lower fork tube circular scuffing

[Olshu]

Hello,
was looking at a 2012 ST with ~10k miles showing and is for sale, the lower tubes have deep circular rings scuffed into the chrome.
The lowest scuff ring was 6-7 inches lower than where the upper sat at static position, forks bottomed out?
I suspect that mud or crud was packed into the seals and caused this.
Anyone else seen this before? Please advise or comment.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Somebody needs to clean their seals - which few people actually do. There are products like the stalemate shown below, but a piece of cut plastic works just as well.

Total fork travel is about 7.5" and nominally about a third of that is where the bike sits with a normal load. That's probably the area of most scuffing.

 

[BWC]

Also found this fork seal cleaning tool when I went in to buy the seal mate. Seal mate was out of stock, so the good salesman sold me this. It has been used a couple times on other Teneres and has slowed and in one case stoped a seal leak from dirt contaminated seals. The right hand piece is just its storage holder.
That fork does look like it may have some scuffing on the tube. A wipe with a rag and a close check for any damage would be a good idea.
It does seem unusual for a low mileage bike to show any fork wear alright.

 

[NorWest]

pic added

Is that pic taken after wiping down the fork tubes?

 

[Olshu]

Yes, the fork tube was clean, as was the bike.
That is the RH (brake lever side), the LH showed the scuffing too but not as deep into the chrome finish.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Looks like it was ridden in a heavy salt area then not washed down afterwards. The rings of salt then etched the metal of the fork tube.

 

[NorWest]

Yes, the fork tube was clean, as was the bike.
That is the RH (brake lever side), the LH showed the scuffing too but not as deep into the chrome finish.

Thanks for all the responses.

That is going to involve replacing the fork tube(s), My recommendation would be if you can get a killer deal due to this it may be worth it but what else has the owner overlooked in regards to maintenance. The top scuff point almost matches the bushing as far as height and makes me wonder if it wasn't ridden in some area that had a high salt content or corrosive substance and then the bike was tied down and left for awhile.

 

[Olshu]

Thanks: Don in Lodi and Norwest.

Salt etching make perfect sense, and I agree with "what else has the owner overlooked in regards to maintenance".
I did ask about recall compliance, CCT, and clutch basket concerns that I have read about, but seller would not give me a straight answer.
Very nice looking bike, but I am even more skeptical now.

Michigan uses salt to de-ice the roads in the winter, plus I do not know the history travels of the bike.

 

[Kurgan]

If the fork tubes have that level of salt spray corrosion, I would wonder about similar damage to the bottom of the shock, it's linkage and dogbones, the engine sump and fasteners and brake fittings down low.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Thanks: Don in Lodi and Norwest.

Salt etching make perfect sense, and I agree with "what else has the owner overlooked in regards to maintenance".
I did ask about recall compliance, CCT, and clutch basket concerns that I have read about, but seller would not give me a straight answer.
Very nice looking bike, but I am even more skeptical now.

Michigan uses salt to de-ice the roads in the winter, plus I do not know the history travels of the bike.

If it's that bad due to salt pass on the bike. None of the electrical connectors are sealed!

 

[Olshu]

Thank you everyone, I am going to pass on this particular bike.