**POLL** How many LT owners have 'morning fog'?

[UKTzero]

This is a poll to see how many LT owners have the mosquito fogging option on their LT when they leave it on the side stand for a period of time - some owners say that it happens almost every time they use the side stand to park it

This problem doesn't seem to be a fatal design flaw, and it doesn't seem to be anything that people are screaming about or rushing out to repair, so I don't think it's the end of the world ... but I believe that if it affected as many LT's as it is made out to, there wouldn't be anyone buying them

If I went to test ride a bike that I had no experience with and it belched out a cloud of smoke, I wouldn't even bother getting on the bike, let alone listening to the owner tell me how it isn't a big deal and that all of the do it

So ... here's the poll ... does your LT suffer from morning smoke? - and if so, how bad is it?

Also, I left the option to check more than one box available ... if you've owned more than one K1200LT and have had this happen, check a box for that one too

[Lonewuff]

Morning fog? Until I've had my coffee I am always in a "Morning Fog" :histerica

[UKTzero]

I was thinking more along the lines of "morning wood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocturnal_penile_tumescence)" for a bike ... morning fog was the best I could come up with on short notice

[KIC]

My 2000 LTC has around 13,500 miles and smokes if left on the side stand. How much it smokes depends on how fast after shutting off the motor I put it on the side stand.

Putting it on the center stand is a whole lot easier if you make sure that it is in neutral. I also always make sure that my side stand is down "just in case" the balance shifts while I am dismounting the beast.

This issue was the first post I posted upon joining this forum.

My top 3 favorite responses were:

1) Tell em it's a diesel
2) can you say mosquito abatement program
3) Tell em your practicing for the next James Bond Movie

[UKTzero]

How about telling them that you're just warming up the tires for the 1/4 mile that you're about to do and that the LT has a beach injection system for the rear tire?

To me, this is still a really bizarre problem that I haven't ever heard of before ... this would have scared the hell out of me if I would have seen it before I knew what caused it

It's a real good thing that it's so easy to circumvent by having a dedicated shutdown procedure

Also ... there's a post HERE (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24183&page=1&pp=10) that shows a bike with a right-hand side stand installed ... I don't know if this is just a reversed print or a Photoshop thing yet, but that sure looks like a great idea ... if there was an easy way for me to install side stands on both sides of the bike, I'd be all for that - that photo really looks like it's a professional quality modification


http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12499

[Ajlelectronics]

This problem doesn't seem to be a fatal design flaw, and it doesn't seem to be anything that people are screaming about or rushing out to repair, so I don't think it's the end of the world ... but I believe that if it affected as many LT's as it is made out to, there wouldn't be anyone buying them


It is a total non issue. It is purely a product of the engine being on its side. There is nothing that needs to be done or rectified, it is normal.

Just note the advice on the forum, preferably don't bother with the side stand, or keep it upright for a while after stopping. If you ignore that advice, accept it will blow smoke for a while. Totally expected and harmless.

[Lzyellodog]

but I need another option. I very seldom get it. When I park on the side stand I shut down the motor and wait 3 or 4 seconds before putting it on the side stand. This solves the problem. I have never seen it the bike sits for any period of time. But with that said I never park it in the garage on the sidestand. It is always on the center stand.

[cdrprn]

Had the same 1st time beemer-owner reaction/fear of "this is going to cost alot" the first time it happened. Now it's just the recurring fear of dumping the bike on uneven ground.

'05 LT

[KIC]

I just remembered a conversation I had about the smoking problem on my 2000 LTC and it was suggested that part of the problem may also have to do with the "break in" style used. I bought the bike with around 11K so the original "break in" was before me. From the great condition of the bike, I would presume it was "pampered".

Since it seems to be the thought that an LT motor hasn't broke in until approximately 25K miles have passed under the tires. Maybe the style of initial riding has an impact.

It was discussed that the style of initial "break in", slow consistent driving versus faster less consistent higher RPM style driving, may make a difference.

I was told to use higher RPMs, accelerate, decelerate and be less (smooth) consistent in my driving. Then evaluate after several thousand miles if there is a difference.

For those who have experienced this, has it ever gone away? If you never had it, how would you rate your "break in" style ?

1) Fast and raunchy
2) smooth and consistent

Has anybody else heard, thought about, or have any input on this direction or thought? :confused:


I still get a kick out of the mileage life of a Beamer..when my old Honda 750s would be worn out at 30K.

[Lzyellodog]

I bought my 05 with 56 miles on it. Dealer told me to take it easy for first 600 miles or so. Vary speed do not go above 4k rpm. Do not hang out at 4k for long extended period. I rode like that for about 1200 miles. Mainly because I have never bought anything that needed a break in period. I have never bought any vehicle new until I bought the LT. Now I ride the snot out of her and I rarely see the smoke. Mainly I believe because I follow a rigid shut down procedure. Well, may seem rigid to some just normal routine for me. Although today I did not follow procedure and I got smoke on start up after work this afternoon. Bike had sat for 6 hours on side stand.

[UKTzero]

So this is just a problem that we all need to learn to live with, and more importantly, we need to gently make new BMW owners aware of so they don't freak out ... the LT could easily and quickly get a real bad reputation if people don’t understand how minor of a problem this really is

As it turns out, it isn't really that much of a problem at all

Anyone here own a Harley with a Shovelhead or an older Evolution engine?

