R1100GS - smoking..

[Awfers]

Hiya all,

Looked at a R1100GS for my brother on Sunday, only 47k km, seemed in ok condition, but when they first started it up, it smoked for a while, it was a definite cloud, not a small whisper of vapour. I only saw the smoke, didn't smell it. It looked grey with maybe a hint of blue (maybe).

The sales guy said this was "normal" or because it was either too rich on startup / the choke was left on putting too much petrol into the engine (what? It had already run for 15 to 20 seconds before I saw the smoke), or because it was sitting on the side stand and oil had leaked into the combustion chamber. The whole time we were there, it was sitting on the centre stand, not the side stand, and had not been run for a day (at least). Smoke didn't come back during the test ride (I was behind on an R1200 the whole time). It's got a cat in place.

Now, I've got an R1100R with 51k km on it, it's NEVER smoked, ever.. even when I put the choke on for start or leave it on the side stand for a while.

Granted, my brother didn't like the bike (too soft in the suspension) so he didn't buy it. But might the dealer been having us on in regards the smoking?


Thanks,
Awfers

 

[oblertone]

Dealer bikes ...

... have invariably been cleaned before putting up for sale; it could be what you saw was some of the 'cleaner' smoking off as the bike warmed up

We treated Jaq's F650 to an ACF treatment at the Hograost, it looked for a moment that it was on fire !

 

[Stewart H]

Occasionally mine smokes if it has been left on the sidestand for a week or so, normal for a boxer engine, I have seen wings do it too.

 

[uncle dick]

Mine's always on the centrestand and seems to smoke as described (96k mls). Never have to top up between oil changes though.

 

[motobiker]

Awfers... You're misunderstanding the 'choke' on an 1100. as is the dealer. it is NOT a choke in the traditional sense.. it does NOT have any effect on the mixture at all.

all it is - is a 'throttle' that increases the engine speed. thats all. And so has nothing to do with 'smoke' at startup. or the 'mixture'.

As has been said 'smoke' at startup - particularly after some time on the side stand is perfectly normal... I reckon its safe to assume the bike in question has been stood for a while.. perhaps all winter. plenty of time for a little oil to creep past the rings into the combustion chamber.

 

[flytoolow]

...for me..this is normal...as long as it clears up after a few minutes (depending on how long it has been left on the side stand. As already mentioned here, if left for a "while" oil seeps into the lower cylinder head.
(The K12 will do it as well but that was left for over a year).

Also, on the 1150...Its not a choke ...just a "faster" idle. 1100's are not my area so...)

...He's looking for an 1100 is he...??

PM me for "where and when this Saturday....

 

[Awfers]

We rode the 1200 last weekend at Vionnet, a particularly fantastic example. Got him thinking of an 1150, but wanted to test an 1100

Yep, it's a fast idle, but says Choke on it, I call 'em as I see em

1150 and 1100 are pretty much the same!

See you in a few hours!

 

[Gecko]

1150 and 1100 are pretty much the same!

Yup they are both BMW motorcycles.... One has 6 gears one has 5, one has servo brakes , one doesn't, one has twin spark, one doesn't , they're different heights, weights, engine size, power, colours and designs..... but they're pretty much the same.
It's like saying a Honda CBR1000 and a CB1000 are pretty much the same....

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

.................my brother didn't like the bike (too soft in the suspension) so he didn't buy it...............

..