I have two new to me Suzuki motorcycles, a 2004 Savage and a 2019 DR200. Both of these bikes have the same oil level windows to check the level.  

When I bought both bikes the oil levels were mid way between the minimum and maximum marks. I have not started the bikes since I bought them and now the oil levels on both bikes are not visible at all, there is no oil to be seen. Both bikes are oil tight.

Can anyone tell me what's going on ?

Yes I have stood them up, it makes no difference.

I think it might have something to do with the brass monkey temperatures and lack of dip sticks.

I don't trust the windows now, and probably never will.      They are flucking useless with a sidecar on the RHS in any case.

I don't get the Harley comment.

A HD logo on anything invites oil to leave. It doesn't even hafta drip out,where it can be seen. Surreptitiously placing one on someone's car might just run them out of oil. It's like Voo-Doo ,man.

I've never seen the oil level go down without running it . The Savage Can have its oil level increase without running it. When that happens it's the petcock,letting gas flood the carburetor and drip into the engine.

The Zip-Tie idea for checking oil is a great idea. I'm gonna give that a try . I'd think that Otta work for any bike with a window.

I'd sure like to know the answer to your novel problem.

I've noticed that it can take a minute for the oil to register in the window on cold mornings.  I'm sure you realize the oil pools up in the left side of the cases because the bike leans that way when on the sidestand.

That won't be a problem when you put a sidecar on it because the bike won't be leaning, but as you pointed out, it will be difficult to read.  

Dave wrote on 12/15/24 at 08:18:28:


I have no doubt that the oil windows work fine when they do.  The problem is that is sometimes, for some unexplained reason they do not work fine.

Empty previously half full window.



It takes some wiggling to get the cable tie past whatever it is that's blocking it, but it's quite doable and repeatable with practice.




The serrations on the ties hold the oil in place, they are perfect for the job.



The oil in the Savage looks new.

"I have not started the bikes since I bought them and now the oil levels on both bikes are not visible"

Start the bike and warm it up. You are supposed to check the oil with the engine warm.

Per the owners manual:

"1. Start the engine and allow it to idle for a few minutes.
 2.Stop the engine and wait three minutes.
 3. Hold the motorcycle vertically and inspect the engine oil level in inspection window.The engine oil should be between the L and F lines."


ie. in the middle of the window.

It's about 20 degrees F right now where I live, the roads are covered with  deicing salt and my bike hasn't been started for about three weeks. I'm pretty sure that if I went out to the garage stood the bike up and looked I wouldn't see any oil in the sight glass even though I know the bike was full when I parked it because I check whenever I RETURN from a ride since I'm sure that the engine is at operating temperature then.

If your bikes were full of oil when they were parked, and there isn't a puddle of oil under either of them right now, I suspect that they are just fine.

Go pull the dipstick out of your car when its cold outside and the car hasn't been run for a couple of days and it going to tell you that the oil is low.

My other bike is a HD Sportster. It has a dipstick in the oil tank. When the bike is cold the oil barely touches the bottom of the stick. It is not uncommom for guys not familiar with, or just new to Harleys, to check the stick with the bike cold, think the oil is low, add a quart and then go for a ride. Half an hour into the ride the tank is overflowing and there is oil running down the side of the bike.

Sounds like the oil is in a near solid state (frozen, not very fluid, goop) stuck on the left side of the engine.

Bring the bike in the house, set it next to the nice warm fireplace for 2 hours, check oil.  Or put an engine block heater on it?  Wrap the motor in an electric blanket?