Looks like a crack to me !! I think it's important to find out why it cracked or it might happen again. :sour:
Yikes, big time crack. What year 6 gen? Did you notice it changing your chain? Now I think I may take my guard off just to see
I was thinking the same as Oz. But hard to tell from the pix. A bright flashlight and a magnifier glass should tell all. Clean it up with a good degreaser first. Maybe even brake cleaner. If there is a crack there it should show up then.
The bike is 6th gen, 2008... I was feeling a wavy movement on bumpy roads or changing direction slowly for years, the chain was fine until the last change when the chain lasted 20'000 km before i found some rubber rings popping out of the chain... in the picture the straight line on top with the curve and little line going down looks like a manufacturing one but the little line going inwards looks like a crack, i will check with a dealer... might be time to give up my viffer and honda all together... we have the worst honda dealer here. Thanx guys
It is part of the casting with a bit of grime and panic on it. The problem is easily cured, apply a six pack of beer and soap and water.
Just check my new 8th gen and it has the same casting lines and slight curvature on right end! Not cracked, just dirty. If you can get a cleaner called Simply Green or any degreaser, just use an old paint brush and clean it up.
First look I thought it was cracked, now I'm not so sure. I would get a spike and scratch along the line and get back to clean ally and you will have a better idea, maybe. Any swingarm movement?
I will take a picture tomorrow and prove the 2014 is exactly the same, only cleaner!! (and anodized darker).
Thanx bro, I also went to the dealer and showed him the bike, he as well assured me it is just the casting marks...