Is it just my bike or do GS500E's smoke a hell of a lot when you fire them up?

The past few times I've started it there has been lots of black smoke out of the pipe ... Is this normal or do I have worn pistons rings or something?

The bike has 25,000 miles on it, not really sure what the previous owner did as far as matinance.  I'm going to do an oil change this weekend and see if it clears up... who knows.

Any ideas/suggestions VERY welcome.  Don't want to get stuck somewhere with a seized engine.

mine doesn't smoke at all...but it only has 6900 miles on it  

could be the pistonrings or valve seals...maybe something else too

Check your choke.  Black means fuel, not oil.

Actually, mine does smoke some when started. It's not bad though and goes away with the choke off.

2002

OS

Check your sparkplugs, too. If they're all carboned up you may need to run some good quality gas, like Chevron with that Techron or an oxygenated gas that burns off the carbon deposits in the cumbustion chamber, at high rpm on the freeway. I use the regular Chevron. Regularily.

black smoke usually means its runnin rich. next time you start it, take a whiff of the exhaust and see what it smells like. carbs may need cleaning too