Oil on engine block?

[maraach]

A mate asked me to come take a look at a bike with him last weekend.

Long story short, its a 99 zx6r and all in all it is in pretty good nick. Did the usual checks of visual, bearings, does the exhaust smoke etc. and they all came back ok. It starts cleanly, idles smoothly when warm and rides well. The owner has obviously taken pretty good care of it, but it has high km's 65'000.

Two things i did notice:

1) On the right hand side of the engine, through the gap in the fairing i could see some oil on the engine. Reasonably clean, but a bit black. I dont claim to have much mechanical knowledge, but my first though would be that a gasket on the engine is leaking oil.

2) The LCD Display under the right guage didnt seem to do anything. In saying that im not sure exactly what it is meant to display. The clock / trip metre and odometer all seem to display on the left LCD display on this model. I have a feeling this should be the temp gauge and something else? Can anyone fill me in?

Basically my friend really likes the bike, and it is cheap. I tried to steer them away due to the above reasons as im pretty pedantic, but then the inevitable question came "how much do you think it would cost to fix?". Just looking for some info so i can ring around a few mechanics and find out to see if it would still be a decent deal.

[cookeetree]

If your mate's that keen, go back and ask to pull the fairing off to check the engine out.

[Bogan]

1) On the right hand side of the engine, through the gap in the fairing i could see some oil on the engine. Reasonably clean, but a bit black. I dont claim to have much mechanical knowledge, but my first though would be that a gasket on the engine is leaking oil.

Without wanting to sound like a smart arse, you're probably on the money there, there are gaskets, seals and some hoses on bike engines, and if oil runs through/past them they're supposed to keep it in. Should only be a few screws/bolts to rip off one of the side fairings for a better look.

[JetPilot]

Could be as simple as a rocker cover gasket. Just have a good look or ask to take it to a mechanic to check it out.

[maraach]

after some thought i think im going to try and organise a mechanic to look over the bike if its that wanted. It took me awhile but i think i worked out where this going. In a couple weeks time i think i would be convinced to play psuedo mechanic and try and fix it.

[mike-s]

Use the lawyery talk, no fix no fee, i fix, PLENTY of fee's.
I don't mind helping others with them fixing their bike or just lending a hand, but to be *expected* to fix someone elses bike? well i can safely say pffffttthhpptttt!!!! to that!

[maraach]

i think it would be more of a punishment to her if i tried to fix it.

That would teach her a lesson i believe.