Ok, so I got to work today and looked down and noticed this oil...



I checked the oil level last night and it was in the cross-hatches, but lower than usual.

Any thoughts?

Also, what is that black cover on top thats missing a bolt?

I'll do the "clean it up, dry it off, baby powder" bit tomorrow before work (if it isn't raining), but was looking to get some thoughts now as well.

Thoughts:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58301

And the black cover with a missing bolt is the starter cover.

Thanks for the link, I never would have found that under "winter project"!

Loks like you need a new clutch cover gasket....possibly a new oil seal in there too for the rotor.  As stated above, the black cover is your starter cover.

You're also missing the stator cover, I believe it's called. Laid your bike down?

Thanks for the help and info.

The stator cover has BEEN missing since I got the bike... didn't really think much of it.

I plan on changing the clutch cover gasket and oil soon, but have still been riding it (commuter - 24 miles total/day).  I've been checking the oil level and it doesn't seem to have gone any appreciable amount since I noticed the leak.  LOOKING at the oil on the outside, it appears to be a much bigger leak, but why wouldnt it register on the dipstick?

Ok, I revise my last - I think thats the clutch adjust cover, right?  (The part that should go over the scuffed up part on the right side of the picture).

Timing rotor cover. It is there - missing the $14 SUZUKI emblem that sticks on to keep water out.

So, it looks like I'll be replacing the clutch cover gasket pretty soon.  Is there anything specific under there I should check/replace in addition while I have it open?

Depending on your mileage you could do your clutch fibre plates. Also do your rotor seal while your at it.

Its sitting at about 25k.  The clutch feels fine, but I will check the friction plates while I'm there.   I will do the oil seal at the same time.

Thanks for the tips!

Yeah it's kinda one of those do it while your there so you won't have to later.

And that's why I come here to ask the questions and get the answers.  Sure, I got the book too, but I'm pretty sure I could have handled it with just the info I've read here already.  The book is more so I don't have to make up names for things.

So, after a weekend of work on the bike, and despite my mechanical ineptitude, it's back up and running as good as it ever was!

While I was replacing the clutch cover, I also changed the oil filter and spark plugs.  One of the plugs seemed carbon fouled, so I'll check the new plugs in another couple hundred miles.

The hardest part of the whole process was paintstakingly scraping the old gasket off of the clutch cover.  That thing was burned on there and didn't want to let go for anything.  After some gasket goo to help soften it and hours of scraping with numerous tools, it was finally clean.  There has to be an easier way.  I was about to just go ebay a new cover to save myself the trouble of scraping.

The oil seal was also more tricky than the book and videos make it appear.  It was caked in there and didn't want to be "levered out" without bending my screwdriver.  After a few minutes of beating it and attacking it, I was able to get ahold of it with some plies and rip it out.  It left a rubber ring behind that I had to go scrape out.

I suspect both the oil seal and the gasket were original pieces from 25k miles ago.

Now, after a quick trip around the block and a commute to work, there are no leaks. Yay!

Thanks for all the help and advice here.  I appreciate it.