Long term lay up

[gazm]

Hi, I have been a member on here and a NC30 owner for a few years, I often read but rarely post. I have a couple of questions regarding my bike I hope someone can help with. After riding my NC around for a couple of years after buying it I decided to do a fair bit of maintenance on the more tired parts. I have not ridden it since early '09 when I replaced the fork seals with new ones, they seemed to be fine however now after laying up they have started to leak slightly. I have only ridden 300 miles with them in before I stripped the bike. Could they have just perished? they were supposedly genuine Honda however they were from ebay so I guess they could be fake. The fork chrome is in good condition. could it be worth my while replacing the bushes to as they could maybe be causing this? Secondly regarding the carbs, I drained them before laying up so hopefully they should not have gummed up, would you all suggest stripping them or should they be fine? I am reluctant to strip them unless I have to, is there an additive I could use that may help? Cheers, Gaz.

[Neosophist]

You shouldn't need to strip the carbs if you drained them.

I would ditch the fuel in the tank just to be on the safe side though.

The fork seals might be ok. Try bouncing the forks a few times and dry the fluid away, they may just have dried and hardened up from the lack of use (when in use they have oil in contact with them which keeps them soft).

See if they come back.

If not you'll have to change them.

Fork bushes wouldn't cause it just a rattling of the forks.

[gazm]

Thanks for that, I did think as much. The MOT tester in the local garage says as long as they are not leaking to bad and running oil onto brake discs it is not a fail just an advisory. I want them right though obviously.