Speed Bleeders - Zinc chromate plating or Stainless

jpgrfan · 03-22-2012, 02:23 PM

I was just thinking about getting some speed bleeders and notice that they are available with zinc chromate plating or in stainless. The stainless are quite a bit more expensive. Are they worth the extra $5 each or is the zinc chromate plating good enough?

flbusa · 03-22-2012, 02:31 PM

Consider the following...

Plated steel will eventually rust.

Stainless Steel will never rust.

jpgrfan · 03-22-2012, 02:49 PM

but . . .
with the zinc chromate plating, they are $28
the SS cost $20 more.

How long can I expect the ones with zinc chromate plating to last?
I'm not used to the idea that bleeders ever wear out. I see them still working on cars that are more than 20 years old. Then I come along to these and they are available in two forms. Are the ones with zinc chromate plating of lower quality than OEM bleeders? If so, then the SS might make sense. If not, I don't think I want to pay for the pretty stainless.

Longboardr · 03-22-2012, 04:45 PM

My stock bleeders were only corroded where they seat into the caliper. I'll probably never know if my platted speed bleeders are corroded because I can't see any reason to pull them out of the caliper to look unless there is a problem.

jpgrfan · 03-22-2012, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Longboardr

My stock bleeders were only corroded where they seat into the caliper. I'll probably never know if my platted speed bleeders are corroded because I can't see any reason to pull them out of the caliper to look unless there is a problem.

Thanks. The only damaged bleeders I've ever seen were damaged by water in the brake fluid.

Has anyone ever seen one of the plated speed bleeders corrode?

Longboardr · 03-22-2012, 08:26 PM

Mine are clean but have only been on since last summer. I suspect the fluid was never changed before I got the bike so that would explain the stock bleeder corrosion.

jpgrfan · 03-23-2012, 12:52 PM

Any one else got speed bleeders installed?
How long ago? How are they holding up?

iluvmyfz1 · 03-24-2012, 05:57 AM

Here's my personal philosophy. This is my bike, not my average car. I'm not concerned with resale value because I will never put her up for sale. Therefore, I tend to ensure I have the highest quality parts and level of maintenance to either enhance the beautiful nature of the machine or obtain the high performance/long service life I'm looking for. High reliability is key to all that.

If you're on a tight budget, save a few more pennies and get the stainless. It's the best you can do for your machine, and thus yourself.

If you still want to get the plated, just remember that plating can come off or be scraped/worn off. Then what? Rust.

That said, I'm replacing stock rubber brake lines with stainless braided this weekend.

Have a great weekend.

hooligan998 · 03-25-2012, 08:39 PM

I have the regular zinc plated ones on both the FZ and the R1. They have been on there a few years now and are looking fine. Of course both bikes are garaged when not being riden.

jpgrfan · 03-25-2012, 08:44 PM

Good input, guys. Thank you.
I'm still thinking about it. Leaning more to the plated ones.

jredford · 03-25-2012, 08:48 PM

George - I think we can raise a pool to get you the stainless. Who's in?

03-22-2012, 02:23 PM	#1
jpgrfan Resistance is futile! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Earth (Austin, TX) Posts: 10,676	Speed Bleeders - Zinc chromate plating or Stainless I was just thinking about getting some speed bleeders and notice that they are available with zinc chromate plating or in stainless. The stainless are quite a bit more expensive. Are they worth the extra $5 each or is the zinc chromate plating good enough? __________________ There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." Naked FZ1's can be a lot of fun. Bike Pics Current bikes: '80 XT250, '81 TS250, '82 CBX, '97 ST1100, '04 FZ1 (skunk)

03-22-2012, 02:31 PM	#2
flbusa Pot Stirrer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 5,218	Consider the following... Plated steel will eventually rust. Stainless Steel will never rust. __________________ Grommet: The ground. This after a short airborn period that occurred after me and my bike parted ways unexpectedly.

03-22-2012, 02:49 PM	#3
jpgrfan Resistance is futile! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Earth (Austin, TX) Posts: 10,676	but . . . with the zinc chromate plating, they are $28 the SS cost $20 more. How long can I expect the ones with zinc chromate plating to last? I'm not used to the idea that bleeders ever wear out. I see them still working on cars that are more than 20 years old. Then I come along to these and they are available in two forms. Are the ones with zinc chromate plating of lower quality than OEM bleeders? If so, then the SS might make sense. If not, I don't think I want to pay for the pretty stainless. __________________ There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." Naked FZ1's can be a lot of fun. Bike Pics Current bikes: '80 XT250, '81 TS250, '82 CBX, '97 ST1100, '04 FZ1 (skunk) Last edited by jpgrfan; 03-23-2012 at 12:50 PM.

