[RonHolly]

Newbie with first post. "How ya'll are?" LoL Just bought my K1200LT last Friday and has 39,500 on her . At the Harley dealer I saw no problem of smoke coming out the exhaust. They delivered it Saturday cause I don't have license yet. Started playing with it to learn all it many accessories. Started it up and light colored smoke came out the exhaust for about twenty seconds and then clears up. Does this every time after it sits when starting. I'm pretty sure it not steam form coolant because it runs cool. The Harley dealer says they serviced the bike and used Harley synthetic blend and filled the tank with "regular" grade fuel. I'm thinking valve stem seals "unless" it has something to do with the synthetic blend oil. I've not had a bike for many years and would like to ask for opinions. Monday I plan on doing a compression test.

 

[johnbaker15]

What you saw is a special "feature" for Florida, it helps keep the bugs out of the garage. :histerica

Actually what you saw is normal if you shut the engine off and put it on the sidestand right away. A little oil will get by the valve guides and then you have a smoker. To avoid it in the future. Shut the engine off, let it stand straight up for 20 to 30 seconds, then use the sidestand or park it on the center stand.

 

[RonHolly]

What you saw is a special "feature" for Florida, it helps keep the bugs out of the garage. :histerica

Actually what you saw is normal if you shut the engine off and put it on the sidestand right away. A little oil will get by the valve guides and then you have a smoker. To avoid it in the future. Shut the engine off, let it stand straight up for 20 to 30 seconds, then use the sidestand or park it on the center stand.

Yup we got skeeters down here! Thanks for the quick reply. I'll give that a try tomorrow. What do you think about Harley's synthetic blend. Should I drain it and go with recommed oil? Thanks

 

[Lee510]

The H-D dealership put regular gas in it. This is not good as the LT does not have a knock sensor. Regular can lead to pinging, which can lead to detonation, which can wreck the engine. It may never happen. I've no idea. It's not worth the difference per tank full for me to wonder or worry about. I'm sure someone who only runs regular will be by shortly to offer advice. That's what's so great about this community. I do something one way, someone else does it another. No big deal. They're wrong! :histerica

And welcome to the nuthouse!

 

[tips727]

Yup we got skeeters down here! Thanks for the quick reply. I'll give that a try tomorrow. What do you think about Harley's synthetic blend. Should I drain it and go with recommed oil? Thanks

You will probably get forty - 'leven different opinions about oil as everyone has their preference and they all seem to be getting good results. I don't know anything about Harley synthetic but I trust that it would be good. I would advise you however to fill up with premium fuel as soon as you can due to that is what is recommended for the LT. Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new ride man - I'm sure it will be a good one.

 

[SmokinJoe]

What you saw is a special "feature" for Florida, it helps keep the bugs out of the garage. :histerica

Actually what you saw is normal if you shut the engine off and put it on the sidestand right away. A little oil will get by the valve guides and then you have a smoker. To avoid it in the future. Shut the engine off, let it stand straight up for 20 to 30 seconds, then use the sidestand or park it on the center stand.

+1 Much info on this available using the search feature, many of us shut off the engine with the kickstand while in first gear, wait 30 sec to a minute, then lean her over.

 

[copperstatetour]

Let your mind rest at ease, I am sure it is just an issue of the lean too soon after shutting off the engine. The "top" of the engine, i.e. the head is conveniently placed on the stand side of the bike. I think this was designed so that all us 2-cylinder BMW riders who are so used to this 'feature' of blue smoke after leaning over too soon would feel right at home with the LT.

In 39,000 miles I can't imagine that anything could be wrong with that engine, these things run into the 100-200k range with few to no problems.

Also +1 on the premium gas, you own a high performance machine (yes under that 800 lbs is a sport bike at heart).

Now for what I find disturbing about this post: SmokinJoe said he got it at a HD dealer, that means someone traded in a BMW for a Harley!?! :eek2:
That's a little like trading Champagne for Colt 45 :wack:

By the way, you have the best color for this bike - good choice but where is the windshield?

Flame suit on :kaboom:

 

[wa1200lt]

I think the best thing you could do is start another thread with a title like "What is the best kind of oil to use in my LT?"

DON'T DO IT!!!! The forum will light up like a Christmas tree! If 200 persons respond you will get 300 opinions!

As has been mentioned the smoke is a normal thing. Pull in, turn off the key, take off your gloves and helmet, and then let it lean over on the side stand. No more smoke.

