature of the competition. It did not take too long for KTM to dominate completely either, as they enjoyed continuous wins from 2001 to 2019; this means the brand has been on top for a whopping 18 years!

KTM has not solely made an impact as a competitor, they also became a sponsor of various road racing events since 2003. It eventually led to KTM taking multiple constructor championships.

The KTM Range

When it comes to motorcycles, KTM has something to please everyone. Here are some of their most notable inventions and contributions.

The KTM Motocross Line – This range consists of both single-cylinder two-stroke motorcycle models and single cylinder four-stroke models. Their latest version in this line is the KTM SX-F, which is characterized by a dual overhead camshaft or OHC.

The Cross-Country Line – The cross-country line of motorcycles is created by XC and includes two-stroke models and four-stroke models. The majority of two-stroke models can be obtained with close and wide-ratio transmission.

The Enduro Line – Despite being road legal, this line has many applications in the cross-country motorcycling field. They are characterized by wider-ratio gears and lights.

The Free Ride Line – To many motorcycle enthusiasts, the free ride bikes are a combination of Enduro and trial bikes. Even though these bikes are quite popular within the United States, their biggest market lays in Europe.

The Supermoto Line – This line is no longer being produced, as manufacturing of the Supermoto line halted in 2016. Nevertheless, the company regularly brings out updated versions of this line; this includes a new Supermoto model with the single-cylinder LC4 power unit.

The Adventure Tourers Line – Adventure bikes are characterized by their unusual seat height, wheels, and even suspension. Because of these characteristics, not all Adventure bikes are available in the United States.

The Sports Tourers Line – The best-known model in the Sports Tourer line is the 1290 Superduke GT, also known under the name Gran Turismo. The bike is made with the rider’s comfort in mind and this is accompanied by a modified handlebar, bigger frame, and more fuel capacity.

The Naked Bikes Line – These bikes can look quite different from one another, as the sale of them is often limited to certain areas of the world. For example, the 200 and 250 Duke bikes are only available in Asia and are produced in India. The only exception is their 390 Duke, which is also being sold in the United States and Europe.

The Supersport Line – Two bikes currently being sold under the Supersport name are the RC 125 and the RC390. Even though the RC 125 is not available in the United States, they are both road legal. The bikes are also characterized by a street racing appearance and functionality. In fact, bikes from this class have known to be entered in Road Racing Championships.

The Superbike Line – This is another line from the KTM brand that is no longer being produced. The final creation was the 1190 RC Superbike with LC8 motor.

Why Choose KTM Motorcycles?

KTM is a brand with lots of history. The brand has endured for decades, even when the popularity of motorcycles decreased. The company has a large knowledge base and experience, which means reliability is high when you choose a motorcycle from KTM.

From affordable motorcycles of premium quality to the more expensive models with all the bells and whistles, KTM can cater to any kind of motorcycle lover out there.

Road King is a series of touring motorcycles that have been in the Harley-Davidson line since 1994. This bike is among the favourites from this company that has been in operation for many years.

The street glide series has been produced for slightly over a decade and is among popular models from this manufacturer. Typical of all touring models, the road king and street glide have large saddlebags and back coil-over air suspension.

Many other characteristics make these two similar, but they feature some differences that make each model unique.

Street Glide Vs Road King Comparisons:

Engine

The 2019 model of the Harley-Davidson road king model has a Milwaukee-Eight 107 engine. The displacement for this engine is one thousand seven hundred and forty-six cubic centimeters. The claimed engine torque is 111 ft-lb at three thousand two hundred and fifty. The stroke for this model is one hundred and eleven point one millimetres while the compression ratio is ten to one.

The street glide, on the other hand, has the following specifications regarding the engine. It is a Milwaukee-Eight 114 type. The displacement is one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight cubic centimetres. The stroke for this model is one hundred and fourteen while the compression ratio is ten point five to one. The revolution per minute for the street glide engine at maximum torque is three thousand two hundred and fifty.

The engines of these two touring bikes differ, but they also have some similarities. They both have two cylinders with four valves. The cooling systems for both of them are air-cooled and the engine type being saddlebags DOHC. Also, they have four as the total number of strokes.

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Fuel capacity

Interesting to note is that these motorcycles have a similar fuel capacity. They both accommodate twenty-two point seven litres of fuel.

Dimensions

The total length of the road king model is two thousand four hundred and fifty millimetres. The street glide is slightly smaller measuring a sum of two thousand four hundred and twenty-five millimetres. The saddle height for the road king stands at seven hundred and five millimetres and that of the street glide is six hundred and ninety millimetres.

The street glide has a ground clearance of one hundred and twenty-five, and the road king has ten more making the sum one hundred and thirty-five. These two models, however, share the same weigh both in dry and kerb mass. The dry weight is three hundred and sixty-two kilograms, and the kerb one is three hundred and seventy-nine.