03-22-2012, 04:45 PM	#4
Longboardr Gone to the dirt side Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: York County, PA Posts: 1,816	My stock bleeders were only corroded where they seat into the caliper. I'll probably never know if my platted speed bleeders are corroded because I can't see any reason to pull them out of the caliper to look unless there is a problem. __________________ '05 Liquid Silver FZ1: Traxxion Springs/Axxion Valves • R6R Shock • Multi-Gauge V7.1 • '00-'01 R1 Shift Arm • Soupys Adjustable Bones • Devilsyam Frame Plugs • Convertibars • Oxford Heaterz with Symtec control • GYT-R CF Slip On • Fren Tubo SS Brake Lines • Brembo Pads • Fehling Case Guards • Ninja 250 Highway Pegs • Pyramid Hugger • Sargent Seat • FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Horn • Vista Cruise Throttle Lock • The2wheels Shorty Levers • Axio Tail Bag •

03-22-2012, 08:26 PM	#6
Longboardr Gone to the dirt side Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: York County, PA Posts: 1,816	Mine are clean but have only been on since last summer. I suspect the fluid was never changed before I got the bike so that would explain the stock bleeder corrosion. __________________ '05 Liquid Silver FZ1: Traxxion Springs/Axxion Valves • R6R Shock • Multi-Gauge V7.1 • '00-'01 R1 Shift Arm • Soupys Adjustable Bones • Devilsyam Frame Plugs • Convertibars • Oxford Heaterz with Symtec control • GYT-R CF Slip On • Fren Tubo SS Brake Lines • Brembo Pads • Fehling Case Guards • Ninja 250 Highway Pegs • Pyramid Hugger • Sargent Seat • FIAMM 72112 Freeway Blaster Horn • Vista Cruise Throttle Lock • The2wheels Shorty Levers • Axio Tail Bag •

03-23-2012, 12:52 PM	#7
jpgrfan Resistance is futile! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Earth (Austin, TX) Posts: 10,676	Any one else got speed bleeders installed? How long ago? How are they holding up? __________________ There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." Naked FZ1's can be a lot of fun. Bike Pics Current bikes: '80 XT250, '81 TS250, '82 CBX, '97 ST1100, '04 FZ1 (skunk)

03-24-2012, 05:57 AM	#8
iluvmyfz1 Just enjoy the machine.... Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 662	Here's my personal philosophy. This is my bike, not my average car. I'm not concerned with resale value because I will never put her up for sale. Therefore, I tend to ensure I have the highest quality parts and level of maintenance to either enhance the beautiful nature of the machine or obtain the high performance/long service life I'm looking for. High reliability is key to all that. If you're on a tight budget, save a few more pennies and get the stainless. It's the best you can do for your machine, and thus yourself. If you still want to get the plated, just remember that plating can come off or be scraped/worn off. Then what? Rust. That said, I'm replacing stock rubber brake lines with stainless braided this weekend. Have a great weekend. __________________ -'03 FZ1- "Xena"- Custom Orange/Red paint- Fuzzy's mirror mod- SW Motech QR racks- Givi V46 top- E21 side cases- Scorpion slip-on- R6 shock- Throttlemeisters- Sargent seat- R1 shift arm- Custom sprocket cover-

03-25-2012, 08:39 PM	#9
hooligan998 Lemmy IS God! Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chester, VA Posts: 2,530	I have the regular zinc plated ones on both the FZ and the R1. They have been on there a few years now and are looking fine. Of course both bikes are garaged when not being riden. __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in their government." -- Thomas Jefferson

03-25-2012, 08:44 PM	#10
jpgrfan Resistance is futile! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Earth (Austin, TX) Posts: 10,676	Good input, guys. Thank you. I'm still thinking about it. Leaning more to the plated ones. __________________ There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." Naked FZ1's can be a lot of fun. Bike Pics Current bikes: '80 XT250, '81 TS250, '82 CBX, '97 ST1100, '04 FZ1 (skunk)

03-25-2012, 08:48 PM	#11
jredford Musical Metal Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 11,887	George - I think we can raise a pool to get you the stainless. Who's in? __________________ 2003 GSXR 600 Tracked 2005 BMW R1200 RT 2006 FZ1 2007 CRF450X Tarded

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