[davewrit]

Okay, I have read all about how some K1200's have a penchant for smoking on start when on the sidestand. My new to me 2002 evidently just did this for the first time in 20-30 starts. There was a LOT of smoke, and it lasted for quite a while (>60 seconds). Is this really what happens routinely? Is it an intermittent thing or when you have it does it happen almost every cold start? The bike was sitting for <24 hours when it happened.

 

[Kra961]

Its not how long it was shut down for it was how it was shut down, given the way the engine sits if you shut it while on the side stand she gonna smoke and it makes for a great fog machine. If you hold the bike upright for a few moments after shutting it down the oil has a chance of not dripping into the cylinders which is what cause the smoke.

 

[mt45408]

I kept my 99 on the side stand, and I learned never to start it inside the garage...lol Now I always park on the center stand, and I can't remember the last time it smoked...

 

[deputy5211]

Okay, I have read all about how some K1200's have a penchant for smoking on start when on the sidestand. My new to me 2002 evidently just did this for the first time in 20-30 starts. There was a LOT of smoke, and it lasted for quite a while (>60 seconds). Is this really what happens routinely? Is it an intermittent thing or when you have it does it happen almost every cold start? The bike was sitting for <24 hours when it happened.

NOPE... Count on it when you leave bike on side stand. That you did not experience it first 20-30 starts is unusual, unless you perhaps left the bike upright for a few seconds after shut down and before placing on side stand.

 

[Boatzo]

As said above, it is all in how you shut her down. I always turned the key off whilst the bike was upright, then removed my gloves, turned the GPS off, and loosened my helmet strap, then let her down on the side stand and she never smoked. I did the same when pulling up to the gas pump. It is just one of those little tricks to make life easier I also put her on the center stand in the garage when putting her away for a while.

 

[Rocketsled]

I'm glad someone else mentioned this, I thought I was crazy...yeah "a little smoke" as I look in the rear view mirror and see the hazy intersection I just drove through.

In my case it's only happened once as I normally center-stand it, but it DOES seem like one of those 'damage control' situations where they educate the customer and hope for the best. (It's worked out pretty well so far).

I wonder where they were in the original K-brick design process when they discovered it? Seems like it would have been avoided entirely if they coulda designed the motor with the pistons on the right, instead of the left.

 

[johnbaker15]

I wonder where they were in the original K-brick design process when they discovered it? Seems like it would have been avoided entirely if they coulda designed the motor with the pistons on the right, instead of the left.

Back in the day I took a ride on first year K bike at Lake George Americade ( Aspencade back then) and they smoked then. All the demo bikes were sitting on the center stands while awaiting a rider. I knew about the smoke problem and just to tweek BMW a little, after my ride I but it on the side stand. :rotf: One of the support folks came running out and quickly put it up on the center stand.

 

[Rocketsled]

It strikes me as something typical of an Engineer's thought process. 99.99% perfect in every way, that last 0.01% is just a usability niggle and we can sweep it under the table.

Marketing will call it 'quirky', and 'part of the mystique'.

It obviously happend late in the design process as a near blank-page design would have been, if not trivial, certainly doable.

 

[wa1200lt]

Or......... We could just start riding on the other side of the road and put the side stand on the other side of the bike!

And yes. They REALLY DO smoke that much!

Loren

I'm glad someone else mentioned this, I thought I was crazy...yeah "a little smoke" as I look in the rear view mirror and see the hazy intersection I just drove through.

In my case it's only happened once as I normally center-stand it, but it DOES seem like one of those 'damage control' situations where they educate the customer and hope for the best. (It's worked out pretty well so far).

I wonder where they were in the original K-brick design process when they discovered it? Seems like it would have been avoided entirely if they coulda designed the motor with the pistons on the right, instead of the left.

 

[mwnahas]

sometimes a little sometimes a lot. I think she tries to embarrass me on purpose sometimes. LOL. One time I pulled away from an outdoor party looked at the yard filled with a white fog that had the guests scurrying about for cover.

 

[Knife]

I always put mine on the center stand. Still, if it sits in my garage for a week or so, it smokes a little on start up. Is that normal? (2005 LT with about 6000 miles on it).

 

[tips727]

I always put mine on the center stand. Still, if it sits in my garage for a week or so, it smokes a little on start up. Is that normal? (2005 LT with about 6000 miles on it).

White smoke would be pretty normal, as it is from moisture. Blue smoke indicates oil and for that to occur in any significant volume would be strange if the bike had been on the centerstand. At least that is what my experience would indicate.

 

[Rocketsled]

Or......... We could just start riding on the other side of the road and put the side stand on the other side of the bike!

And yes. They REALLY DO smoke that much!

Loren

I'm not travelled enough to know better...those folks that drive on the wrong side of the road, is their side stand on the other side, too?

 

[Knife]

White smoke would be pretty normal, as it is from moisture. Blue smoke indicates oil and for that to occur in any significant volume would be strange if the bike had been on the centerstand. At least that is what my experience would indicate.

It's white, so it's steam, just as you said. Can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks!

 

[davewrit]

Thank you all, I read many accounts how they "smoked a little" on start-up, so when looking athis new to me just acquired 2002, I was prepared to see it smoke. Never did. Even went to the dealer and had a full check of everything wrong - mostly clear bill of health.

Then the moment (somebody said they like to embarass you?) my wife was outside watching as I started it it billowed smoke, looking more like a a mosquito fogger - putting my old RZ-350 road race bikes on cold star to shame, I got immediate buyers remorse thinking something was really wrong. I pushed through the instinct to shut it down and it cleared up and ran fine.

SO level shut down is a must, will try to master the center stand, so far can't do it without about an 1" of wood under the rear tire - but thats another story!!!