That does look like a much better design that is easier to use.
$25.....$15 on eBay or $9 if you want to wait for China shipping. Much easier to use as getting around the fender is a pain, but doable. Seal Mates are $6-8 on eBay. But you certainly can make your own with a 2 liter bottle, pretty easily. I wouldn’t spend $25 but would consider $15.
30 seconds with a pair of sharp scissors, and a discarded 2 liter pop bottle, and I can make a dozen... and have a drink while doing so...
how many miles?
You need to ride it more, Max!
If you are asking me, first incident was 32K miles. Last was 44K miles.
Discovered the left fork was leaking again, badly right at flipping 49,000 miles. I didn’t catch it until 60 miles away on a trip. When I stopped it actually dripped on the pavement and had slung some onto the fairing and was on the outside of the calipers. Mopped it up and limped home the smoothest way possible. At home I discovered a drip pool in the bike tent, so I was leaking the previous trip, and I think it was on the way home last night when I hit a bad pot hole.
I was able to use the Sealmate several times and stop the leaking. The fluid is clear, a lot like baby oil, and I think I lost multiple tablespoons. I still don't know at what point the level is low enough to cause a problem or what I am supposed to notice, handling-wise.
If my feeble memory serves me right they only hold 5 oz each, so multiple tablespoons means you're gonna be low. I'd say it's time to pull them off, check the forks for nicks & replace the seals. At 49,000 miles you're past due for a fluid change anyway.
If my feeble memory serves me right they only hold 5 oz each, so multiple tablespoons means you're gonna be low.
I'd say it's time to pull them off, check the forks for nicks & replace the seals.
I thought 5 oz capacity was shockingly low (pun intended). It is 15 oz each, so I am guessing even losing an entire ounce isn't going to be too horrible.
I finally looked up the procedure. There are all several special tools needed to actually replace the seal. So I think this is something I will have to get a bike shop to do. Dern.
During my Alaska Trip, a couple summers back, when my troublesome tube left a puddle on and ground and spray on the fairing, the local shop in Anchorage (AK Cycles) replaced the seals for around $300, if memory serves. The shop owner told me that there were some nicks on that tube that he was able to polish out, but warned that if they were to start leaking again, they would need to be replaced. Did your mechanic talk about trying to polish them?
It sounds like you’ve been diligent about keeping them clean, so I imagine the scratches can’t be too bad.
He didn't really talk about that, no. But it will (eventually) be part of the conversation. Were your nicks near the bottom, in the front?
I have filled small pits on my old Zee with JB weld. Clean well with acetone.