Joined forum back in July and just pretty much lurk to pick up great info. Bike is a 2005 1700 pretty stock except for 2 into 1 HK sideburners and K&N air filter element w/stock box. 7,500 Miles, +/- Stock carb settings as far as I know. I get anywhere from 40 to 46 MPG depending on the way I ride. One to two oz of seafoam every 2nd or third tankful. Bike runs strong with no other issues.

Trouble is, been riding with my brother who has a HD Road King and he said when I down shift, I get a puff of black smoke. Checked forum this summer and somewhere I read that R* burning oil was unheard of, so I didn't think much about it and never really noticed it on start up (maybe a time or two, but just slight). Anyway, earlier this summer, I went to K&N oil filter and Amsoil syn (4 qts. exactly) and put about 3K on since change. Went for a ride today (probably last one this year in NMich) Today my brother asked if I ever checked it out and I said R*'s don't burn oil. Long story-short, about 5 miles from home today, started hearing noise chatter in top of engine and wrote it off as typical noisy V-Twin. Planned on doing oil change for lay up this winter anyway, and checked dip stick and level just barely registered. Again, just assumed due to inconsistent dip stick readings. When I drained the oil and changed the filter, I only got about 1 1/2 qts of oil drained out. I stood the bike up level, etc. and that's all that drained out warm. Never had any oil leaks under the bike, so it's not leaking out.

After replacing Oil filter and putting in 2 + 2 qts (4 total) of Mobile 1 V-twin, started her up and noise seems to be gone, didn't ride it after this oil change, just started it up, but it seemed OK.
It must have been low for a while. Did I F*** anything up by running it so low on oil, and what the heck is going on. It runs so strong, it's hard to believe I'm pushing so much oil.
What should I check for?? Any suggestions would be helpful. I'm not a wrench. It's been years since I've seen the inside of an engine.

Thanks

did you drain both the oil tank and the cranckcase? 2 places that have to drain oil from.

drained them both.

The plus MOSTLY aftermarket one and ESPECIALLY the ones with a plastic like crush washer can leak when hot. So only dripping going down the road, then it cools and you never notice. I had this happen when switching to the plugs with magnets in them.
Mind you the Oil checking process on a RS is something to be desired, But you should have some on the stick when cold when upright and just setting the stick in not screwing it in. If not add in 1/8th of quarts. It's the hardest bike to check the oil on I ever seen!

Their pretty bullit proof so you should be ok. MS1700 is right about the drain bolts. I had mine do that drip thing on a road trip last year. I put the drain plug with the magnet in the tank and kept the stock in the engine. Problem solved. I do look at mine several times between changes and as long as it's showing on the stick truck on.

So you think I might be losing it rather than burning it? Hope I didn't do any damage. I will definitely make checking dip stick level part of regular check list, just like tire pressure.

If your plugs are not black and wet looking your not burning it,but you could have the drip. I had a Bucks oil cooler on my filter once that I tightened too much and it caused the filter to drip so yes you can loose oil.I learned not to tighten it so much

I plan on replacing the plugs this weekend w/ iridium's (forum consensus) I should know more when I can take a good look at their condition. Thanks

If it is a black puff, it is from fuel. Oil is blue coming out the exhaust.

I'll check the plugs this weekend. Just seems like I lost a lot of oil in a short time. If it was caused from leaking, seems like It would have ended up somewhere on the frame. I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks again.