Curious Smoke/Steam at Start Up After Sitting For Several Days?

Here's a head scratcher.....when I fire up my '03 ABS after it has been sitting (covered, in the garage) I get an electrical-wire-melting smell and a billowing of steam-like smoke within seconds of startup from the left side, and it continues for up to 10-15 seconds then dissipates. Never happens when starting warm. Could condensation be forming somewhere?

Head Scratcher: A steam-smoke billows at ignition then disappears?

When I fire up my cold 2003 ABS that's been sitting in the garage for a few days (covered), I get a thin smokey steam that billows out of the left side within 3-5 seconds of ignition, and lasts up to 10-15 seconds. It has a smell hinting of something electrical, yet everything on the bike works perfectly. I cannot see any damage or scorching or discoloration at or near the effected area. Could there be some condensation forming somewhere? I tend to put the cover on as soon as I get in the garage, before the bike cools off.

Where does the smoke come from? Exhaust or near the forks?

Electrical wire melting smell is different than anti-freeze. The former is not a portent of good things to come. The latter is not so serious since leaks at the hose clamp seem to be endemic to the engine. Regardless, unless said smoke is coming from the exhaust (maybe a blown head gasket if so?) the engine is cold and will remain so for a while - only the exhaust header gets hot quickly. My guess is that coolant is dripping onto the exhaust pipes. Perhaps from the overflow tank hose connection?

Too bad you can't post a smell on the website. But wait a couple of years and that too may come to pass.

It is not at the exhaust...seems to be closer to the forks...

The 'smoke" is more of a wispy steam, not thick at all and very porous looking. Could be the coolant as I've never smelled burned coolant before.

Scott in PA said:

The 'smoke" is more of a wispy steam, not thick at all and very porous looking. Could be the coolant as I've never smelled burned coolant before.

Click to expand...

That seems likely.

Scott in PA said:

The 'smoke" is more of a wispy steam, not thick at all and very porous looking. Could be the coolant as I've never smelled burned coolant before.

Click to expand...

Is your bike cover contacting the hot muffler when you put it on the still hot bike? Maybe that is the plastic smell.

Mcreviver said:

Is your bike cover contacting the hot muffler when you put it on the still hot bike? Maybe that is the plastic smell.

Click to expand...

That was my initial thought, so I made sure the cover didn't come down far enough to touch the mufflers. And, there is no no sign of melt on the cover.

You're right it is a head scratcher.
The coolant will not being turned to steam in that amount of time anywhere other than in the cylinders. Will it?
If something electrical is burning it has to be on the starter circuit if it subsequently clears, doesn't it.
Keep us posted. But i don't think hot coolant smells anything like an electrical burn personally.
Upt'North.

I had a slight valve cover leak which gave me smoke at start up. Not enough a leak to drip on the floor

I've been around enough smoking electrical wire(s) and coolant links to know there's a big difference.

If smell 'electrical smoke' I'd check it out thoroughly ASAP. But I'd be surprise if it were electrical since it seems to repeat every time your bike sits.

And unless it's a poorly wired accessory repeated 'smoking' should have blown a fuse by now. You want to find out who let the magic smoke out ASAP before it's all gone (especially if you're away from home).

rogo said:

I had a slight valve cover leak which gave me smoke at start up. Not enough a leak to drip on the floor

Click to expand...

Did it warrant a trip to the shop?

Scott in PA said:

Did it warrant a trip to the shop?

Click to expand...

I had the valve covers off inspecting the valve clearances per service manual and neglected to use any sealant replacing the valve covers. I went back in with a couple dabs of quality RTV on the half moons of the gaskets.

I remember those 1/2 moons, rtv is great stuff!