Start Up Smoke

[Edmund Kean]

I’m looking for views on the following…

Went to look at a 2017 bike with only 8K miles. It hadn’t been started since its MOT last August but upon start up there was considerable smoke for a couple of seconds. Because of a lack of room the bike was started on its side stand.

 

[wessie]

sounds normal to me if the bike had been at rest on the side stand as there will be some oil accumulated in the left pot.

 

[Pukmeister]

If it was ridden very gently for those 8000 miles, the rings/bores could be pretty shiny and glazed, allowing oil to settle as Wessie describes. A few thousand miles of enthusiastic use should sort it out.

 

[Udders]

Personally I’d walk away. Plenty more out there that won’t smoke.

 

[Bem]

I’m looking for views on the following…

Went to look at a 2017 bike with only 8K miles. It hadn’t been started since its MOT last August but upon start up there was considerable smoke for a couple of seconds. Because of a lack of room the bike was started on its side stand.

Hmm
If it was started from time to time between August 24 and now then its likely to be condensation in the pipe, which would have drained out if it had been on the main stand.
I think I would prefer a "regularly used" one with FSH, say 35k or so.
Just like the one in my garage actually...

 

[clutchspring]

Hi Edmund , I have a nice 1200 gs in the GS for sale section which doesn’t smoke.

 

[Edmund Kean]

If it was ridden very gently for those 8000 miles, the rings/bores could be pretty shiny and glazed, allowing oil to settle as Wessie describes. A few thousand miles of enthusiastic use should sort it out.

Well at least for the first five thousand miles it was ridden with purpose. I did those miles in the first few months before selling it so I kind of know it’s history to a point. I don’t recall it having any oil usage.

 

[MrC99]

sounds normal to me if the bike had been at rest on the side stand as there will be some oil accumulated in the left pot.

I'm with @wessie on this. Mine smokes a bit in the rare event that it hasn't been used for a week or so and is always left on the sidestand. Doesn't get through any oil between 6000mi oil changes and runs fine. It's not treated gently and has now done 73k. I'd take the bike for a test drive and see if it smokes when accelerating hard and if not then discount the smoke on startup.

 

[Pukmeister]

Agree with the above.

Mines been on the centrestand for months whilst I recover from surgery, it never gets laid up on the side stand as that takes up too much floor space in the garage.

I’ll fire it up this Friday once I’m legally allowed to resume riding/driving. I don’t expect it to smoke at all, it never has in 21,000 miles.