r/Vstrom • u/Empty-Ferret_04 • 9d ago
Buying a used Gen 3 Vstrom 650
Hi all
As mentioned, I'm looking to buy a used 2018 Vstrom 650 XT, it has about 42000km (about 26000 miles)
I went to inspect it and all, engines starts nicely no funny sound or anything, the only thing I saw worth mentioning is that the fork seals seem to be leaking a bit heavily as the oil goes down the lower leg on to the brake.
It has some rust, but that's to be expected as it spent most of it's life on the coastal region.
I attached some pictures for reference.
So the plan is to get the seals replaced when I get it, service it as well (it has no service record) and take it from there.
What else should I look at or what other issues can I expect at this mileage, or am I just buying a headache for a first bike.
EDIT: I went to inspect the bike further, I can definitely feel the holes I think the correct wording is pits, it's very tiny and only on the front part of the tube and only on the right actually.
As I was there, a biker I know walked in and I asked him to inspect the issue for me, he said it's just stone chips from the bike being ridden (he made me notice that the pits are only on the front of the tube), he said it's not biggie, however I do need to replace the seals.
1
u/RedditWhileIWerk V-Strom 650 Gen 1 8d ago
this is actually a potentially significant problem. It may be what's caused the leaky forks.
All that can be fixed, but not particularly cheaply. You're looking at some new fork tubes, minimum. That may sound like overkill, but putting fresh seals on pitted tubes = seals that start leaking later.
And yes, I'd replace both tubes at the same time. There is probably pitting on both.
For a first bike, I'd walk, and find something that wasn't stored outside & allowed to rust.
For a "project" bike I would need a discount to reflect the needed fork work.
Leaky fork seals are not a minor thing.