Motorcycle Repair: 1998 Suzuki Marauder Fork Seals, 1998 suzuki marauder, fork seals

Question
I am thinking about purchasing a 1998 Suzuki Marauder with 6,400 Miles on it.  The owner is telling me that the fork seals need to be replaced.  I wanted to know what something like that would cost at a repair shop and if this is an unusual repair for a bike with so little mileage.

Answer
Rob,

fork seals fail at various times, they seem
prone to leaking, sometimes due to dust
and dirt getting into the seal.
-The cost to replace varies with the shop.
Could be a couple of hundred and up depending
on how long it takes.
-Check around the fork tubes to make
sure they are not scratched or damaged
excessively.
Sometimes running a clean business card
around the top inside edge of the seal
will remove some dirt, allowing the
seal to work okay for a time.
Some brake cleaner spray or such might
help to wash some dust out too.
-Eventually you may need to replace the
seals, or get a manual and do it yourself.
If you buy this bike, tighten the battery
cables right away, they seem to have
a habit of getting loose.