Sight glass or dipstick?

[B-rent]

All of my motorcycles used to have a dipstick, but I smartened up a lot as I grew older.

 

Alright, well from the looks of it, many motorcycles had dipsticks prior to 1980. Some European manufacturers, like Triumph and BMW, still use dips. Everyone else has gone to sight glasses.

I prefer sightglasses too, but Scott (swriverstone) had a point I hadn't thought of, that dipsticks are more accurate.

[birdrunner]

The Blackbird has a dipstick, which I like.

I hated the sight glass on my GSXR,  couldn't read it from the saddle.

[dm_gsxr]

The Harley had dipsticks. All of our current bikes have sightglasses though.

Carl

[Wockman]

I prefer sightglasses too, I feel they are quicker and cleaner..  Not sure if they are more accurate or not, but sometimes with dipsticks there is a question if it is supposed to be screwed down of just inserted to check the level.

[Open Sore]

I said Dipstick.  The bike I currently ride has a dipstick.  My last bike had a sight glass.  Either one works, so I don't really have a preference.

[Nimh]

Speed Triple - dip stick, shiny, black and accurate only if bike is level on a center stand and the dip stick is screwed all the way in.
DRZ - Dip stick in the frame near the headstock, warm not hot, wait three minutes, hold the bike upright but don't screw the stick in.
R1100S - Sight glass on the center stand after letting the jugs drain for 10 minutes.  
SV650 -  Sight glass, easy peasy.

I really prefer a sight glass.  I have a chart on the wall to keep track of which needs what, with all the torque settings I frequently use.

[spaz_666]

KTM calls it a sight glass, but it's more like a clear plastic tube. Nevertheless, it's the same principle.

Maybe it's an Austrian thing... same set-up on the Rotax in the Aprilias.