I dont mean from the exhaust. I was down my street at the light and saw smoke in my mirror, diddnt think much of it. White smoke, not too thick. I get on the freeway then get off at the next exit and I see smoke coming up from between the tank and triple tree. I get off the bike and the front of the radiator was wet. I did not see a leak, just dampness and smoke. Got back on the freeway to take the bike home and when I got off the freeway the radiator was dry and no longer smoking. I touched a bit of the water and tried to smell it, but I noticed no scent. It was brown dirty looking water and the smoke smelled. The smoke was not thick, nodifferent from when you getoil on your headers. I did change theoil last weekend but have ridden atleast 125+ miles since then. Was this just water that leaked somewhere it had pooled? I was riding in the rain yesterday. I first thought that it was from the air intake but I dont think it could leak onto the radiator like that from where the ducts are. Anyone have any experiance with something like this? When I saw smoke from my rear view, I think it was coming out behind me, I dont know where it was smoking from.

 

coolant smells sweet, oil smells awfully, could it trap on the header from the road?

 

check your coolant and oil levels. it just sounds like dirty water from the color and the fact it doesnt taste strong.
________
Outdoor hardcore

 

Thanks for the replies. The first thing I thought of was coolant, but it was dirty brown and not green. I think my friend did the coolant last year, but I should probably flush it out along with the brakes. I just did the oil and filter so I dont think that was it. Do those rectangular shaped cavaties under the air intakes trap water? Could it have leaked out of there onto the radiator and headers?

 

sounds like water steaming off the rad - happens if its a cold morning and dew sits on the bike - will 'smoke' when you get the rad up to temp - if it stopped after a while then def just dampness on the rad

 

I have had the same experience this year. I think it is condensation from bike being cold and the temps outside around here have been in the 50's and 60's mostly so far. At first I was worried, but now realize it's not a problem.

 

Thanks for the replies. I was in a bit of rain and there was a small puddle in the garage when I put the bike away yesterday. It just scared me. One thing that can freak me out are smells. Its hard to tell right away if it is from your bike or something else. I diddnt expect water to smell. It mustve been all the dirt.