valve cover leak

[martin_14]

Yes, I did a search.

Yes, I found a lot of material to read.

No, I'm not interested in reading. I just want to rant.

Did the last service (40k miles) in November and put her to sleep for the winter. 1st of March I started her and there was some smell, but it was freaking cold (almost freezing) and I chalked it to vapors and whatnot. Did the season-inauguration-ride of a couple of hundred miles, taking it easy. After that and for 2 months I've been riding almost every day, and the smell was there on and off. Finally, last week I stop on a traffic light and  smoke comes out of the front of the bike, between the handlebars, like if the radiator was on flames. Turned her off, jumped away and waited. Some more smoke for another minute; not Chernobyl, but some little cloud.

I drove to the dealer and it was the valve cover dropping on the exhaust  hence the lack of any spot in the garage.

She was out of guarantee in October last year.

I'm 397,07€ (some 500 USD) poorer. She runs like new now, and keeps making me feel better about life just because, but still...

Thanks. Rant over.

[Son of Pappy]

You just 'splained exactly why I bought the extended warranty.  If I didn't it would be me ranting......

[VirginiaJim]

Martin, was the gasket replaced at the last service?

[rcannon409]

I'm on the way to the shop to have mine replaced under warranty. It ends next month, so what the heck.   Between this, and the tire pressure sensor, I'll be even on what I paid for the warranty.

[Conrad]

I'm on the way to the shop to have mine replaced under warranty. It ends next month, so what the heck.   Between this, and the tire pressure sensor, I'll be even on what I paid for the warranty.

Your extended warranty is expiring next month?

[maxtog]

Yes, I did a search.

  I see I am having some effect

Sorry to hear you are $500 lesser, but glad it is fixed.  If an extended warranty covers that kind of thing, it would have paid for itself and made you $170!  (Well, not sure you could get it there or for the price I paid here... what a steal)

[VirginiaJim]

Only in your dreams, Max.  Only in your dreams.

[stevewfl]

I hope mine develops that leak about the time a valve lash check is due anyway 

[martin_14]

Martin, was the gasket replaced at the last service?

The bike had the valves adjusted at 48000 km, when they changed it, and since then it had 2 more services (at 54 and 60k), so no =/
If that would have been the case, I know the guy wouldn't have charged me. He's very straight and I trust him. He got things covered under warranty that other dealers didn't want to touch.
@Max and Cactus, the warranty in Germany is 4 years, no extension possible. This was standard only on the 1400GTR. All other things sold in Germany carry a 2 years warranty, including any other motorcycle, Kawasaki or otherwise.