Coolant

[fazersharp]

Should I be that fussy about what I use, It will be OAT but do I need the stuff just for bikes like Motul motocool OAT - the red one. The last time I did it I used halfords own OAT.

[darrsi]

I believe more modern type car and bike coolants do have different ingredients in them.
The thing is, if you look after your coolant system the bike will thank you for it, it's hardly expensive for the amount of time it lasts. As long as you do a Radflush on your system before refilling with coolant then everything will behave itself for a very long time.
Up until the last work i had done on my bike by a mechanic i always used the yellow Motocool stuff, and it always did its job properly. Not sure what's currently in it but would imagine he put bike coolant in it?

[Grahamm]

I'd think that, unless you're pushing the engine to its limits or you live in a hot climate, then, like oil and tyres etc, the difference between cheap and expensive or various brand names/ types is only going to be found in your wallet.

[darrsi]

I'd think that, unless you're pushing the engine to its limits or you live in a hot climate, then, like oil and tyres etc, the difference between cheap and expensive or various brand names/ types is only going to be found in your wallet.

If you honestly think there's no noticeable difference between a low budger tyre vs a decent model and brand then you are clearly mistaken.
And our summers can be extremely hot too.
You have to remember Grahamm that everything you write on here is not just read by the old school of biking but people that might be riding their first ever bike, especially around now, so they can really do with decent helpful info rather than penny pinching nonsense that could come back to bite them.
I'm not saying buy everything that's expensive by any means, but why would you bother scrimping on a liquid that runs around your bike keeping it in good nick like the blood in your body, it lasts for ages, and you don't even need to buy a lot of it?

[Grahamm]

Thank you, darrsi. for your words of wisdom.

[agricola]

I certainly wouldn't use budget stuff for maintenance, and certainly not tyres and oil.

[fazersharp]

Thanks all. I was tempted to get the halfords stuff for the only reason being that the Motul stuff has to be delivered to me as I can not fide it local and at the time I was wanting to do it asap as I was going to be busy with other stuff.
I already have the rad flush 
I will be ordering the motul OAT stuff - its a nice strong red colour that makes it easier to see in the heavily opaque expansion bottle.

[Trebus]

Probably just as important is mixing with deionised water rather than out of the tap.

As I prefer to spend my dough on ‘important’ stuff, I’m in the habit of saving water from a dehumidifier that’s in use during winter. Mix that with your antifreeze and you’re away.

I believe any antifreeze suitable for aluminium engines will be fine, cheaper the better!

BTW, I generally use Castrol 10/40 semi for engine oil with HiFlo filter. Maxxis tyres work well enough for my ability!

[fazersharp]

Probably just as important is mixing with deionised water rather than out of the tap.

As I prefer to spend my dough on ‘important’ stuff, I’m in the habit of saving water from a dehumidifier that’s in use during winter. Mix that with your antifreeze and you’re away.

I believe any antifreeze suitable for aluminium engines will be fine, cheaper the better!

BTW, I generally use Castrol 10/40 semi for engine oil with HiFlo filter. Maxxis tyres work well enough for my ability!

Sounds good to me- each to their own riding
For my last tyres I chose the softest race tyres for road that I can find because I dont do enough miles before they are old before they are worn currently have Metzeler SPORTEC™ M7 RR

[returning rider]

I flushed mine a couple of times as was filthy took the rad out back flushed it I just used generic coolant (Prestone) that was safe for aluminium engines, use the same in my sons bikes and had no issues to date

[fazersharp]

I flushed mine a couple of times as was filthy took the rad out back flushed it I just used generic coolant (Prestone) that was safe for aluminium engines, use the same in my sons bikes and had no issues to date

I wouldn’t go messing with pipes and taking the rad off for fear of some sort of exhaust stud- gate. I know it would just go sideways.

[returning rider]

I flushed mine a couple of times as was filthy took the rad out back flushed it I just used generic coolant (Prestone) that was safe for aluminium engines, use the same in my sons bikes and had no issues to date

I wouldn’t go messing with pipes and taking the rad off for fear of some sort of exhaust stud- gate. I know it would just go sideways.

I had no real issues be gentle with hoses and all cam off ok needed it was full of black gunk doubt it had ever been changed