well I spent a few hours servicing and poking about yesterday. it seems I don't still have the ABS modulator after all, and I have no idea what was making the 'clunk' I was hearing when I first rode the bike. I hadn't noticed but it doesn't seem to do it now, weird.
well I'm going to run it without abs for now. I'll watch out for used parts to put it back in action without breaking the bank.
the oil that came out the engine wasn't too black but definitely was due. the oil out the trans had a very slight froth and a touch of milkiness so may have had a bit of moisture in there. the oil out the FD was quite a bit darker but neither magnetic plug had much swarf, just a tiny amount of sparkly sludge.
I have completely cleaned the magnetic plugs and will change the oils again in a few hundred miles and check them then.
tomorrows job is to repair the master cylinder piston which has been weeping slightly. unfortunately it has been dripping on to the tank and a previous paint repair is evident, and not a great one at that. will sort that at some point. the tank is plastic which surprised me, I thought they were metal.