I was just checking the maintenance schedule, and supposedly I'm supposed to replace the clutch and brake fluid at 12k miles?

Do I really need to do this? The bike's a 2002 with 13k on it. The Brake fluid is still clear, and the clutch fluid is a bit brown, but nothing to lose sleep over.

I would do it, especially the first time. These fluids are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb water. This is where internal damage comes from. Most brake experts say that if people would just change the fluid regularly, they'd be out of business.

I am ashamed to say, but my bike has 26.5k miles on it, it's a 2002, and I have not done this. But hopefully this is a situation where length of time between changes is more detrimental than mileage (and i park the bike inside 98% of the time). Colors are the same as listed above.

Youse guys definitiely should change your hydraulic fluids as soon as practical. Trust me.

Time is more important than mileage, but both do count. If you change over to 5.1 fluid (not 5!) you can go a bit longer between changes. Also, the change really is easy as long as you don't run the reservoir dry, so there is no air bleeding. Just pump new stuff through until it is completely clean as it exits the bleeder.

A friend of mine made his own vacuum cleaner powered brake bleeder out of 2 pieces of tubing and a 1 gal. gas can. One hose goes from the can to an adapter that plugs into the vacuum cleaner hose. (he made the adapter out of aluminum, but a cork with a hole through it would work just as well) The other hose goes from the can to your bleeder valve. He sealed both holes into the can with silicone. You don't need (or want) a real strong vacuum cleaner for this project. This little gadget makes bleeding brakes or replacing fluid a snap.