Smokey start

[bikesnbones]

Hi All
My K smokes on start up.
Just for a minute or so.
The smoke is a kind of dirty grey colour.
I didn't pay it much attention during the Winter, as I assumed it was just burning off the condensation.
It does stop quite quickly.
I always store mine on the centre stand, never on the side stand.
Is this normal behaviour.
I should add that I never get smoke on start up when the bike is warmed up.
Only when starting up from stone cold.
I do use a bit of oil, but not much, and certainly nowhere near what I have read BMW suggested was acceptable.
Your thoughts appreciated.

[rbm]

Where is the oil level in the sight glass with engine off?  It should be halfway up, not covering the glass.

[bikesnbones]

Where is the oil level in the sight glass with engine off?  It should be halfway up, not covering the glass.

Actually, I have it quite high.
Way above the middle, but not completely covering the class.
Just a bit of air at the top.
About 5mm
Could that be the cause.
 :yow

[TimTyler]

Can you be more specific than "my K"?

[bikesnbones]

Can you be more specific than "my K"?

Sorry yes.
BMW K1100RS - 1993

[nsarvai]

I have been around BMWs my whole life... This is a common thing due to BMWs engine layouts and exhaust...
If you keep your bike on the side stand, there are leftover fumes and gases that will stay in the exhaust because its on the left side of the bike and will be the lowest portion of the bike. Then when you started up they will come out the exhaust (Smoke).
 
Storing yours on the center stand the exhaust might still be lower and you will have the collections still.

I have a K75RT that has done it a couple times! I also have a R60 that does it more.  My uncle has a new RR That does it. As far as I know it doesn't hurt the bike or anything, its just gases escaping the engine at start up.

Hope this helps out!

[bikesnbones]

I have been around BMWs my whole life.

Then you might be able to offer some advice by a more recent, serious development.
The other day, I was riding along, at a fair old pace when I felt a sudden surge of heat from the engine.
Temp gauge showed normal, so I carried on.
The she started misfiring, so I pulled over and noticed coolant on the heat shield that sits below your left foot, running up the length of the silencer.
I limped home, and quickly discovered that number 2 cylinder is not firing.
I took the plug out, and was greeted with this horrible sight.
 :eek:

So I replaced the plug, but still no fire,
There is a spark.
Any thoughts
 :dunno

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Any idea on where the coolant came from?

[bikesnbones]

Any idea on where the coolant came from?

I wish I knew.
I've removed the fairing bellypan and lowers, shone a torch in there but can't see a sign of anything anywhere.
I suspect it must have come out of a breather somewhere.
Really strange.
I'm thinking head gasket failure as a possibility, but that doesn't explain why cylinder 2 is not firing with a healthy spark
 :dunno2:

[thor0864]

I always park on the center stand because I've read Ks typically smoke when left tilted on side stand, something about where tje oil comes to rest in this position. This is the case with my bike.