Enjoy your new ride,

Loren

 

[K100Dennis]

The smoke is actually due to oil seeping past the piston rings when the bike is placed on the side stand immediately after shutting off the engine. The valve stem seals won't tend to let oil past as they are in fact sloping downwards with the bike on the side stand. The second of the 3 piston rings is pinned to prevent rotation, this was done to help prevent the smoking on start-up bit it isn't that effective. Put the bike on the centre stand it it rarely happens. You must run premium unleaded as others have said, you'll get extra MPG from the better fuel so that cancels out the extra cost. Enjoy the bike, but don't let her lay down on you.

 

[Diolach]

I have an '02 that I bought new and it is a great bike, but I also have to ask where is the windshield? Hope they didn't sell it to you without one. On gas I run mid-grade and premium and the premium does give better gas mileage, Take the time to learn the bike, especially slow speed handling. There is some great info on the site about that on this site and remember that above 4500 RPM's is where the sports bike lives.

 

[hschisler]

... As has been mentioned the smoke is a normal thing. Pull in, turn off the key, take off your gloves and helmet, and then let it lean over on the side stand. No more smoke.

Enjoy your new ride,

Loren

Exactly. As everyone has assured you, the few seconds of smoke after using the side stand is normal and explainable. I have found (and YMMV) that by the time I shut the engine off by engaging the side stand, turn the key off, and take my gloves off then dismount, no smoke appears upon restarting. It's just a few seconds, and is part of the end-of-trip routine anyway.

 

[pauleknight]

Welcome to the LT forum and welcome from a fellow Florida LT owner.

There are a bunch of us here.

Dan Diver will chime in soon I am sure, he traded to an inferior K1600 last year :rotf: but is still a great guy...

Reach out to us anytime you need some help the LT group here is the best...

 

[Cochinosucio]

I think the best thing you could do is start another thread with a title like "What is the best kind of oil to use in my LT?"

DON'T DO IT!!!! The forum will light up like a Christmas tree! If 200 persons respond you will get 300 opinions!

As has been mentioned the smoke is a normal thing. Pull in, turn off the key, take off your gloves and helmet, and then let it lean over on the side stand. No more smoke.

Enjoy your new ride,

Loren

He wouldn't have this problem is he was using REDLINE oil, aka the BEST oil.... :corn:

 

[RonHolly]

Let your mind rest at ease, I am sure it is just an issue of the lean too soon after shutting off the engine. The "top" of the engine, i.e. the head is conveniently placed on the stand side of the bike. I think this was designed so that all us 2-cylinder BMW riders who are so used to this 'feature' of blue smoke after leaning over too soon would feel right at home with the LT.

In 39,000 miles I can't imagine that anything could be wrong with that engine, these things run into the 100-200k range with few to no problems.

Also +1 on the premium gas, you own a high performance machine (yes under that 800 lbs is a sport bike at heart).

Now for what I find disturbing about this post: SmokinJoe said he got it at a HD dealer, that means someone traded in a BMW for a Harley!?! :eek2:
That's a little like trading Champagne for Colt 45 :wack:

By the way, you have the best color for this bike - good choice but where is the windshield?
Flame suit on :kaboom:

I knew someone would notice and ask! Newbie dropped it against the wall and broke it! Got another one coming from eBad. This dang bike is "Heavy!"

 

[tips727]

I knew someone would notice and ask! Newbie dropped it against the wall and broke it! Got another one coming from eBad. This dang bike is "Heavy!"

So, congratulations on getting that first drop completed so early in the game. You may have just broken the record for earliest drop on the mileage scale if not on the time of ownership scale. Your new LT was very kind to you by laying down in the privacy of your own home and allowing you to avoid the superior embarrassment of doing it in a public place. She may not always choose to be that generous so be very careful. Public parking lots are the LT's favorite places to nap.

 

[JPSpen]

Everyone has given you the straight info....

I'll give you the lecture...

When coming to a stop.. Leave the engine running and in first gear always...

Turn off the engine by putting the side stand down... Hold the bike upright for 20-30 seconds to let the oil drain out from the back side of the cylinders..

Then put it on the side or center stand....

One of these days you'll forget and get a 5 minute smoke trail... It's normal...

Don't come to a stop with the front end turned EVER...Because of the telelever front end.. Any energy that would have been used up by bobbing the front end on a conventional bike will cause the bike to want to jump towards the ground....

If she starts over. Once it get's past the point of no return... You're not going to stop it...
Don't try.. You'll only get hurt... She has bumpers and as long as you don't hit the windshield on something like a wall or another car or bike.. . She'll survive..

