Well, finally after 3 weeks of telling me that it's normal and keep on riding the bike, the dealer has finally responded telling me that they want to collect the bike by van. So reading between the lines I'm guessing the message from them is that the bike shouldn't be ridden.
Out of the country at the moment so an update in 2 weeks.

Which dealer is it going to? Bill Smiths?

Wigan Yamaha

Hey Foggy,

What happened, any answers yet to what caused this ????

Got the bike back yesterday but not managed to ride it today as it's p*ssed down all day.

The Mechanic checked it over, changed the rad cap, gave it a 1st service, changed the oil & filter (no water in the oil), flushed, cleaned & re-filled the rad & waterways. Nothing found and a bit mistified!

The Manager said he thinks someone topped the coolant bottle up with oil....whilst giving me a suspicious look.

I friend of mine who's a Mechanic thinks it's the start of a blown head gasket that's just started weeping, hence the bit's in the coolant tank.

So, I need to get out on a decent ride to see if they have magically cured the problem, or if it's the start of head gasket gasket failure. If it is a head gasket, it would have to have been a faulty fitting at the factory as I have been running it in like a saint!

Problem is, I'm a fair weather rider, with winter coming, I may be left wondering until next spring.

good god man the first frost is more than a month and a half away - get out there ! :)

I stand to be corrected here, but isn't the oil feed to the overhead gear external? if so, it's hard to see how oil would get into the coolant via the head gasket. More likely, imo, that coolant would leak into the oil if there was a problem in that area. Which, in your case, it hasn't done.

Just my 5 pennys worth:
a. If a head gasket goes or even starts to go, the engine still runs but there is soooooo much steam from the exhaust you can hardly see through your mirrors.
b. The oil becomes white and creamy, and when you remove the dipstick you can see this straight away.
I have no idea what caused the muck in your radiator water but I dont think it is too serious.

Bloody hell mate , take it back and demand ANOTHER BIKE !!! it's not like you payed tupence for it.
I'd be kicking off big time !!!

I have to agree with you on this one.....

Brand new bike should equal no issues whatsoever.

Did you keep a sample of the gunk?

I would go straight to Yamaha Customer services and bypass the dealer altogether and tell them what is going on.

There is a simple test (in fact a few simple tests) that can prove if a head gasket is going or gone, all of which the dealer should have performed...

Don't leave it 'til next spring as they won't entertain you at all as there will be too much water or oil under the bridge lol...

strike now....