Ok, so its time for the K100LT to be sold...aint been used in over a year cos of injury... 
Anyway it started up ok (I'd quite like to keep it but I've gone for a lower guzzi cruiser)...noticed that rear brake pedal seemed to have a lot of travel so topped up the fluid & went for a run...came back & found fluid all over the back wheel & shock!  
Assumed its brake fluid but cant really see where its coming from & the level in the master cylinder seems to be ok...so questions...could it be the shock leaking...does the ABS system have to be 'pressure bled' as the clymer manual states...am assuming its the flexi hose from the ABS unit to the caliper that's cracked somewhere...tips/comments welcome

Hard to see from here what might be causing the leak.

Best way to find the leak is to thoroughly clean up all traces of the leak and dry it off. Once clean and dry you have a better chance of finding where it's coming from. You can use spray on talc ( fragrance optional) to observe the leak more easily or just observe. If you believe it is coming from the brakes try pumping them while looking for leaks. If you think it is coming from the shock absorber try sitting on the bike and bouncing up and down. In both cases a second person would be a benefit. You can also try the taste test brake fluid tastes different than shock oil.
Regards Martin.

BobT wrote:Hard to see from here what might be causing the leak.

ok...bit behind the curve wiv satellite technology then

MartinW wrote:Best way to find the leak is to thoroughly clean up all traces of the leak and dry it off. ...You can also try the taste test brake fluid tastes different than shock oil.
Regards Martin.

ok, thanks for the tips matey...I can send you samples if you're into the whole oil tasting scene!

Wipe up the fluid with a clean white paper towel.  Brake fluid is usually colorless or yellowish, most shock oils have some color ranging from dark amber to red, blue, purple, green, etc.   

Of course, there will be dirt in with the fluid. 


How is the rear brake working?  Is the pedal firm?

No I'm over the whole taste testing thing. I did my apprenticeship in the OZ army and we had to do oil and fluid identification, which did involved taste testing.
Regards Martin.

Point-Seven-five wrote:How is the rear brake working?  Is the pedal firm?

Tried the bouncing  on the seat trick as suggested by MartinW & it looks like its the shock that's leaking altho most of the oil must be out of it by now...the brake still has a lot of travel but does seem to work...it'll need to be bled prob

MartinW wrote:I did my apprenticeship in the OZ army and we had to do oil and fluid identification, which did involved taste testing.

 wtf!...ok I used to do a bit of fire breathing as a party piece but paraffin aint tasty either!

Before doing any taste testing make sure that there hasn't been any stray dogs around.
Regards Martin.

Or dingos dangling their dongles.

Or wombats wiggling their willies.