'01 ST 955 black exhaust smoke

[Hokie]

Greetings.

I've had my '01 since July of last year when I picked it up with 1487 on the odometer. It now has 7700 miles on it. This weekend I let a buddy ride my bike and I was following behind on his. When he got on it I noticed a puff of black smoke come out of the exhaust. So, when we stopped, I started it up and rev'd it up and just about every time you open the throttle there is a very small puff of black smoke. I also noticed alot of soot around the exhaust tip.

The bike has the T.O.R. Carbon Fiber exhaust on it and has been remapped.

I always run 93 octane in it and am at about 2200 ft above sea level.

My initial thoughts are that it is running a little rich. I checked the air filter Sat. evening and it looks fine. I didn't have time to try to pull the plugs and check them. I didn't check the plugs at 6K, so maybe I need to do that. Since I bought the bike used I have to trust the previous owner did the break-in maintenance like he said he did. I went ahead and changed the oil at 3K miles just to be sure, so coming up on an oil change in another 1300 miles. I don't believe it is burning oil because my oil level has stayed the same and the smoke is definitely not blue.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Something I should get the bike into the shop right away for, or just keep an eye on it until the 12K check up?

If it is running rich, would you suggest a k&N or other less restrictive air filter?

I love my Sprint and plan on keeping it a while, so this does concern me.

Any tips or help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Shane

[dolson]

Shane, What color is the smoke and how much? Since I'm not one that likes K&N filters and since these engines run totally on the computer I'd take it in and have the map checked.

The map for the TOR would fatten it up a bit which doesn't hurt it a bit.
What's your gas mileage?

Don

[Hokie]

Dolson,

It is black and just a very brief puff (not much) at initial opening of the throttle. It's pretty much when going from closed or almost closed throttle to opening it quickly.

Bike runs strong and sounds fine. I haven't checked my mileage in the last few months but I usually average 50+ mpg

I was just afraid it might be something going south on the engine that needed to be fixed pronto. The closest dealership is 2 hours away, so I'll have to schedule an appt and take a day off to take it up there.

Thanks,
Shane

[MVP44]

I have an 01 with nearly identical milage and have not noticed any smoke from the exhaust myself nor has anyone I ride with told me of this problem. I have a fairly new TBR exhaust and remap and there is no soot so to speak around the tip.

Let me know if you find out anything so I can be on the watch with my ST.

I think you may be onto something with the running rich idea - others who know way more than me can help on this, but take a good look at the smoke and I believe if it is coming from a rich fuel mixture it will have a bluish tint to the smoke puff.

Good luck

[Jhumphrey]

My '01 ran rich after a remap to the TOR tune. Had the C0 level set and this reduced the black smoke a lot, but when I really wack the throttle, I'll still get a puff of black smoke. Ive ordered a tuneboy and am hoping to retune myself in the near future.

[Hokie]

So, it sounds like it's probably nothing major that I need to be too worried with. I'm going to need a rear tire soon and will probably get them to take a look at this when I take it in. I'll keep a close eye on it until then and get it in there quicker if it gets worse.

I didn't notice the soot on the exhaust tip until recently.

thanks!
Shane

[amanger]

Black smoke definately is a sighn of running rich but that is alot better than the option of running lean and having the engine detonate.If its not fouling plugs or using excessive amounts of fuel I d just ignore it.
:-D

[Haddi-Man]

I'm out of my league here, but I had a similar problem like that once on another bike and a mechanic suggested it was carbon buildup in the muffler. Actually, I wasn't getting very much smoke at low revs, but when he opened up the throttle up to redline a huge black cloud came out. He suggested making sure I got up to redline while shifting on the freeway every now and then to blow the muffler out. I don't know if this is the same problem, or if he even knew what he was talking about :-D , but I thought I'd pass it on anyway.

[dolson]

Sure, these bikes need to have the soot blown out of their cannon every once in awhile.

Don

[DaveM]

Wots soot! :-D

My mates tell me that flames come out of my TOR!

especially on the decel at high rpm's

I just love this bike! :-D

DaveM