Hi there, all!!
Newbie here, just posted an introduction in that section, now I have a technical question:
My 2001 Road Star has 12,100 miles on it; 8,600 of which I put on it in the last year since I bought it. I've "wound it out" a few times, nothing that I would consider out of the ordinary riding, I don't race it or anything. There has been two accidental activations of the "rev limiter".
It is all stock except for the Cobra exhaust which was dealer installed, carb jetted.
A couple of months ago I was riding with some friends and one mentioned he thought he saw a little smoke when I was coming to a stop. Well, I didn't think much of it until a few days ago, my son was riding behind me and told me at a stop light that he saw smoke, too.
There was another stop light close by, I only got to second gear (fairly high revs) before slowing down and as I slowed, I looked in the mirror and definitely saw blue smoke.
I've been a mechanic for many years, but this is the first bike I've owned and don't know anything about the specific assembly of bike engines. What I can say for sure is that it only seems to happen at lower speeds, lower gear 1st or 2nd, at higher revs, when slowing. I had my son look closely as I tested it by accelerating hard. There was no visible smoke as there normally is not.
I'm thinking valve seals, but as I said, I don't know bike engines real well.
Other than these isolated incidents, I've never noticed or had anyone else say they noticed smoke. Any ideas?
Oh, also it is due for an oil change, well, that is it's been about 3,000 miles since I've changed it. I was unable to find Yamaha's 20/40 that they recommend for it, so I used a combination of 20/50 and 10/40. Could this be it?? Semi-synthetic if that matters.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I am planning on changing the oil tomorrow if I get the time and will let you know if that seems to change anything.
I'm just in panic mode, I love this bike, am on a budget, and would hate to think it needs a motor rebuild.
Thanks again,
Carmen

Very unusual to have a oil smoker.

When you do oil changes, you should not put in more that 4 qt.

The smoke you see may be carbon due to an overly rich mix.

This bike is no different than a V8 ... minus 6 cylinders ... so the principles that apply to an push rod auto engine apply here.

Doc

4 qts? The manual says it has 5.3 qt capacity. I've changed the oil 3 or 4 times and every time I change the filter and drain both plugs. The dipstick always reads correctly after putting in 5 qts., although admittedly I haven't checked it using Yamaha's "procedure".
I thought about carbon, which would fit in with the "high rev" part, but I would expect black smoke for that, this was definitely blue. I would also expect that to show up under heavy load, which my bike didn't smoke when I "punched it".
BTW, I get it about the 2 cyl, 8 cyl thing. I just didn't know if there were any different charachteristics to a bike engine, particullarly the Road Star Vtwin.
Thanks very much for the reply,
Carmen

If you're putting in 5 qt then that could explain the smoke you are seeing ... that is way too much oil.

Next time, with a filter change, put in max 4 qt. Don't worry about what the dipstick reads.

Doc

OK, I'll give that a shot. Well, that is if it at least shows between "add" and "full".

Yep, Do a search on here on oil... You'll see posts up the butt about ONLY 4 QTS! You should also make it a habit of hitting the rev limiter occasionally. It helps keep 'em clean. Also, don't really worry about the dipstick showing full or add. It won't read the same reading twice in a row. Good luck on the smoke problem. AND...

OK, you guys have been around here and had RS's way longer than me. I'll take your word and go for it.
Jeez, I was worried the couple times I hit the limiter, too. OK, I feel much better!
Thanks!

Like the others said 4qts only. The dip stick on these Bike's is not accurate and like Doc & Silver_fox said it will read different every time. GS.

I had to learn from these guys too!, they are absolutely right, I actually put in 3.9 quarts cause the heat where I live, (it is hot) will expand the oil to being pushed out the breather if I use 4 Qt. I hit the rev limiter now in 1st and 2nd gear at least once every time I go out, I just love the sound of the longshot exhaust just before the rev limiter. I'm sure the cops in the next county do too LoL.

Let me ask this, then. It seems fairly common knowledge to use 4 qts. of oil. For all who ignore this idea and use more than 4 qts., is it common to have your bike smoke under the circumstances I described?