Suzuki DL 650 part sourcing

[Ryder West]

Hello, I am trying to source a front fender and fork seals for a 2012 Suzuki DL 650 V-Strom somewhere between Mazatlan Mexico and Panama City. Any help with parts sourcing will be appreciated. Suzuki dealer in Mazatlan can source the parts but they are 30 days out. We are on the move almost daily and have a boat to catch in Panama on the 12th of December. We are currently proposing to ride the coast south of Mazatlan to Guatemala. Thank you in advance.

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[MikeMike]

That's a common part on a conventional fork. 30 days is dealer nonsense. Get the sizing info and cross reference it and you should find them on other bikes. You can order them from the US and get them sent to a Guatemala address or try in Oaxaca or other dealers along the way. Try cross referencing first. You did, of course, try cleaning them out with a section of plastic soda pop bottle, right? That works better than the old 35mm film trick. You can cut a "Sealmate" tool out of plastic bottle material and be patient and thorough. Worth a try if you have not done so, yet.

[Ryder West]

No, we have not tried that yet. Thank you MikeMike.

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[MikeMike]

Look up how to use the Sealmate on line and then cut one out of a plastic coke bottle. Be slow and it might save the day.

[pancho]

The plastic trick will work most of the time unless that bike has sat up a long time in someone's garage and the fork seals have dried out. If you have to clean the seals more than a couple of times in one week then most likely you have reached the end of the road, so flush, new fluid, and seals. Whatever you do, fix it sooner than later, cuz once you lose a few 100cc of fluid you will be riding a pogo stick, not fun or safe. I posted a source for you on advrider, kiko, but you may also have luck in Puerto Vallarta sourcing the seals. Try this guy:
Bike Mexico - Guided Motorcycle Tours and Rentals in Puerto Vallarta - Bike-Mexico - Guided Motorcycle Tours and Rentals in Puerto Vallarta

Buena Suerte. Que te vaya bien.

[mollydog]

If fork seals are leaking and you MUST ride on ... here is how you do it:
Top up fork oil (use 5 wt. or 10 wt. fork oil or ... ATF fluid in a pinch)

Wrap a few layers of rags round the fork tube just below the leaking seal. Zip tie them in place or use string or thin rope. This will at least keep oil off your brakes and tire and will absorb most of the oil for a day. Redo rags next day, top up fork oil.

If brakes are already contaminated ... clean every thing with soap and water ... or even gasoline. (rinse well after) Clean especially pads and rotor ... and don't forget to clean front tire!!!

Vstrom fork seal is a common size (for 43mm fork tube I believe?). Should be a few bikes that use same size forks. Common KYB seal ... but any seal of same size should work. (Chinese ones will likely leak after some time)

But cleaning it usually will do the trick. Like Mike says ..."Go slow and careful". Do not cut the seal with sharp plastic edge or some such. I also like to spray WD40 or something similar in and round the seal to sort of help "flush out" crud that may be causing leak. Wipe all down after, wash everything up, see what happens.

I rode from Colorado to California with a leaking seal using above method. No
worries on highway ... off road not good once you lose too much fork oil.

If you have some bits or part of the original fender you may be able to do a bodger repair using Zip ties or attach scrap plastic sections on well enough to keep grit and water out your face. Lots of things will work as a fender if you can attach it firmly ... also ... you may be able to adapt a fender from another bike. Plastic weld, Zip ties, rivets.
The Mexican Taller guys are incredibly creative. They really think outside the box ... they will help you!

Best of luck!

[Ryder West]

Looks like seal mate trick worked. Thanks mates.

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