The engines are kind of noisy and the alternator drive can make some noise if you've got a big load on the elecrical system....

42psi front, 48psi Rear...Religiously unless you like to buy tires..
The tires will start cupping and you'll start hearing a roar when you lean the bike...NORMAL....
Finally the roar will get so bad that you'll have to buy new tires to make it go away..NORMAL...

It really concernes me that you don't have a license.. An LT is NOT a good first bike...
Hopefully you'll survive long enough to learn to ride it...

Oh yeah, You've got an LT now.. NOTHING will EVER be CHEAP again...

Everything you buy for her will be twice as much as you thought it would be.. At least..

Don't cheap out on anything... It never pays on this bike..

Have fun...

John

 

[Cochinosucio]

Everyone has given you the straight info....

I'll give you the lecture...

When coming to a stop.. Leave the engine running and in first gear always...

Turn off the engine by putting the side stand down... Hold the bike upright for 20-30 seconds to let the oil drain out from the back side of the cylinders..

Then put it on the side or center stand....

One of these days you'll forget and get a 5 minute smoke trail... It's normal...

Don't come to a stop with the front end turned EVER...Because of the telelever front end.. Any energy that would have been used up by bobbing the front end on a conventional bike will cause the bike to want to jump towards the ground....

If she starts over. Once it get's past the point of no return... You're not going to stop it...
Don't try.. You'll only get hurt... She has bumpers and as long as you don't hit the windshield on something like a wall or another car or bike.. . She'll survive..

The engines are kind of noisy and the alternator drive can make some noise if you've got a big load on the elecrical system....

42psi front, 48psi Rear...Religiously unless you like to buy tires..
The tires will start cupping and you'll start hearing a roar when you lean the bike...NORMAL....
Finally the roar will get so bad that you'll have to buy new tires to make it go away..NORMAL...

It really concernes me that you don't have a license.. An LT is NOT a good first bike...Hopefully you'll survive long enough to learn to ride it...

Oh yeah, You've got an LT now.. NOTHING will EVER be CHEAP again...

Everything you buy for her will be twice as much as you thought it would be.. At least..

Don't cheap out on anything... It never pays on this bike..

Have fun...

John

+1 on EVERYTHING John said...Excellent points! (especially in RED)

 

[Razmataz]

Everyone has given you the straight info....

I'll give you the lecture...

When coming to a stop.. Leave the engine running and in first gear always...

Turn off the engine by putting the side stand down... Hold the bike upright for 20-30 seconds to let the oil drain out from the back side of the cylinders..

Then put it on the side or center stand....

One of these days you'll forget and get a 5 minute smoke trail... It's normal...

Don't come to a stop with the front end turned EVER...Because of the telelever front end.. Any energy that would have been used up by bobbing the front end on a conventional bike will cause the bike to want to jump towards the ground....

If she starts over. Once it get's past the point of no return... You're not going to stop it...
Don't try.. You'll only get hurt... She has bumpers and as long as you don't hit the windshield on something like a wall or another car or bike.. . She'll survive..

The engines are kind of noisy and the alternator drive can make some noise if you've got a big load on the elecrical system....

42psi front, 48psi Rear...Religiously unless you like to buy tires..
The tires will start cupping and you'll start hearing a roar when you lean the bike...NORMAL....
Finally the roar will get so bad that you'll have to buy new tires to make it go away..NORMAL...

It really concernes me that you don't have a license.. An LT is NOT a good first bike...
Hopefully you'll survive long enough to learn to ride it...

Oh yeah, You've got an LT now.. NOTHING will EVER be CHEAP again...

Everything you buy for her will be twice as much as you thought it would be.. At least..

Don't cheap out on anything... It never pays on this bike..

Have fun...

John

Maybe there is something like this hear already, but this should be a sticky somewhere, me thinks....

 

[RonHolly]

It's ot a first bike but a lot bigger /Heavier bike. My last bike was in the 70's and was a Norton Atlas. I was trying to put it on the center stand and lost control. Tried following manual and it didn't work out for me.

 

[casualemt]

Congrats on the new bike, I could only guess that right after you bought the bike from the Harley dealer, he received a call from the PO wondering if he could get his old bike back :rotf: By the way, I hope you ordered a stock windshield, as the polycarbonate one won't break, you must of had an aftermarket acrylic one...they break ....Also...Harley oil smoke is kind of a powdery baby blue (frilly almost)..regular oil is just smoke colored.... :histerica