| Author | Message | ||
     Kenb |
I've noticed at night when I stop that I can see smoke coming from the exhaust in the headlights around me. It doesn't seem to be noticable during the day but very noticable at night. This is usually after a sustained constant speed on the highway. The bike has about 15k on a new top end and there doesn't seem to be any other symptoms like excessive oil consumption or poor fuel mileage. It is due for an oil change though. | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Its in the breathers, Pull your breather cover and look at the bottom of the oil filter, I bet its got oil in it. Mine does the same thing and has been doing it since new. Even with T-Storm heads installed at the 20,000km mark it does it. I will eventually re-route the breather lines to a puke can but for now I can live with it. | ||
| Kenb |
oops I should have added that I run a force winder and the breather lines are vented out the bottom of the bike. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Could be steam from the cold and condensation. How far into your ride were you? | ||
| Kenb |
engine is well warmed up when this happens, last night i was 25 miles into a 30 mile ride home from work on a 60 degree night | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Mine had always done that when it's hot ever since it was new. I thought it was the breathers too but I also routed mine under the bike and it had no effect. It's not a lot of oil though. I went on a nice long 1100 mile ride and it ate less than a quart. Check to see how much is being eaten per distance covered. I'll bet you will find that the volume being smoked is not so bad. | ||
| Blake |
The two main products of combustion are CO2 and H2O in the form of vapor. On a cool night even with a hot engine, the water vapor quickly condenses turning to fog. It does make for a cool effect.  Newf, What is a "breather cover"? Did you mean "air" filter. Not meaning to pick on you, but this poor goofy Texan is cornfused.  | ||
| Newfie_buell |
The Air Filter Cover!!!! I was also going to recommend the following to stop the smoking!!! 1. Patch 2. Nicotine Gum 3. Zyban  I also have a RD400 and if someone can recommend how to stop that puppie from smoking............hahaha. I have a friend who won't ride behind me when I'm on that as he complains he smells too much like BIKE. | ||
| Road_thing |
To make an RD400 stop smoking, just drain all the oil out of the injector tank and go for a ride. It'll stop smoking after a mile or two... ..not only that, but that annoying "ring-ding-ding" noise will stop, too! rt | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Actually, I think I read somewhere that there is a way to adjust the oil injecors on those old strokers. It might have been Kawasaki triples. Some lever inside a case cover with three settings. | ||
| Rocketman |
Ken, I absolutely agree with Nate. These motors will burn a (usually minimal) amount of oil when you ride them pretty hard. What you saw is what I see too from time to time. Yes I agree, headlights from other vehicles seem to illuminate the condition in the dark where as it's hard to notice in natural light. Newf, put a drop of Castrol R in that RD oil tank and your friends 'll be queuing to ride behind you  Rocket |
