So i got a new to me 96 Savage and though she has been through a hard time with a few dents and scratches and rough care she has a lot of life in her left. I feel it. I picked her up in MD and drove her home to WV, running out of the gas when I realized it was only a 2.5 gallon tank.

Previous owner said he thought there was too much oil in it but he had only ridden around the street. Never registered. But clean title.

By the time i filled her up on the side of the highway and got her back home quite a bit of oil down the back right side and underneath. Smoking from around the exhaust header and like a cigarette from the left hand side.

I drained the oil and changed the filter and almost filled a gallon jug. Whoa!

I filled with the correct amount. She runs great but still smoking like before. Maybe a cigarette. Maybe a cigar. I haven't really ridden it very far from home for worries of damaging more. It doesn't appear to be dropping oil from the bottom anymore though.

So I am pretty sure I have a combination of the head plug leak, and possibly quite a few other gaskets or seals gone with that much oil in there for two hours on the highway.

I removed the exhaust header and there is no seal there. I ordered a couple of those and a complete gasket and seal kit just in case.

Other than the exhaust header and the classic head plug leak any suggestions on where to start? I've just started riding again and working on my bikes and I'm new but have enthusiasm.

Hi, and welcome to Suzuki savage.

If you still have the stock petcock change it for a genuine Yamaha petcock.
It is only a matter of time before the piece of junk that came with it fails.

Enjoy, Norman.

The PO of one of my bikes had your guy beat!  Straight oil, no fuel in it.