motorcycle smoke

Why is My Motorcycle Smoking? If you usually ride a motorcycle, it is possible that on occasion, it starts to smoke from the exhaust. Since this is not something very common, we must first analyze its color. Depending on the color of the smoke, it may be harmless and normal, or it may indicate a mechanical problem.

However, on most occasions, the smoke denotes that some anomaly is taking place that can be more or less serious. The important thing is not to underestimate its importance and to pay attention to the warning that our motorcycle always gives us. This is the only way to avoid a major and more expensive breakdown in time.

Mototechno will detail in this article the five most common faults and causes that usually occur in motorcycles and explain the different colors of smoke. Read on to learn more about it!

5 Possible Reasons Why My Motorcycle Smokes

As we will see below, it is normal for a motorcycle to sometimes smoke a little. However, at other times, it denotes a malfunction. Find out some of the reasons why this happens and what the color of the smoke indicates in each particular case:

1. White smoke

If your motorcycle expels white smoke (not very thick and dense), it is normal. It usually occurs in the winter. The reason? When the hydrocarbon burns, water vapor is generated, and when the engine is turned off, the cold of the environment condenses this vapor, leaving traces of water in the exhaust pipe. When the engine is started, the temperature rises, causing the accumulated water to evaporate “by condensation” in the exhaust system.

2. Persistent and Dense White Smoke

This type of smoke is not as innocent as the previous one. Being so intensely white, it may be that the smoke is coming from the coolant. It may be seeping into the combustion chamber of a cylinder, usually because of a pore or leak in the cylinder head gasket. This can cause overheating.

Other causes may be because the composition of the gasoline has some kind of problem or because the fuel is of very poor quality.

3. Blue smoke

If the smoke is bluish, it means that we are burning oil. To try to avoid this, the first thing to do is always use quality oil. What can happen is that the engine consumes oil, and instead of burning fuel, it is burning oil.

This is a serious problem. So, if this ever happens to you, the best thing to do is to go to the nearest garage so that they can tell you exactly what the problem is with your motorcycle. They will check the oil level of your engine. If it is low, they will probably replace the piston rings and inspect the cylinder walls for damage or imperfections.

4. Gray smoke

Gray smoke, in principle, does not usually pose a problem. Only if it is very dense. In this case, it may indicate a lack of air in the mixture due to faults in the injection system or a problem that can probably be easily solved in a workshop.

5. Black or Very Dark Smoke

Smoke of this color may be due to a poorly carbureted motorcycle or a very dirty (blocked) air filter. In these cases, you will notice that your motorcycle chokes more during the ride, even when stopping.

Although black smoke is not usually a serious problem in most cases, it is true that when riding in this way, we will be polluting much more than normal. The solution is to go to the workshop to have the machine tuned up.

If your motorcycle emits any of these fumes, the best thing to do is go to a trusted workshop to have it checked. Mototechno hopes we have solved all your doubts. In any case, for any issue or question, as specialists in the sector, contact us. We will help you with everything you need.