Electricals

They both have high beam headlights, LED taillights, and turn signal lamps. The difference regarding lights is that the road king has a fuller lower beam that the street glide does not possess. An average fuel economy indicator is also something that the street glide has which the road king does not.

Brakes and tires

There are multiple similarities in the brake and wheel system of these two touring bikes. The front and rear brake systems of both are discs, the wheels cast aluminium, and the tyre types tubeless.

The tyre and wheel dimensions, however, differ. The road king’s front tyre measures 180/30-B17 and the rear one is 180/65-B16. The dimensions of the street glide are front:-130/60-B19 Rear:-180/55-B18.

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Chassis

The road king model possesses a chrome, 2-1-1 twin exhaust with tapered mufflers while the street glide is designed with a double cradle chassis.

The characteristics listed above are among those that differentiate the road king from the street glide. The features listed above are essential when one is looking to by a motorcycle for touring. Other than the above, some of the other elements that one ought to check before making a purchase are;

Pricing

Bikes come at different prices. The features on each, as well as the brand, dictate how much one would go for. When thinking about buying a touring motorbike, one should set a budget and look for a product that fits within their range.

Official websites to motorcycle manufacturers will help one make an informed decision regarding the price ranges of their products hence the amount of money they will spend acquiring one.

Additional costs are something that one should factor together with the pricing. This includes the need to customise the motorcycle to ones preferred taste, which comes at an added price.

Insurance is also a cost that comes with making a purchase. Inquiries should be made to the available insurance firms in one’s locality to determine the different packages available and the pricing of each. Once the total cost has been established, an informed decision will be made on whether to get a motorcycle or not.

Noise and sound pollution

The various features on a motorcycle such as an engine and the exhaust pipes influence the amount of noise and fumes that it produces. Research and consultation with experts in this field will help one find a way to a motorcycle that has minimal or no noise and sound pollution. Touring models are mostly used for long-distance travel, and the noise and fumes may have long term effects on the rider. One has to be careful, therefore, when getting one.

Electronic aids

These are important in touring motorcycle since it means that a rider does not have to check certain elements manually. Compatibility of a bike with electronic additions is something that one must check. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and fuel indicators are among the essential provisions that technology has to offer. Older models are generally known to be less compatible with this type of adjustments. Electronic aids come in handy when one has plans to ride in wet weather. This is because the system will adjust accordingly and make some functions readily available as opposed to when using the manual mode.

Luggage carriers

Movement from one place to another requires one to carry necessities with them. The size and type of luggage carrier to go with are dictated by the kind of travel that one is into, the duration that one will be on the road, and the type of amenities available along the route to the final destination. A bike equipped with saddlebags is ideal for touring. Also, one can go for a model that allows for a fitting of a seat.

Wind protection

Motorcycles that lack wind protectors are regarded to be beautiful, but they are a pain for one travelling long distance. Going against the wind makes the different elements in the air land on the rider. This is not only dangerous but tiring as well. To cut down on the wind resistance one should ensure that they check out the protection options available for the touring model they go for.

Seat height

Traffic regulations require riders to be foot down at stop signs. Other than meeting the requirements set by regulatory bodies, one ought to have ease in putting their foot/feet down without hassle when the need arises. The seat height should be taken into serious consideration during shopping to allow the rider comfort and accessibility of necessary functions with minimal risk. The saddle altitude must be factored in before and during purchase. Demonstrations and test rides will help one figure out the best touring bike for their height. In the case of the road king versus the street glide, the former’s seat height is higher than that of the latter.

Repair and maintenance

Once a motorcycle has been bought, maintenance and repair costs kick in. Fuel and lubricants are among the many products that one will require to ensure that their bike remains in good condition. When shipping a bike from a different country, one has to inquire on the type of products it will need and confirm that they can access them readily in their urbanite. The cost of parts that require to be replaced from time to time should also be factored in and their availability as well.

Riding gear

The type of motorcycle acquired guides one of the kind of clothing that is appropriate for them. Riding gear is pricey but essential for every time one rides on their bike. For long-distance touring, one should go for good quality gear preferably made with waterproof material to help navigate different weather condition that they will encounter while in transit.

Warranty and return policy

Although it is not common, motorcycles sometimes come with errors that require the manufacturer to repair or give a new one. Reading the terms and conditions of purchase is vital to ensure that you can go back to the manufacturer in case of a defect and get it corrected.

Final Thoughts

Customer reviews and testimonials, as well as those done by experts on the road king and street glide models, indicate that they are similar in many ways including performance. The differences noted in this article are what make each model unique. These two models are available in an array of colours. To get the best of the latest features added to them one ought to acquire recently manufactured models. The official Harley-Davidson website provides all specifications for the road king and street glide models.