You learn pretty quickly that if you're going to be putting your Harley away for more than a few weeks, you need to drain the external oil tank, (a shutoff valve is a bad way to go because people frequently forget to turn it back on and then you get oil starvation) ... for mine, if I don't drain it it's not a big deal, I just put an oil pan under it when I go to start it up now

If you don't do this, something almost as hilarious as the mosquito fogger event happens

When they sit for a while without draining the oil, the crank case will gradually fill up with oil (only like a pint) and when you go to start it up, oil will literally pour out of the crank case vent breather, making it look like the bike is about to explode, when it's really just doing what it's supposed to

I've only had this happen once with my FLHS, but I've seen it several times on other people's Harleys, and it's the best when you have some non-Harley owners around to witness it ... there is usually someone screaming "Look out! - Shut it down!! - It's gonna blow!" - When in fact it's not usually even enough oil to worry about topping off

I've never had a shovel head Harley, but those are even more sensitive to it and are well known for being an oil-slick producing engine (still not enough to worry about, maybe a pint at the most, but it looks like more when it's coming out) ... a friend of mine has a 1970 FLH and I always got a kick out of the massive oil slick that it left every time that he started it up after it sat for a while ... it's funny seeing a guy on a bike that's pouring oil out of it and just saying "nah, that's no big deal, happens all the time - lets get going before someone sees this mess"

The down side to the Harley thing is that it will leave a stain, while the BMW only leaves a cloud

[hschisler]

As others have said, this is a non-issue. I didn't vote in your poll because I didn't see a choice that fit my situation. I can make the cloud of smoke appear at will (at the next start-up) if I shut the engine off and immediately put it on the side stand. Give it a few seconds after shut-off before deploying the side stand results in no smoke, regardless of how long it's been on the side.

[hschisler]

...Also ... there's a post HERE (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24183&page=1&pp=10) that shows a bike with a right-hand side stand installed ... I don't know if this is just a reversed print or a Photoshop thing yet, but that sure looks like a great idea ... if there was an easy way for me to install side stands on both sides of the bike, I'd be all for that - that photo really looks like it's a professional quality modification


http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12499This has to be a photo in reverse view of whatever you'd call it. The antenna and muffler are on the bike's "right side" in this photo. It's unlikely all three items (antenna, muffler, side stand) were reversed on a bike.

[jzeiler]

Actually it is not how long it is on the side stand but rather how long after you shut down you wait before putting it on the side stand. The longer the time to wait for oil to drain to the sump the less the smoke.

[hschisler]

Actually it is not how long it is on the side stand but rather how long after you shut down you wait before putting it on the side stand. The longer the time to wait for oil to drain to the sump the less the smoke.10-4. That's what I was trying to get at... :o

[SilverBuffalo]

This has to be a photo in reverse view of whatever you'd call it. The antenna and muffler are on the bike's "right side" in this photo. It's unlikely all three items (antenna, muffler, side stand) were reversed on a bike.

:) no, no no, everythings normal, I just took the picture like this: :)


http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15428

[dmatson]

Actually it is not how long it is on the side stand but rather how long after you shut down you wait before putting it on the side stand. The longer the time to wait for oil to drain to the sump the less the smoke.


This is the cure, if you just wait a few seconds so the oil drains back to the sump from the head you won't have a smoke problem. Exhaust valves on the head are on the bottom of the motor (head) if you shut it off and put it right on the sidestand before the oil drains back to the sump some oil can work it's way down the valve. It doesn't take much to make it smoke. A little smoke won't hurt anything.

[UKTzero]

ahhh ... backwards, now I get it

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8797/helmetdz7.jpg

[motorman587]

This is a poll to see how many LT owners have the mosquito fogging option on their LT when they leave it on the side stand for a period of time - some owners say that it happens almost every time they use the side stand to park it

This problem doesn't seem to be a fatal design flaw, and it doesn't seem to be anything that people are screaming about or rushing out to repair, so I don't think it's the end of the world ... but I believe that if it affected as many LT's as it is made out to, there wouldn't be anyone buying them

If I went to test ride a bike that I had no experience with and it belched out a cloud of smoke, I wouldn't even bother getting on the bike, let alone listening to the owner tell me how it isn't a big deal and that all of the do it

So ... here's the poll ... does your LT suffer from morning smoke? - and if so, how bad is it?

Also, I left the option to check more than one box available ... if you've owned more than one K1200LT and have had this happen, check a box for that one too

Mine stopped after my Alaska trip, so I believe the only cure is take a long trip to Alaske. :)

[Chockkicker]

This is a poll to see how many LT owners have the mosquito fogging option on their LT when they leave it on the side stand for a period of time - some owners say that it happens almost every time they use the side stand to park it

This problem doesn't seem to be a fatal design flaw, and it doesn't seem to be anything that people are screaming about or rushing out to repair, so I don't think it's the end of the world ... but I believe that if it affected as many LT's as it is made out to, there wouldn't be anyone buying them

If I went to test ride a bike that I had no experience with and it belched out a cloud of smoke, I wouldn't even bother getting on the bike, let alone listening to the owner tell me how it isn't a big deal and that all of the do it

So ... here's the poll ... does your LT suffer from morning smoke? - and if so, how bad is it?

Also, I left the option to check more than one box available ... if you've owned more than one K1200LT and have had this happen, check a box for that one too
If you really want to see it smoke leave it on the side stand for about a week--every couple of days crank it up let it run for a while and shut it back down- all while on side stand, next time you ride it there will be a smoke screen behind you for a couple miles

[Hotdogbiker]

I have a 2001 LT with about 28K. It does smoke occasionally on start-up, usually after it has been on the side stand for a few days. It disappears in a few minutes and dealer told me it's no problem. Guess I have learned to ignore it.

[2002redrider]

This "morning fog" thing is an enigma to me. I had a K75S that would do it every time. My 2003 K1200RS NEVER does it, while my 2000 K1200LT usually does it. Go figure.
Mike