Final Drive Leak - 2014 GSW?

[pjrider]

I've got a 2014 GSW with about 9k miles on it. Recently when on a long ride out to Big Bend, TX, I noticed what looked like some dried black oil on the right side (opposite the final drive) just past what I think is the catalytic converter and then up exhaust pipe. It looked like it was splashed on then ran towards the back from the air drag.

Maybe I was paranoid but the back wheel also seemed to have a fine grit of grease on the wheel itself between the spokes. There was no active leak and I monitored it for the full weekend and it didn't appear to get worse but I haven't seen this before. I keep this bike pretty clean so I don't think it was an accumulation of road grime but it's a long 480 miles to Big Bend from my house so it could have been something I rode over or maybe a section of road that was being resurfaced.

Today, when cleaning the bike up I did this grease/grime on the bolt below. In the pics below--is this part of the final drive that can leak from a bad seal? An inspection didn't show any other areas of excess grease but now that the bike is clean again I'll be monitoring it.

A google search shows pictures of final drive failures leaking at the black ring past the black boot and mine looks fine as far as I can tell. But in the images of a final drive failure I do see that grime/grease mist that I'm seeing on my bike albeit in a different area.





Like I said, probably paranoia on my part but something got on the bike and I want to make sure it didn't come from the bike itself.

Thanks.

 

[marchyman]

There is nothing to leak at the FD pivot pins. Grunge in that area is often a mixture of road grime, brake pad dust, and water. Oil on the right side (opposite the FD) could come from a leaky shock. I suppose if the wind was blowing just right oil from the right cylinder head (maybe a bad O-ring at the filler plug) could get to the rear wheel, too. You'd see it on the valve cover if that were the case.

 

[pjrider]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping.

There is nothing to leak at the FD pivot pins. Grunge in that area is often a mixture of road grime, brake pad dust, and water. Oil on the right side (opposite the FD) could come from a leaky shock. I suppose if the wind was blowing just right oil from the right cylinder head (maybe a bad O-ring at the filler plug) could get to the rear wheel, too. You'd see it on the valve cover if that were the case.