2006 Blue smoke on start

Hi-

I am looking to purchase a 2006 vfr800. I found one that has (only) 2300 miles on it. So far so good, but when I fired it up for a test ride, there was a little blue smoke from the exhausts. It cleared up pretty quickly, but I'm concerned. My current ride is a 94 Suzuki RF900 with 22,000 miles, and I don't think I've ever seen blue smoke an a cold start.

Is this problem common on this engine? I don't know how the previous owner treated it.

Also, the owner gutted the pipes and I am ambivalent about the sound. While I like the sound of power being made, i prefer to keep a low profile, and the exhaust seems like it could be annoying after a while. Are the stock pipes a lot quieter than the gutted ones?

I have a couple days to mull it over, I'd love to hear back from the experts on the list before then.

Thanks in Advance,
Rob

 

The V-4 is a pretty rock solid, trouble free motor. That there is blue smoke on start up, imo, would concern me. If it were a car my first thought would be a valve seal. But since this is a V-4 I will not commit to that and maybe someone else here can say with more surity than I. I would inquire of the owner to see if it uses any oil. Is there any warranty on it? is it transferable? Might be something the warranty would cover.

Stock pipes are definately quieter than gutted ones. However, there are aftermarket pipes that provide a sound while not being much louder than stock. Staintunes are an example. Look in the modification forum here for exhaust sounds. It is the very first thread. There are links there to sound clips of various exhaust. If you have a problem with the clips, send me an email or private message and I will try to get the file to you.

 

I ride with a buddy who has a yoshi full race exhaust system it sounds awesome (on a CBR1000). but with my stock 06 VFR800 I often have to wonder is my bike running. I am saving my duckets to get a Micron system. i personally like carbon fiber because it never gets really hot to the touch and it is lighter
Danimal

RIDE LIKE HELL YOU'll get there faster

 

Blue Smoke - Means Oil Is burning

This is not a good sign, It could be that the breakin schedule was not followed and the rings did not seat correctly, or perhaps there is a warranty issue, maybe defective valve guide seals, either way this is a problem that will mostly certainly get worse over time.

Why didn't the original owner have this checked out by the dealer?

If it were me, I'd pass unless the seller agrees to have it checked out before any money changes hands

 

To me, that would be a BIG red flag. Could be as simple as an overfilled crankcase, but you could look at the sight glass and verify that yourself. But even if you verify that, it could be that and something else. That is definately not a known issue with the bike -- like the early BMW K bikes for instance. What, if anything did the current owner say about it? I would really, barring having it checked out by a competent professional, be afraid of buying the bike -- but that is just me. I would be afraid of soemthing internal being wrong, could be nothing, could be something BIG. To me it isn't an issue with break in, so many people do so many different ideas of break in (that is another whole thread ;-)), and no one has reported anything like that before. But hey, I have been wrong before.

Stock pipes can be found for amazingly cheap on E-Bay, from people who switchout to aftermarket. I think I paid less than $20 for a stock pipe for my '98.

 

Happened to read this thread. Just bought my first VFR a week ago, after riding my first MC (ZZR250) for the previous 18 months. I did notice a blue smoke, while the engine was warming up, before I bought the bike, didn't think too much of it. Now I also noticed that the Oil level is too high, so I gues I'd better remove some oil before riding anymore. Hopefully that's all that's causing the smoke! Still waiting for the Owner's Manual, assume both wheels on horizontal plane represents required oli-level? anyone?

Update (04-30-07): 5 Months later, I still occassionaly see a smoke coming from the exhausts, while the engine is warming up. More a white, or condense type of smoke, and haven't seen any oil usage during the past 4k km. So, I guess, the engine will have to be in as good a nick as I had hoped it would.

 

Pass on this motor. Sounds like a valve seal. Could be many other factors. WHY beat yourself up over it, get one that doesn't smoke. Owner sounds like a dumbass for the way you say he gutted the exhaust. Run from this don't walk. IMO of course.